John Phillip Souza

John Philip Sousa was born in 1854, the third child of ten. He was born in Washington, D.C. His parents were immigrants. John
Antonio Sousa was his dad. He was originally from Spain, even though his parents were Portugese in origin. His mom, Maria Elisabeth
Trinkhaus came to America from Bavaria.
John was a talented youngster. At the tender age of 6 he was studying music. He learned to play many types of instruments; the
violin, piano, cornet, alto horn, flute, baritone. Like his father, who played the trombone in the U.S. Marines Band, John, too, learned to play the trombone. John also spent time studying voice.
John was a rather mischevious teen. At the age of 13 John tried to run away to join the circus. Dad was not all that impressed
with John and made him enlist in the Marines. While in the service he published "Moonlight on the Potomac Waltzes". That was his first published composition and the beginning of a very successful career. After spending ...