Today being July 4th and all, what better way to celebrate America's birthday than to look at the life and music of John Philip Sousa (1854-1932). Known as the "March King," the composer and conductor of brassy, dramatic patriotic songs in the 1800s also inadvertently laid track for jazz. By the turn of the 20th century, ragtime players were interpreting on the keyboard in saloons what Sousa had accomplished with a large band, uniforms and equipment.
Here's the well-written Sousa documentary, The Man, the Music, and the Marine: John Philip Sousa Marches to Greatness (1986). Happy 4th of July!...
