Sousa was commissioned into the U.S. Navy at the age of 62 and formed the 300-piece “Jackie” Band at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center near Chicago. The band participated in many Liberty Loan Drives including the 4th one held in Washington DC in September 1918. Sousa can be seen with Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs McAdoo who launched the drive. The band was led by Drum Major Micheaux F. Tennant, called "The peacock of the Navy." The music on this video is an early recording of Sempe

Semper Fidelis at the Sousa grave played by the "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. On Monday morning November 6, The US Marine Band will pay their annual respects to their 17th Director, John Philip Sousa, at Congressional Cemetery in Washington DC on the occasion of his 163rd birthday. It's a moving tribute and not one to be missed. A wonderful way to celebrate the birth of our "March King." #JohnPhilipSousa | John Philip Sousa

Hands Across the Sea-John Philip Sousa On January 31, 1903, John Philip Sousa and his band played a command performance at Windsor Castle for King Edward VII. This was the second command performance Sousa had presented in front of the Royal Family. The first performance, held on December 1, 1901, was a success. Sousa, in a conversation with the King, was pleased when informed that His Majesty had seen and enjoyed Sousa’s operetta, “El Capitan”, no doubt leading him to program it on the concert.