I had the radio on last night (I'm weaning myself from television), and heard "The Stars and Stripes Forever" for the first of many times (most likely) this holiday weekend. It is the virtual theme song of Independence Day.

I never tire of its driving beat, its majestic horns, and particularly, its piccolo "solo". My father can whistle that piccolo part perfectly. When he was a high school band drummer, he would "help" the piccolo section by whistling along. Nobody would notice.

Anyway, the composer of "Stars and Stripes" was John Phillip Sousa, 1854 (Wash.D.C.)-1932 (New York City). He was an early violinist, later learning almost all instruments. He played in theater and dance orchestras and toured with a variety show.
Sousa later "joined" the Marines, eventually becoming the band's conductor. And he wrote music--lots of it-- including "Semper Fidelis" (the Marine song). Over 150 marches were written, giving Sousa the title, "March King". Later in life, he became the director for the Navy band, then his own band.

He was not just a march song writer. He also wrote many operettas (including "El Capitan") and five novels, plus his autobiography. But he'll go down in historical memory as the composer of the most famous marches of them all, "The Stars and Stripes Forever"! Hail to the March King!
(For more info, "wikipedia" him.)

Happy Friday and have a super weekend.