Nicknamed “The March King” or “The American March King,” John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) is known chiefly for composing military and patriotic marches. His father enlisted him in the Marine Band in 1868, eventually serving as that ensemble’s director for 12 years before leaving to form his own band. J.W. Pepper invented the sousaphone, a relative of the tuba, at Sousa’s request.