As a tribute to the 4th of July holiday weekend, today's post will feature Keith Brion, one the foremost scholars/conductors of the music of John Philip Sousa, who holds a unique and important place in the world of conductors. He built the early part of his career primarily as a director of orchestral pops concerts, and since the founding of his New Sousa Band, he has impressed audiences throughout the nation with his knowledge and acute attention to detail in his performance

Below is Composers Datebook which features the wind band icon John Philip Sousa. You can find the audio clip and the text below. Enjoy! Composers Datebook audio (8/30/10) Sousa gets stiffed in Minneapolis It was on this day in 1929 that a new march by John Philip Sousa was played for the first -- and last -- time until almost 60 years later. The Foshay Tower Washington Memorial March was commissioned by Wilbur Foshay, a high-flying Minneapolis businessman of the Roaring 20's