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was born on November 6, 1854. His parents were Jon Antonio Sousa and Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus. He was the third of ten children. He grew up with music. His father even played trombone in a military band. At only age six Sousa began the study of violin, voice, pi ....

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.... 1880-1892 he conducted "The Presidents Own", serving under presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur and Harrison. After two successful, but limited tours with the Marine Band in 1891 and1892, promoter David Blakely convinced Sousa to resign and organize a civilian concert band. The first Sousa Band Concert was preformed on September 26, 1892 at the Stillman Music Hall in Plainfield, New Jersey. In 1895 Sousa's first successful operetta, El Capitan debuts. In 1895 Sousa's first big tragedy hit. While on vacation with his wife in Europe, Sousa's promoter (David Blakely) died. This was hard for Sousa to face but it also inspired him to write the grea ....