10/12/2026
Since we were delivering our first two sousaphones to the "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in Washington DC, I decided to deliver them myself and meet the band! I was also asked by The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own" to try out the new sousaphone. So my first stop was a Bruckner hall to let the guys in the Army band play the sousa before delivering it to the Marines at the Marine barracks. There is a statue of John Philip Sousa just outside the barracks. He served as the the 17th Director of "The President's Own" from 1880-1892. The most famous director of the band, he wrote the national march "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and the official march of the Marine Corps "Semper Fidelis." The first sousaphone was first created at the request of John Philip Sousa around 1893 by J. W. Pepper. Our new version of the sousaphone was very well received by all! What a great trip, meeting the band and learning some history along the way!! https://butlertrombones.com/sousa/
