John Philip was born at 636 G Street SE in Washington, D.C., 3rd of 10 children of John Antonio Sousa (born in Spain of Portuguese parents) and Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus (born in Bavaria). John Philip’s father, Antonio, played trombone in the U.S. Marine Band. He grew up around military band music.
Discharged from Marines. Began performing (on violin), touring and eventually conducting theater orchestras. Conducted Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore on Broadway.
In February, met Jane van Middlesworth Bellis during Pinafore rehearsals; they were married December 30.
Conducted “The President’s Own”, serving under presidents Hayes, Garfield, Cleveland, Arthur and Harrison. After two successful but limited tours with the Marine Band in 1891 and 1892, promoter David Blakely convinced Sousa to resign and organize a civilian concert band.
The first Sousa Band concert was performed September 26 at Stillman Music Hall in Plainfield, New Jersey. Two days earlier, bandleader Patrick Gilmore had died in St. Louis. Nineteen of Gilmore’s former musicians eventually joined Sousa’s band, including Herbert L. Clarke (cornet) and E. A. Lefebre (saxophone). The original name of the band was “Sousa’s New Marine Band”, but criticism from Washington forced the withdrawal of the name.
Sousa’s first successful operetta, El Capitan, debuts.
Sousa’s promoter David Blakely dies while Sousa and his wife are on vacation in Europe. On the return voyage, Sousa receives the inspiration for The Stars and Stripes Forever.
New York, Great Britain, Canary Islands, South-Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, Canada.
During World War I, Sousa joins the US Naval Reserve at age 62. He is assigned the rank of lieutenant and paid a salary of $1 per month.
Sousa dies at age 77 on March 6th, after conducting a rehearsal of the Ringgold Band in Reading, Pennsylvania. The last piece he conducted was “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Hi ,
I was always told I am related to JPS . I am one of the very few people left in the world with the surname Trinkhaus . I know JPS ‘s mother was a Trinkhaus . I would love to hear more about her , to find out if the connection is anything more than anecdotal . I met JPS ( 3rd ? at The Palm , East Hampton , NY around 1988 . He gave me his card which I promptly lost
Dear Ms. Trinkhaus Emerson,
It is both wonderful and very interesting to learn of your familial connection to the Trinkhaus/Sousa ancestry! John Philip Sousa speaks very lovingly of her in his 1928 autobiography, Marching Along on pp, 292-293 as well as including a photo of her at age 80. She died in August of 1908 at age 83. Original copies and the 1994 reprinted edition are readily available from numerous sources.
I am a serious researcher and collector of original John Philip Sousa, Marine and Sousa Band artifacts and within my collection I possess a handwritten condolence letter from Elizabeth Trinkhaus Sousa to Mrs. David Blakely, the wife of Mr. Sousa’s manager who died suddenly in his Carnegie Hall office on November 7th, 1896 while the Sousas were abroad on a European vacation. Perhaps you are aware that it was on Sousa’s return voyage after learning of his manager’s death, he became inspired and conceived the themes for “The Stars & Stripes Forever” which he also recounts in his autobiography on pp. 156-157. While this forum does not permit the posting of images or the sharing of personal contact information, I wanted to share the content of the letter with you as it is both touching and poignant as well as giving her physical address in 1896 as 500 Seventh St., SE, Washington, DC. “My Dear Mrs. Blakely, With deep regret we learn of the death of your husband Mr. David Blakely and offer you our sincere sympathy in your present bereavement. Though I had not the honor of a personal acquaintance with Mr. Blakely, yet my son has so often spoken of his generous disposition and kindly acts that we have always entertained the warmest regard for him. In his death the world has lost a useful man and my son a most valued friend and benefactor. May God in his great mercy comfort and relieve you is the prayer of one who but a short time ago suffered a like affliction. Very sincerely, Elizabeth Sousa / Sunday, Nov. 8th.” Mrs. Sousa’s ‘like affliction’ was the loss of her husband, Antonio, in April 1892.
It is interesting to note Sousa’s mother learned of Blakely’s death before her famous son as he mentions finding out about Blakely’s passing from a copy of the Paris Herald being four days old.
I hope this information gives you some new insight into your ancestor and best wishes with future research efforts.
Sincerely,
Barry Owen Furrer
Wow! What a treasure! As a young man, my grandfather immigrated to this country and made his living playing bass in various orchestras heading west from New York through Chicago, Seattle, and finally settling in San Francisco where he joined that city’s symphony’ orchestra. I reference that because he would certainly have played JPS’s music as a matter of course, where strings were included, including, no doubt, newly written pieces. Hence my enthusiasm with regards to your post. Thank you.
Dear Mr. Lowther,
Thank you very much for sharing your Grandfather’s story. He seemed to have reached his “American dream” by doing what he loved – making music. It would be wonderful if he chronicled his journey by keeping a diary like many members of Sousa’s Band did when they travelled the globe on their world tour in 1910-11. The fact that he immigrated with his bass is a story unto itself! Perhaps he played aboard ship with others making the same journey with the same dreams? Your comment regarding his playing the music of John Philip Sousa was quite possible thanks to his publisher(s) as arrangements for most of his works were available for ensembles as small as theatre orchestras on up. To give you the sense of the former, there are two such orchestras with recording available. They are the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and the Queensland All-Star Theatre Orchestra. I would also recommend I Salonisti, the ensemble featured in the 1997 film Titanic, as they have a couple recordings available including one with Mr. Sousa’s El Capitan.
Sincerely,
Barry Owen Furrer
Saw JPS in Montana when he made his last tour in 1927. Bill.
Dear Mr. Everling,
Wow, how very interesting! During the 1927 tour, Sousa’s Band was changing with the times as a portion of this tour featured a shorter Sousa concert paired with the showing of a current motion picture; however, when Mr. Sousa’s Band came through Montana they were back to performing the “typical” Sousa concert. These would have taken place in September from the 21st thru 25th in Great Falls, Billings, Bozeman, Helena, and Missoula with two concerts per day. You may recall the decorative color covers to the souvenir booklet programs from this tour as it featured an image of Charles Lindbergh’s “The Spirit of St. Louis” flying over a sea of stars & stripes with circular insets of both Mr. Sousa and Col. Lindbergh. Thank you again for sharing this wonderful memory!
I have papers I would like to donate to the Sousa Archives
I was student of John Henry, last surviving drummer. I have his photo, a letter and a card from him and a program featuring him when he directed the DeLand FL high school band- when I was his asst. his brothers Bill and Ed were also members of Sousa’s band. I hope you will help me get these pre ious mementos you the right place
Thank you
Richard A Dickson
9449 Ponder Road
Jacksonville FL 32257
(904)206-1986
Please correct my submission
It is about
John Heney
So sorry
At an annual Portland. Oregon TubaChristmas concert years ago, the conductor whose name escapes me, (but as I recall he was principal tuba player for Oregon Symphony.). He told that story. He may have been telling a rumour he had heard.
Anyway, according to him the family’s original last name was “SO”.
I remember his saying that when one of his ancestors came to America, that the last name was “SO”, and that somehow the three letters, ” USA” were added to his name.by the immigration clerk. Is there any truth to this story?
No, not true. The story was made up by one of Sousa’s managers as a PR stunt.
thank you this helped on my history prodject.
Is there any important facts that a lot of people don’t know?
I am a descendent of the Trinkaus family and am very happy to read of some others from that line who have posted here. I would be a 1st cousin of Mr. Sousa, 4x removed. His mother Maria was an aunt to my 2x great-grandmother–Eva Katarina Trinkaus–so Eva’s father was Maria’s brother.
I just learned of these family relationships about two years ago, which brought a big smile to my face because I come from a military family and we love Sousa’s music! I have an appreciation for band music and participated in a marching band in high school. I’ve always loved his marches and to find out I was related, however distant, was very cool!
Thank you for this website and timeline!
Dear Ms. Sheets Salokangas,
Wow, thank you very much for sharing your ancestry! How wonderful to learn of your lineage through the Trinkhaus family to John Philip Sousa! Thinking back, it must be an added thrill to have performed music by a famous relation of yours!
Sincerely,
Barry Owen Furrer