by Barry Owen Furrer | Apr 25, 2024 | Americana
Traditionally, Arbor Day is celebrated in the United States on the last Friday in April; however, it does vary from state to state based on the best planting zones for trees. Dating back to 1872, what has become National Arbor Day is thanks to J. Sterling Morton, who...
by Barry Owen Furrer | Apr 22, 2024 | Americana
While attaining statehood in 1907 as our 46th state, the earliest appearances of Sousa and His Band took place in the Oklahoma territory in 1904 with concerts in Chickasha, El Reno, Enid, Guthrie, Muskogee, Oklahoma City, Perry, Reno City, and South McAlester. From...
by Barry Owen Furrer | May 11, 2023 | Americana, Biography
Irving Berlin was born on May 11th, 1888 in Temun, Siberia. Born Israel Baline, his family fled to America in 1893 escaping Russian persecution of Jews while settling in Manhattan’s Lower East side. Without schooling or formal training, Berlin’s career began as a...
by Barry Owen Furrer | May 7, 2023 | Americana
Jamestown Day is commemorated annually on May 8th, and 2023 marks the 416th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Steeped in intrigue, controversy, and conundrum, including cannibalism, the introduction of slavery, and violent clashes...
by Barry Owen Furrer | Nov 6, 2022 | Americana, Sousa's Band
November the 6th not only marks the birth of John Philip Sousa but also the saxophone’s inventor, Antoine-Joseph ‘Adolphe’ Sax (1814-1894) as the shared birthday also denotes National Saxophone Day in honor of the Belgian musician and inventor. While Hector Berlioz,...
by Barry Owen Furrer | Oct 30, 2022 | Americana
October 30th is recognized as National Checklist Day and if there was anyone in the Sousa organization who benefitted from a checklist, it was longtime band librarian, Clarence J. “Buss” Russell! Mr. Russell joined Sousa’s Band in time for the World Tour in 1910,...
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