John Phillip Sousa

Paul Bierley is the leading expert and author on the life and music of John Philip Sousa. A passionate fan of band music, Paul noticed several elements of Sousa’s career that were not documented. With his own publishing company, he penned several books on the March King’s life, including unearthed volumes of Sousa’s own photographs and manuscripts that otherwise may have been forever lost. Beginning in the 1960s, Paul began interviewing all of those he could locate who were associated with Sousa, from performers in his bands to the bandleader’s personal cook. What Paul discovered and wrote about often was Sousa’s charm and passionate personality.  

Betty Gore, along with her husband, established Pender’s Music Company in Texas. The retail store is only one part of the company, as her husband Harold sought to find and publish every march and song by John Phillip Sousa. Betty played a key role in the large endeavor by researching the songs and copyrights. She also worked alongside Harold as the store grew over the years. She doesn’t think much of the support she gave over the years and the many days she ran the company while Harold was traveling, but she does point out with pride that her son, Richard, now runs the company and is keeping the tradition they started in the family. 

Harold Gore is indeed a “march nut” as he proclaims. A former band director with a passion for the music of John Phillip Sousa and of other composers, Harold is well known throughout the music publishing industry for his love of the music and for always having a story to tell. Harold bought a struggling store, Penders Music, and turned the business around. He later expanded the retail store to several locations and added a publishing arm of the company. In the meanwhile, he pursued his love of marches by researching each and every march written by Sousa – all 141 of them, and bringing those out-of-print songs back into print.

Jimmy Saied, the founder of the Saied Music Store chain in Oklahoma loved the marches of John Phillip Sousa! In fact, he liked them so much that he teamed with then NAMM President Ziggy Coyle to create the bill Ronald Reagan signed into law in 1983 making the “Stars and Strips Forever” the national march. As successful as his business began and as poignant his contributions to the industry were, Jimmy seemed most proud of educating children in music. He said, “Music can give so much to a person’s life. We ought to give music to every child!”

John P. Smith was one of thousands of young musicians who toured the country on the buses, cars, and trains that carried the territory bands of the swing era from high school sock hops to hotel ballrooms. John’s trombone skills made him a sought-after musician who worked with several of the name bands of the 1930s and 40s, including the Artie Shaw Orchestra. John’s love of music only increased over the years. Even in his 90’s, John was playing with the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame Orchestra in San Diego, CA.