Death of John Philip Sousa, 1932

by Heritage Brass Band

John Philip Sousa, the renowned American composer and conductor known as the “March King,” died on March 6, 1932, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He passed away at the age of 77 from heart failure while staying at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel. The great conductor had lead a rehearsal with the Ringgold Band earlier that day and died in his sleep that night. His body was taken to Washington, D.C., where a funeral was held at St. Agnes Church, followed by burial at Congressional Cemetery on March 10, 1932.