“This boy should do something useful, I'll teach him some music.” (10) John Esputa suggested Antonio Sousa as his young son, John Philip Sousa, longed for the opportunity to learn the ways of a musician. From a stubborn boy trying to play the violin and trombone to the old man leading his own talented band, the decision to learn music made John Philip Sousa the man who earned the title Marching King. The songs he wrote have traveled around the world, many songs having spread across continents from the late 1800s to the present day. He inspired thousands of people with his songs and his endless determination. The March King's life consisted of bombastic marches and endless symphonies until his last breath. John Philip Sousa's life began on November 6, 1854 in Washington. “Philip was a rugged individualist at the age of four.”(9). His stubborn nature prevented him from attending school due to pneumonia from sleeping outdoors when his mother denied him sweets. Sousa's homeschooling left him eager for a business, and John Esputa began teaching young Philip music. A series of music lessons took place, leaving Sousa frustrated with critical teachers and the challenge of new instruments. He eventually enrolled in school, mostly for safety from the impending war, but the young musician excelled in his studies. Meanwhile, problems arose with his music lessons, leading him to quit music and try cooking instead. His heart, however, already belonged to music, and he returned to music as a child prodigy who performed fearlessly at the age of ten in front of large audiences. He already led a band of grown men, accepted offers to play in a circus band, and ended up joining the Marine band before his late teens. The Marine Band a... middle of paper... I did it when I was just starting out." (222). Sousa remained passionate, determined, creative, thoughtful, and ambitious throughout his life. At the age of seventy-seven, he retired early at a banquet in Pennsylvania before headlining an anniversary concert John Philip Sousa died of a heart attack, taking his last breath on March 6, 1932. His funeral was held solemnly and respectfully as the Marine Band played proudly. as Sousa descended into the cold Earth. The March King lived a life filled with music, his own words summed up life as well as all others: “No one has had a richer and happier life than I. I believe God mi I was destined as a musician and I was lucky enough to be able to make a living doing what I wanted to do. America is a restless country . . .” (241).