The March King Comes to Monroe

I am continually surprised at the national (and world!) level talent that made appearances in Monroe. On December 22, 1925, 98 years ago today, the man known as the “March King”, John Phillip Sousa, performed at the Saenger in Monroe. It appears he spent the night at the Virginia and his 75 piece band stayed at the Hotel Monroe! I guarantee, even if you don’t know the name, you have heard one of his marches, such as the “Stars and Stripes Forever” (Our US national march) or “Washington Post March”. If you are familiar with the Marines, you will know their official march is another Sousa composed one called “Semper Fidelis”. His “U.S. Field Artillery March” inspired the U.S. Army’s official song, “The Army Goes Rolling Along”.