1880:John Philip Sousa becomes leader of this military band
[DOC] [TLE] John Philip Sousa, Band Leader, Dies in Hotel at Reading [PAR] John Philip Sousa, Band Leader, Dies in Hotel at Reading ... John Philip Sousa, 
famous American band conductor and march king of a generation ... That same 
year he became a violin soloist, and two years later his father enrolled him ... day 
on, and in 1880 he was appointed to head the Marine Band at the White House.