July 2, 2017

THE KING BAND CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge played a special concert on July 2 to celebrate this year’s Independence Day holiday.

Listen to King's 147th Field Artillery March.

One highlight of the program was the exciting Concord by Clare Grundman.   This selection is based on three traditional tunes from old New England during the American Revolution, and includes “The White Cockade”, William Billings’ “America”, and “Yankee Doodle”.

Listen to Grundman's Concord.

A medley of four songs, titled “Satchmo!”, highlighted the music of Louis Armstrong, one of America’s greatest jazz trumpeters.   Armstrong often stated he was born on July 4, although his official date of birth was confirmed about 10 years after his death to actually be August 6th.

Hear the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge as they perform Satchmo.

Dr. David Klee conducted two pieces on this evening's program, starting with the moving Carmen Dragon arrangement of America, the Beautiful.

Listen to the King Band as they perform America, the Beautiful.

Next on the evening program was W. B. Green's Operation Freedom march.

Listen to this march which was never published.

Watch snare drummers Jeremy Smith, Jon Merritt and Luke Snyder as they perform Dazzling Drums accompanied by the King Band. (59 mb MPG file)

Scott Johnston of Fort Dodge narrated with band accompaniment the moving tribute to John Fitzgerald Kennedy, our 35th President, titled Ask Not.   This year commemorates the 100th anniversary of Kennedy’s birth on May 29, 1917.

Listen to Scott Johnston and the band perform the tribute Ask Not.

Next on the program was the well-known ragtime song, The Entertainer.

Hear the King Band perform The Entertainer.

Watch the  performance of Karl King's lively galop, Majestic.

The band next performed Armed Forces Salute, arranged by Bob Lowden.

Listeners in the audience who served in the military, or had family members who served, were invited to stand when the service song of their branch (Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or Air Force) was heard.

When the band performed their final tune of the evening, The Stars and Stripes Forever, many in the audience rose the their feet, waved their flags, or clapped their hands.

	Listen to the King Band as they perform our National March, The Stars and Stripes Forever, composed by John Philip Sousa.
Watch the Karl King Band performing the finale portion of Stars and Stripes Forever. (13 mp MPG file)

This program finished with the playing of our National Anthem.

---

July 9 Concert in the 2017 Summer Season

Although no photos are available, the program performed is seen here.

---