Marshall's Civic Band

Donated to Marshall's band by Scott Bradley, director of the Onaga High School 
band. 
 
Composed in 1895. "It is a curious fact of the music world that marches written 
for fairs and expositions almost always fade into oblivion. Two notable 
exceptions are Sousa's 'King Cotton' and 'The Fairest of the Fair.' The former 
was written for the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895, and the 
latter for the Boston Food Fair of 1908. 
    "Sousa and his band had great drawing power at fairs and expostions and were 
much sought after. But officials of the Cotton States and International 
Exposition in Atlanta attempted to cancel their three-week contract with the 
Sousa Band because of serious financial difficulties. At Sousa's insistence they 
honored their contract, and at the first concert they became aware of their 
shortsightedness. Atlanta newspapers carried rave reviews of the band's 
performances. 
    "The Sousa Band did indeed bring the exposition 'out of the red,' and the 
same officials who had tried to cancel Sousa's engagement pleaded with him to 
extend it. 'King Cotton' was named the official march of the exposition, and it 
has since become one of the perennial Sousa favorites." 
 
The Works of John Philip Sousa 
pg. 66 
Paul E. Bierley 
Integrity Press 
1984