Joseph John Richards (August 27, 1878 – March 16, 1956) was a composer, conductor, and music educator best known for writing over 300 compositions for circus and school bands. His most successful works were
marches, including ''Crusade for Freedom'', ''Emblem of Unity'', and ''Shield of Liberty''.
Richards was born in
Cwmafan,
Wales, but spent most of his childhood in
Pittsburg,
Kansas,
United States. He began playing
alto horn and
cornet
The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...
at the age of ten and became director of the Norton-Jones Circus Band at the age of nineteen. He would later play for and conduct several other circus bands, including the
Barnum and Bailey Circus Band and the
Ringling Brothers Band before they combined. When not playing for a circus, Richards studied music at
Kansas State Teachers College
Emporia State University (Emporia State or ESU) is a public university in Emporia, Kansas, United States. Established in March 1863 as the Kansas State Normal School, Emporia State is the third-oldest public university in the state of Kansas. E ...
and the
American Conservatory of Music.
He began teaching music during World War I, first to Army bands and later to public schoolchildren. He conducted several municipal bands in
Florida and Kansas until 1945 when he was selected to succeed
Herbert L. Clarke
Herbert Lincoln Clarke (September 12, 1867 – January 30, 1945) was an American cornetist, feature soloist, bandmaster, and composer. He is considered the most prominent cornetist of his time.
Clarke's legacy includes composing a portion of th ...
as conductor of the
Long Beach,
California Municipal Band. He became a member of the
American Bandmasters Association in 1936 and was elected president in 1949.
Richards died in Long Beach, California in 1956. He was inducted into the Windjammers' Hall of Fame in 1981.
External links
Marches composed by Richards
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Joseph John
1878 births
1956 deaths
American male composers
American composers
American conductors (music)
American male conductors (music)
American bandleaders
Welsh emigrants to the United States