"Big" Band at Div. Hdq. - 12/4/1917

Camp Sheridan

Dec. 4, 1917

My Dear Mother: - 

Am sending you the names & information concerning the new members of our company. 

Maj. Gen Treet has arrived here, after an extended visit along the Western Front in France. They had a big band concert at Div. Hdq. nearly all afternoon. A 300 piece band, just think of it. Maybe you think there wasn't some swell music.

There is absolutely nothing of interest to write about. Guess I'll write every other day for a while, as I don't get around enough to see anything to talk about.

Feeling fine as usual.

Love to All
Howard

The above picture was taken in New York City, but it shows John Phillip Sousa with his "big" band.

Could it be? Could Howard have seen John Phillip Sousa's band in person? My husband is a band director, and I was the illustrious winner of Pleasant High School's 1996 John Philip Sousa band award. This is a big deal to the band nerd universe in which I live!

Or, maybe it wasn't Sousa. However, here are my arguments pro-Sousa:

• He was obviously patriotic and cared about the troops. In 1917, Sousa enlisted in the navy (at age 62, I might add). He was a true patriot, serving in the Marines, and, of course, leading "The President's Own" band under five presidents.
• In 1917, Sousa formed the 300-piece "Jackie" band...matches up with Howard's description!
• We also know that Sousa toured with Jackie band...would make sense that a stop in Alabama could be on the docket!

When I first read "big band", my mind went to the Glenn Miller type of band we often think about. However, jazz was only just starting up in 1917, and the "swing" era really wasn't even up and going until the early 1930s. Score one more for Sousa!