Karl King (1891-1971)

American Midwestern composer and bandmaster Karl King became conductor of the Fort Dodge Military Band in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1920. The group became notable in the Midwest, and in 1922 became the Fort Dodge Municipal Band. King was a bandmaster for the Barnum and Bailey Circus, and a co-founder of the American Bandmasters Association. He wrote 260 various works for the concert band. His work inspired Meredith Willson’s 1957 stage production The Music Man.

Selected works:“Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite,” “The Purple Pageant,” and “The Melody Shop.”

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