American composer John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) lived most of his life during the Romantic period, a time that also saw increasing nationalism in the music of many countries. His Stars and Stripes Forever became the national march of the United States and his own life, as the son of a Spanish-born Portuguese-descended father and a Bavarian born mother, certainly championed the spirit of America. He was long-time conductor of the United States Marine Corps Band and then formed his own band, which often made extensive world tours.