“The Father of the American Band”

Patrick Sarfsield Gilmore is often called the “father of the American Band,” “America’s greatest bandleader”, “America’s first Superstar”. He touched the lives of music lovers all over America and the world.

• Born on December 25, 1829 in Ballygar, County Galway, Ireland.
• Emigrated to Boston in 1849.
• Became famous as cornet soloist and band leader.
• Founded Gilmore’s Band in 1857, featured two woodwinds to each brass instrument: the same used in modern concert bands.
• First Promenade Concert in America (1855): forerunner of today’s Boston Pops.
• During the Civil War, Gilmore’s Band served with the Massachusetts 24th Regiment.
  Wrote many songs, including When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Good News from Home, We are Coming Father Abraham, Seeing Nellie Home, and Famous 22nd Regiment March.
• Produced the World’s Peace Jamboree (1872), which had a 2,000 piece orchestra and 20,000 voice chorus. Johann Strauss, Jr., was paid $100,000 to appear at these concerts — the only time he visited America.
• Created Gilmore’s Concert Garden, which became the first Madison Square Garden.
• Music Director for many important celebrations, including:July 4th Centennial in Philadelphia (1876). Dedication of the Statue of Liberty (1886).
• Featured at Manhattan Beach Hotel and St. Louis Exposition.
• Successfully toured Europe (1878).
• Toured extensively throughout the United States until his death in 1892.
• Made some of the first commercial recordings for Thomas Edison in 1891.
• It was Gilmore and his band who started the new familiar tradition of greeting the New Year in Times Square, New York.

Gilmore is buried with his wife and daughter in Old Calvary Cemetery, Long Island, New York. In September, 1992, the Centennial of his death, the P.S. Gilmore Society erected a monument at the grave. (By Michael Cummings at the Gilmore Society website)