The Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge will open its 2024 indoor concert season on Sunday with a concert beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the Fort Dodge Middle School Auditorium, 800 North 32nd St. There is no admission charge, since these concerts are provided by the City of Fort Dodge. Jerrold P. Jimmerson is the conductor of the band, Dan Cassady is the assistant conductor, and Paul Bloomquist is the band’s announcer.

This February concert recognizes the musical contributions of Karl L. King to celebrate his birth at Paintersville, Ohio on Feb. 21, 1891. Conductor Jimmerson has selected music from a variety of King’s nearly 300 published works for band. Several of these compositions were composed during King’s circus career, starting in 1910 through the 1918 season. He had traveled for four years with four different circuses as the Euphonium player, and had reached the peak of his playing career in 1913 with the Barnum and Bailey Circus Band.

The 1914 season found King becoming bandleader of the Sells-Floto/Buffalo Bill Combined Shows, a position he would hold for three years, which began his friendship with native Iowan Col. William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. King’s circus career then reached the pinnacle of success again with two seasons as conductor of the world-famous Barnum and Bailey Circus Band.

Selections on the concert program include the marches “Robinson’s Grand Entree” and his masterpiece, “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite.” In addition will be King’s most famous non-march work, “The Golden Dragon Overture,” a beautiful aerial waltz, “In Old Portugal,;” and an exciting galop, “Circus Days.” Additional selections will include “Fame and Fortune,” dedicated to King’s publisher C.L. Barnhouse; and a classical selection, “Danza Brilliante” from the opera “Aida” by Italian composer Giuseppi Verdi.

Two timely compositions during February’s concert include “George Washington’s Birthday Party,” a ragtime selection composed by C.L. Barnhouse celebrating President’s Day, and a medley of popular, well-known songs by George and Ira Gershwin titled “A Gershwin Tribute to Love” to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

A special duet performance of Herbert L. Clarke’s “Cousins” will highlight this concert. Tim Miller from Humboldt on cornet, and Paul Bloomquist from Dayton on trombone, will be featured on this classic technical selection. Both gentlemen are well-known area music educators and long-time members of the Karl King Band.

These concerts always close in the traditional way with the playing of our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In case of inclement weather, this concert may be cancelled on concert day. Any announcements will be made on the band’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/karlkingband/ or on the band’s website at www.karlking.us.