The Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge will open its 2026 indoor season on Sunday with a concert beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the Fort Dodge Middle School Auditorium, located at 800 N. 32nd St. Conductor of the Band is Dan Cassady, with Paul Bloomquist as the announcer. There is no admission charge, with these concerts being provided by the City of Fort Dodge.

This February concert is the band’s annual tribute to former Conductor Karl L. King in honor of his birthday. King was born on Feb. 21, 1891, in the small village of Paintersville, Ohio.

After his childhood growing up in Canton Ohio, he left at the age of 19 to travel for nine years with several different circuses. He first played euphonium with different bands for four years, and then became conductor of two of them, reaching the pinnacle of success conducting the world-famous Barnum and Bailey Circus Band during the 1917 and 1918 seasons.

He returned to Canton after his trouping days in November of 1918 to settle down with his wife, Ruth, and direct the local Grand Army of the Republic Band there. In addition, the King’s only son, Karl Jr., was born in November of 1919. In the fall of 1920, King and his family moved to Fort Dodge when he was hired to conduct the Municipal Band here, a career that lasted more than 50 years until his death on March 31, 1971.

This concert will open with Karl King’s march tribute to one of Fort Dodge’s most famous hoaxes, “The Cardiff Giant,” published in 1926. Other selections to be performed include King’s Spanish march titled “Pan-American,” a circus staple from 1942, along with his 1925 march, “Step On It!” dedicated to long-time Fort Dodge player and band manager Walter Engelbart, otherwise known as “Speed King.”

However, King published more than just marches among his nearly 300 compositions. Also included on this concert will be King’s popular 1924 overture, “Fountain of Youth,” an oriental intermezzo from 1919, titled “Ung-Kung-Foy-Ya,” and his beautiful 1925 serenade, “Lover’s Lane,” dedicated to his wife.

Bringing an international flavor to this concert is the thrilling march by Vasilij Agapkin, titled “A Slavic Farewell,” one of the gems to come out of post-Cold War Russia. Other familiar selections on this one-hour concert include Hoagy Carmichael’s 1927 standard, “Stardust,” along with a musical “Tribute to Sinatra.” This medley of popular songs was recorded by “Ol’ Blue Eyes” himself, and includes “Theme from New York, New York,” “It Was A Very Good Year,” “The Lady is a Tramp,” and closes with Sinatra’s signature song, “My Way.”

This concert will conclude with Karl King’s most famous and well-known 1913 composition, “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite March,” one of the most played and recorded marches ever written, followed by our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

In case of inclement weather, this concert may be canceled. 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.