Fred Jewell
Encyclopedia
Frederick Alton Jewell, born 1875 in Worthington
, Indiana
, was a prolific musical composer
who wrote over 100 marches and screamers
, including:
At the age of 16, Jewell ran away from home and joined the Gentry Bros. Dog & Pony Show as a euphonium
player. He also played the calliope.
After making excellent impressions with successful circus officials, Jewell rose through the ranks. He eventually landed himself as the leader of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
band (like Karl King
, another successful American composer of his time). He also played in or directed the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus
and the Sells-Floto Circus.
Jewell retired from circuses in 1918. He traveled to Iowa and took leadership of the Iowa Brigade Band. From there he began his own publishing company and moved back to his hometown, Worthington, and served as high school band director, as well as a steady composer of band music. He directed other local bands in Florida and Indiana also.
Frederick Jewell died in 1936 at the age of 61 in Worthington.
Worthington, Indiana
Worthington is a town in Jefferson Township, Greene County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,481 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bloomington, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, was a prolific musical composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
who wrote over 100 marches and screamers
Screamer (march)
A screamer is a descriptive name for a circus march, in particular, an upbeat march intended to stir up the audience during the show.- History :...
, including:
- Battle Royal (1909)
- Floto's Triumph (1906)
- Quality Plus (1913)
- E Pluribus Unum (1917)
- Supreme Triumph (1920)
- The Screamer (1921)
- The Old Circus Band (1923)
At the age of 16, Jewell ran away from home and joined the Gentry Bros. Dog & Pony Show as a euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
player. He also played the calliope.
After making excellent impressions with successful circus officials, Jewell rose through the ranks. He eventually landed himself as the leader of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus company. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses...
band (like Karl King
Karl King
Karl L. King was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of Barnum and Bailey's Favorite.-Biography:...
, another successful American composer of his time). He also played in or directed the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus
Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus
The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was a circus that traveled across America in the early part of the 20th century. At its peak, it was the second-largest circus in America next to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. It was based in Peru, Indiana....
and the Sells-Floto Circus.
Jewell retired from circuses in 1918. He traveled to Iowa and took leadership of the Iowa Brigade Band. From there he began his own publishing company and moved back to his hometown, Worthington, and served as high school band director, as well as a steady composer of band music. He directed other local bands in Florida and Indiana also.
Frederick Jewell died in 1936 at the age of 61 in Worthington.