Frederick Joseph Ricketts (21 February 1881 – 15 May 1945) was a British composer of marches for band. Under the pen name Kenneth J. Alford, he composed marches which are considered to be great examples of the art. His career as Bandmaster in the British Army, and latterly as Director of Music in the Royal Marines, is legendary. Conductors, musicians, and the public, have been known to agree with conductor Sir Vivian Dunn in calling Ricketts "The British March King." Ricketts’ frequent use of the saxophone contributed to its permanent inclusion in military bands.
Read more about Kenneth J. Alford: Early Life, Enlistment, Royal Military School of Music, Bandmaster, First World War, From Army To Navy – An Untold Story, Personal Life, Death, Legacy, The Bridge On The River Kwai, List of Marches, Other Published Works, Unpublished Works
Famous quotes containing the word kenneth:
“God help the horse, and the driver too!
And the people and beasts who have never a friend!
For the driver easily might have been you,
And the horse be me by a different end!
And nobody knows how their days will cease!
And the poor, when they’re old, have little of peace!”
—James Kenneth Stephens (1882–1950)