Kenneth J.Alford

Full biography Kenneth J.Alford

Kenneth J. Alford was the pen name of Frederick Joseph Ricketts, a British composer and bandmaster who lived from 1881 to 1945. He was born in London on February 21 , 1881, and became a musician in the British Army. He wrote many marches for bands during his career, and his most famous piece is the "Colonel Bogey March," which he composed in 1914. When Alford wrote music, he would often use the pseudonym "Kenneth J. Alford."

Alford was trained at Kneller Hall, the British Army's school of music, where he became a professor of cornet in 1908. He was later promoted to director of music in 1927, a position he held until his retirement from the military in 1944.

Aside from the "Colonel Bogey March," he also composed many other marches and other pieces of music, including "The Great Little Army," "The Voice of the Guns," and "Holyrood." Alford was inspired by military life to write music, and he often included references to military customs and traditions in his compositions.

Even though Kenneth J. Alford died in 1945, his music still remains popular to this day. Many of his marches are still performed in military and civilian concerts alike, and his music has been used in films and television shows. Alford is considered one of the most important British composers of marches, and he is known as the "British Marching King."