150:,” used in the circus and theater industries as the “disaster march,” indicating an emergency. The performers heard the music and immediately began the evacuation. Accounts state that Evans and his band played until it was no longer safe to do so, and then evacuated and reformed outside, where their playing helped to pace the evacuation and steady the crowd.
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A scholarship at the
Indiana University Bloomington Jacobs School of Music is named after Evans. The scholarship supports students with aspirations towards concert bands. The Midwest Clinic awarded Evans its Medal of Honor in 1966. Windjammers Unlimited credits Evans with its early success as an
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Merle Evans was born in
Columbus, Kansas in 1891. His father was a foreman in a coal mine. He had six siblings. Evans had an early job selling newspapers on corners. He used his cornet to call attention to the headlines. He is featured in Tom Rhoads' farcical history of Columbus. After holding
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After his retirement, Evans continued to live an active life. He served as a director of the
Columbus State Bank in his hometown of Columbus, Kansas. He gave workshops and guest-led bands around the country. His second wife was Nena, who served as secretary to the owners and executives of the
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On July 6, 1944, a fire broke out during a
Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus performance. The fire killed around 168 people. The quick reaction of Evans and his band is credited with saving thousands of lives. When Evans saw the fire, he signaled that the band should play
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in 1919. Evans held this job for fifty years, until his retirement in 1969. He only missed performances due to a musicians union strike in 1942 and the death of his first wife. He wrote eight circus marches, including
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several other jobs, Evans left home and joined the S.W. Brundage us
Carnival Company as a cornet player. Evans held several other jobs, including as a band director for the
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73:(December 26, 1891 – December 31, 1987) was an American cornet player and circus band conductor who conducted the
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Plowden, Gene. Merle Evans: Maestro of the Circus. Miami, FL: E.A. Seemann
Publishing, Inc., 1971. p.20
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Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. Evans died in
Sarasota, Florida on December 31, 1987.
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302:"Endowments & Scholarships: Giving: Jacobs School of Music: Indiana University Bloomington"
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Charles Conrad. "Evans, Merle Slease." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online,
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278:"Merle Evans Is Dead; Former Band Leader At Ringling Brothers (Published 1988)"
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http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/A2085095
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Taylor, R.L. "One Beat to the Bar (A Profile of Merle Evans."
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Evans was hired as the band director for the newly merged
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organization, and he is honored in their Hall of Fame.
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116:Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
110:Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
81:of the Big Top." Evans was inducted into the
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77:for fifty years. He was known as the "
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154:Personal life, retirement and death
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365:Circus World Library and Archives
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87:International Circus Hall of Fame
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276:Saxon, Wolfgang (1988-01-03).
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324:"The Midwest Clinic - Awards"
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148:Stars and Stripes Forever
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406:American male composers
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411:American bandleaders
137:Hartford Circus Fire
131:Hartford Circus Fire
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359:Merle Evans Papers
282:The New York Times
71:Merle Slease Evans
30:Merle Slease Evans
306:music.indiana.edu
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375:Categories
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172:References
93:Early life
36:1891-12-26
163:Memorials
121:Symphonia
89:in 1975.
79:Toscanini
125:Fredella
338:"Home"
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