James M. Fulton

James Melville Fulton (1873–1940) was a composer, arranger, conductor, and music educator best known for composing marches. He is often associated with the traditional British melody Garry Owen which he arranged for band in 1903. His most recognized march is Associated Press, published in 1897. His more than 245 compositions include more than 144 marches (more than Sousa) as well as many waltzes, polkas, overtures, schottisches, reveries, and cakewalks.

Fulton was born in Washington, Pennsylvania and studied violin, cornet, euphonium, and tuba as a youth. He played cornet for orchestras and bands, eventually becoming the conductor of the Waite Dramatic Company Band and music director for the Hotel Rudolf in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Starting in 1899, Fulton led the American Band from Waterbury, Connecticut and changed its name to "Fulton's American Band." He would later organize his own music publishing company and serve as music director for Fenway Theatre in Boston. His was conductor for the Waltham Watch Company Band for 13 years. He died of a heart attack in Belmont, Massachusetts in 1940 while preparing the Belmont VFW Band for another state championship.

Family: Fulton was married to M Margaret Sprow on August 9, 1893, and had a daughter named Alga N Fulton (b.April 22, 1893). They divorced on March 6, 1903.

He married Edith Hoxie on May 2, 1904.

He married Catherine S. Fulton (?) (d.1971) and they are both buried in an unmarked grave at the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge Massachusetts.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1873 (Washington), Died May 6, 1940 (Belmont)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1906 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-3902 10-in. 10/15/1906 Battleship Oregon march United States Marine Band Band composer  
Victor B-6239 10-in. 5/29/1908 Tipperary Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6421 10-in. 9/18/1908 New Tipperary march Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor B-6439 10-in. 9/22/1908 Battleship Connecticut march Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor B-6515 10-in. 10/6/1908 Tipperary John Kimmel Accordion solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-8238 10-in. 9/20/1909 La reina de las nieves Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor C-11020 12-in. 9/27/1911 Battleship Connecticut march Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-11661 10-in. 2/29/1912 Naughty Marietta selection Arthur Pryor's Band Band arranger  
Victor B-12024 10-in. 5/16/1912 Prince of Pilsen selection Sousa's Band Band arranger  
Victor B-25940 10-in. 1/7/1922 The new Tipperary Pietro Deiro Accordion solo composer  
Victor BVE-49816 10-in. 1/31/1929 Battleship Connecticut Victor Symphonic Band Band composer  
Columbia 38645 10-in. 2/21/1913 Battleship Connecticut Prince's Band Band composer  
OKeh S-7584 10-in. Sept. 1920 Battleship Connecticut march Conway's Band Band composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Fulton, James M.," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106133.

Fulton, James M.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106133.

"Fulton, James M.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106133

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