Earl E. McCoy
Biography
Earl Ellison McCoy (1884, Indianapolis, Ind. – 13 July 1934, El Paso, Tx.) was an American composer and conductor.
McCoy attended the University of Illinois in 1905 and 1906, majoring in music and playing in the band led by Albert Austin Harding. He toured with several groups and directed orchestras in New York City, Rochester (New York), Chicago, and Dallas (Texas). He played for approximately ten years with the Majestic Theatre Circuit.
McCoy was among the founders of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Band. His most famous work is the march Lights Out, which was composed while he was attending the University of Illinois and was premiered by that school’s band.
Works for Winds
- Golden Gate Park March (1892)
- Lights Out (arr. Roth) (1905/1932)
- Military Review March
- Praetorian Guard March (1908)
- Signal Corps March (1907)
- Sons of Uncle Sam (1917)
Resources
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Earl E. McCoy." Accessed 5 January 2017
- Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 417-418.