Russell Alexander

Russell Alexander (February 26, 1877 – October 1, 1915) was an entertainer and composer, active primarily with vaudeville shows and musical comedy organizations. Alexander was born in Nevada, Missouri, and became a euphonium virtuoso who joined the circus band of Belford’s Carnival at the age of 18. At 20, he became arranger and euphonium soloist with the Barnum & Bailey Circus Band and toured Europe from 1897 to 1902. Following his tour with Barnum & Bailey, Alexander worked in a novelty musical vaudeville act with his brothers. Although his compositional output was relatively small, he is considered a great composer of marches. He wrote 33 marches, 6 galops, and several overtures, novelties, and other works. For part of his career he worked in acts with his brothers, Newton and Woodruff. On July 20, 2015, a memorial plaque honoring Alexander was unveiled on the Main Street Stage in Liberty, New York, just a short distance from the Old Town Cemetery in which Alexander is buried. The ceremony included a performance of seven Alexander works. Works Unless noted, his works were published by C. L. Barnhouse Co., to whom Alexander’s widow sold the rights to his music shortly after his d