The Florida Times-Union March Legacy | Jacksonville News

Twenty-five years after its debut, Dale Blackwell’s “The Florida Times-Union March” still echoes through Jacksonville’s skies — a rousing, surprisingly timely tribute to local journalism born from a simple newspaper reader’s whim. Composed in 2002 and premiered in 2003, the march revived a nearly forgotten tradition, echoing John Philip Sousa’s 19th-century newspaper marches. Blackwell, a legendary trumpet player turned educator and co-founder of the First Coast Wind Symphony, crafted it as a playful challenge — and a musical legacy. His widow recalls he was baffled no one had done it before. Since then, the piece has become a staple for high school bands, gracing Jacksonville’s bicentennial and even a 2010 CD. And he wasn’t alone — a similar “Times Union March” was penned in 2013 for Albany, proving that creative sparks can reignite even faded trends. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/dc349e572d32e3c9