Francis “Frank” Johnson was an American composer who lived from 1792-1844. According to the Penn Libraries article about Johnson, he was, “the first African American composer to have his works published as sheet music. He also was the first African American to give public concerts and the first to participate in racially integrated concerts in the United States.” Today’s Beautiful Music features one of this trailblazing musician’s composers — GENERAL LAFAYETTE’S GRAND MARCH — played by The Chestnut Brass Company & Friends. You can also watch the informative presentation by concert pianist and scholar Krystal Thomas about Francis Johnson.