17 Facts About Walter Loving

Walter Howard Loving was an African American soldier and musician most noted for his leadership of the Philippine Constabulary Band.

The son of a former slave, Loving led the band during the 1909 US presidential inaugural parade, where it formed the official musical escort to the President of the United States, the first time a band other than the US Marine Band had been assigned that duty.

Walter Loving is believed to have been the first African American to conduct a musical performance in the White House.

Walter Loving was killed in 1945 during the Battle of Manila in dramatic, though unclear, circumstances.

Walter Loving spent his early childhood living with his parents and an extended family of fourteen relatives.

At age ten, Walter Loving moved to Minnesota and into the home of Charles Eugene Flandrau, who employed Walter Loving's sister Julia as a maid.

Family legend claims Walter Loving was tutored in mathematics by Theodore Roosevelt when the future president stayed at the Flandrau home in 1886.

In 1902 Walter Loving was tapped to organize the Philippine Constabulary Band on the recommendation of Governor-General of the Philippines William Howard Taft, who had earlier heard Walter Loving's 45th regimental band perform.

Walter Loving, who had learned both Spanish and Tagalog during his brief time in the Philippines, developed an instant rapport with his bandsmen.

Walter Loving continued as the band's director until being forced to take a medical leave in 1915 due to tuberculosis.

Later, Walter Loving would be tasked with touring the United States to inspect the conditions of race relations at US Army camps.

Walter Loving attacked the Army's racial policies pertaining to non-commissioned officers, noting that,.

From 1937 through 1940, Walter Loving again took command of the Philippine Constabulary Band, by then renamed the Philippine Army Orchestra.

Walter and Edith Loving were detained in 1941 by Japanese forces following the surrender of Manila.

Walter Loving was released due to his declining health and advancing age in 1943.

In 1945, during the Battle of Manila, Walter Loving was again arrested and detained, along with other Americans and Filipinos, at the Manila Hotel.

In 1952, Walter Loving was posthumously awarded the Presidential Merit Medal by the Government of the Philippines during a ceremony at Luneta during which his final composition, Beloved Philippines, was performed.