John A. Pope

John A. Pope was born in Mobile in 1863. He attended the Creole Catholic School in the downtown area.

Pope founded the Excelsior Band in 1883 on the corner of Scott and Selma Streets with a group of musician friends who had gathered to celebrate the birth of his son. Pope played the B-flat trumpet.

Pope later became President of the Creole Fire Company. Several original members of the Excelsior Band worked for the Creole Fire Company, so they often practiced their music in a room above the fire station.