Dodge, Iowa hospital. He and his wife Ruth I. (Lovett) King (June 10, 1898 – July 4, 1988) are buried at North Lawn Cemetery. Their only son Karl L. King, Jr. was born in 1919 and died November 19, 1987. A physical description of Karl King in the 1951 Who's Who in Music: brown eyes, brown hair, 6’1” in height, 200 pounds. Compositions King the composer published more than 300 works: galops, waltzes, overtures, serenades, rags, and 188 marches and screamers. It could be said that King did for the circus march what Sousa did for the patriotic march. He seemed to like composing under pressure and often composed in tight spots (such as by oil lamp in cramped circus tents). His name appeared on the sheet music as Karl King, K. L. King, and sometimes Carl Lawrence. His first known composition still extant was composed for the Thayer Military Band while he was performing it in – titled "March T.M.B." (1909). His first copyrighted work was "Moonlight on the Nile Waltz" (also 1909). King's marches for circus bands are usually composed at a high difficulty level (grade 4–5 typically) American march music. He also contributed greatly to the school band movement with numerous compositions at various levels of difficulty. "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite" (1913) remains his best-known composition, but other pieces that retain their popularity among fans of band music include: "Aces of the Air" (1942) "Allied Honor" (1955) "Attorney General" (1921) "The Big Cage" (1934) "Big Four" (1955) "Bolivar" (1918) "Broadway One-Step" (1919) "Bunker Hill" (1943) "Burma Patrol" (1942) "Carrollton" (1909) "Circus Days" (1944) "Cyrus The Great" (1921) "The Desert Patrol" (1934) "Diamond Jubilee March” (1961, a composite of seven of King’s most famous marches) "Emblem of Freedom" (1910) "Fidelity" (1912) "Flying Cadets" (1942) "Freedom City" (1955) "Gallant Marines" (1942) "Garland Entrée" (1912) "General Lee" (1943) "Glorious America" (1955) "The Golden Dragon" (1917) "Homestretch Gallop" (1912) "Hosts of Freedom" (1920) "Invictus" (1921) ”Iowa Band Law” (1921) ”Iowa Centennial March” (1946) "Kentucky Sunrise" (1919) "Liberty Fleet" (1942) "Lt. Commander" (1934) "March Ponderoso" (1910) "The Melody Shop" (1910) "Miss Liberty" (1955) "Mystic Call" 1913 "The New Madison Square Garden" (1926) "The New Corn Palace" (1921) "Night Flight" (1942) "Peacemaker" (1955) "Pride of the Illini" (1928, written for University of Illinois) "The Purple Pageant" (1933, written for Northwestern University) "Ragged Rozey" (1913) "Robinson's Grand Entrée" (1911) "Rough Riders" (1943) "The Royal