 In April 1917 Grainger received news of his father 's death in Perth . On 9 June 1917 , after America 's entry into the war , he enlisted as a bandsman in the U.S. Army with the 15th Coastal Artillery Corps Band in New York City . He had joined as a saxophonist , though he records learning the oboe : " I long for the time when I can blow my oboe well enough to play in the band " . In his 18 months ' service , Grainger made frequent appearances as a pianist at Red Cross and Liberty bond concerts . As a regular encore he began to play a piano setting of the tune " Country Gardens " . The piece became instantly popular ; sheet music sales quickly broke many publishing records . The work was to become synonymous with Grainger 's name through the rest of his life , though he came in time to detest it . On 3 June 1918 he became a naturalised American citizen . 
