Landers, George W., 1860-1955?

Band leader and music dealer from Clarinda, Iowa. Landers served various bands during his career including the 3rd Iowa Infantry Band of the National Guard, the 51st Iowa Regimental Band during the Spanish American War, the Pleasant Ridge Community Farm Band, the Page County Farmers Band and the Clarinda Municipal Band. He conducted bands for radio performances, chautauquas and church services, was active in the Iowa and American Bandmasters Associations (attending numerous conventions) and operated the George Landers Music Company, a Clarinda music dealership. He fathered the 1921 Iowa Band Law which granted to Iowa towns the privilege of levying a tax for the purpose of maintaining a community band. By 1928 one hundred and twenty five Iowa communities had bands supported by taxation and other states had adopted similar laws.