James D. Ployhar (September 22, 1926 – January 2, 2007)[1] was an American composer, music educator, and film producer.
He was responsible for many pieces of music well known to American band students, including "Cool Blues for Trumpets", "March of the Irish Guard", "Crazy Clock", and "Korean Folk Song Medley".
[2][3] [4] Ployhar attended Valley City State University in Valley City, North Dakota, and was initiated into the Beta Rho chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity in 1952.
He earned a master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and did doctoral study at UCLA.
A public school teacher of nineteen years, Ployhar was a prolific writer in the field of music education and authored Contemporary Band Course.