He was born Roland Forrest Seitz on June 14, 1867, on a farm in Shrewsbury Township near Glen Rock, Pennsylvania.

Despite an early interest in music, Roland started work as a printer's apprentice at the weekly Glen Rock Item.

Seitz returned to Glen Rock to teach wind and percussion as well as perform in the town band and soon became their conductor.

Roland Seitz retired to live with his daughter Charlotte J. Zelley in Union City, New Jersey in 1944.

The song is also played by "The Pride of All Nebraska" Cornhusker Marching Band at home football games in the pregame show.