José María Lacalle García, known in the United States as Joseph M. Lacalle, was a prominent Spanish clarinetist, composer, conductor, and music critic, born on November 17, 1859, in Cadiz, Spain. He emigrated to the United States in 1884, arriving from Havana, Cuba, to New York. Lacalle was renowned for his work with woodwind instruments and performed with several notable bands, including the John Philip Sousa Band and the Patrick Gilmore Band. He also led his own ensembles, such as the Lacalle Band and the 23rd Regiment Band.

Lacalle composed numerous songs and marches, with his most famous composition being "Amapola," originally written in 1920 with Spanish lyrics. The song gained international fame in the early 1940s when Albert Gamse provided English lyrics, and it was recorded by various artists, including Jimmy Dorsey, whose version topped the Billboard charts.

In addition to his performing and composing career, Lacalle worked as a music critic for the Columbia Phonograph Company and founded the Spanish Theater Company in Brooklyn, where he introduced American audiences to Zarzuelas. His efforts were instrumental in promoting Spanish and Cuban music in the United States. Lacalle passed away in Brooklyn, New York, on June 11, 1937, at the age of 77.