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Satchmo Award

Since 1987, the Jazz Club of Sarasota has recognized those enduring contributors with its most prestigious honor.

A Prestigious Honor

Satchmo Award

The Jazz Club of Sarasota created its most prestigious honor, The Satchmo Award, in 1987 to honor those who have made a “Unique and Enduring Contribution to the Living History of Jazz...Our Original Art Form.”  The Harold and Evelyn R. Davis Memorial Foundation sponsors The Satchmo Award, which was created by Hal Davis, founder of The Jazz Club of Sarasota.

The Satchmo commemorates the contributions of jazz great, Louis Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchel Mouth" or "Satchmo." The award was designed by Frank Eliscu, a sculptor and art teacher, who was designer of the famous Heisman Memorial Trophy.

Satchmo Posters over the Years

Honorees Present-2020

  • 1966-

    Educator, Director of Jazz Studies at Temple University, Trumpeter

    Terell Stafford, a world renowned trumpet player, composer, band leader and hailed as "one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player" by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Stafford is the Director of Jazz Studies at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. Stafford is a recipient of Temple's "Creative Achievement Award." He is also a clinician for the prestigious Vail Foundation in Colorado and Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Program. Stafford serves on the board of the Jazz Education Network. Stafford is a member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra who were awarded a GRAMMY in 2009 for Best Large Ensemble, Live at the Village Vanguard.

  • 1938-

    Arts & Education Advocate, Creator: Jazzlinks, Arts Education Task Force

    Nancy Roucher is an advocate for arts and education. Founder of Sarasota's Arts Education Task Force - now known as the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. She created a jazz education program for students - Jazzlinks: Jazz Connects to Students. The education program is now a collaboration of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and the Jazz Club of Sarasota and Sarasota County schools. Nancy is a member of the Jazz Club's Board of Directors. In 2019 she received the coveted Trailblazer Award from the Florida Alliance for Arts Education.

  • 1948-

    NEA Jazz Master, multi Grammy Awards, composer, Nat'l Medal of Arts

    Paquito D'Rivera born 1948 in Havana Cuba. Winner of 14 Grammy Awards (5 Grammy and 9 Latin Grammys). While D'Rivera's discography reflects a dedication and enthusiasm for Jazz, Bebop and Latin music, his contributions to classical music are equally as impressive. A founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna, he directed that group for two years, while at the same time playing both the clarinet and saxophone with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. He is a recipient of the NEA Jazz Masters Award 2005 and National Medal of the Arts 2005, as well as the Living Jazz Legend Award from the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. in 2007 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Carnegie Hall.

  • 1955-

    Educator, pianist, orchestrator, producer, arranger

    "Shelly" Berg is an American jazz pianist and educator. Berg is music director of the Jazz Cruise and a five-time Grammy nominee. He has been the Dean of the Patricia L. Frost School of Music at the University of Miami since 2007 and was formerly the McCoy/Sample endowed music professor at USC Thornton School of Music. In 2000, the Los Angeles Times named him one of three "Educators for the Millennium" and in 2003 he was honored as Educator of the Year by the Los Angeles Jazz Society. In 2002, he received the lAJE Lawrence Berk Leadership Award. He has orchestrated, arranged or performed on acclaimed televisions specials and documentaries.

  • Formed 1972

    Harmonic Vocalists, multi Grammy Award winning quartet

    Vocal harmony group formed in 1972 by Tim Hauser (1941-2014), TMT has been awarded 11 Grammys and in 1998, was inducted into the Best Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They have recorded 20 albums and have charted with 20 singles. Their music has appeared in numerous movie soundtracks. From 1978 until Hauser's death in 2014, the four members of TMT were Houser, Alan Paul, Janie Siegel, and Cheryl Bentyne, who replaced original member, Laurel Masse. In 2014, Tris Curless replaced Tim Houser. In 2018, TMT received the American Eagle Award for contributions to the American musical culture and heritage and for serving as mentors and role models to aspiring jazz artists.

  • R. Domber 1938 - Co-founder/president Arbors Records preserving classic jazz

    M. Domber 1928 - 2012 - Co-founder Arbors Records

    Founded Arbors Records (1989) Records and producing, preserving and recording jazz, Formed in 1980, Arbors first release featured Rick Fay'o Hot Five: "Live at Lone Pine" in 1990. Since then Arbors has issued almost 450 CDs featuring many top jazz artists of the latter 20th century and continues today with recordings from artists like Harry Allen, Nicki Parrot, Ken Peplowski, Adrian Cunningham, Eddie Metz and young local area performers, James Suggs, La Lucha, and others. Mat Domber passed away in 2012 and Rachel Domber has continued as President of Arbors Records.

Honorees 2019-2010

  • Nov 10, 1934 -

    "Soul Jazz Tenor”, record producer, Eubie Blake Jazz Award

    The "Soul Jezz Tenor* - Person is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Person received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award in 1962 and is a member of the South Carolina State College Hall of Fame. He produced and performed on two Grammy nominated recordings of Etta Jones. Person received Indie jazz Record Awards in 1990 for "Something in Common" with Ron Carter and in 1991 for "Why Not”. In 2012, Houston received the Jazz Legend Award from the San Diego Jazz Party.

  • August 4, 1953

    Educator, Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra

    Jeff is an American jazz drummer, co-loader of the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Jeff Hamilton Jazz Trio. Born in Richmond, IN, Jeff performed with the Now Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Lionel Hampton Band and Woody Herman Thundering Herd, Joined the L.A. 4 and later was a member of the Monty Alexander Trio and the Ray Brown Trio. He can be on over 200 recordings and performed on 22 Grammy nominated recordings that have received 11 Grammy Awards. Hamilton received the German Critics Award for his 1996 recording "Jeff Hamilton - Live" and in 2006 was named Co-Musician of the Year by the LA Jazz Society.

  • Jan 1930 - Jan 28, 2020

    Promoter - The Jazz Cruise, "The greatest festival at sea"

    Promoter, producer and originator of "The Jazz Cruise". In 2000, the Norwegian Cruise Line terminated its sponsorship of their jazz cruise and Ms. Berry decided to continue the journey on her own, creating the first full charter dedicated strictly to jazz, "The Jazz Cruise." The cruise has evolved into the "Greatest Festival at Sea", with over 100 of the world's greatest jazz musicians performing. A most successful venture, "the Jazz Cruise" is a complete sell out year after year.

  • May 29, 1967

    Trombonist, composer, arranger, educator

    Wycliffe is an American jazz trombonist, arranger, composer, band leader, and music educator at the collegiate-conservatory level. Gordon also plays didgeridoo, trumpet, tuba, piano, and sings. Gordon is a dedicated educator who presents master classes, clinics, workshops, children's concerts, and lectures to students from elementary schools to universities all over the world. He is Director of Jazz Studies at Augusta University, and previously was a member of the faculty or artist in residence at numerous colleges and universities, including the Juilliard School. In addition to numerous DownBeat and Jazz Journal awards for the trombone, Wycliffe has received the Louie Award from the Louis Armstrong House Museum, four ASCAP Plus Awards, and the Louis Armstrong Memorial Prize presented by the Swing Jazz Foundation in Budapest, Hungary. He is also a member of the US Statesmen of Jazz and recorded thirty CDs as leader and many others as a sideman.

  • 1924-2020

    "Queen of the Keys" piano, vocalist, educator

    Queen of the Keys Lillette is a jazz and classical pianist and vocalist and humanitarian. During WWII, Ms. Jenkins-Winer performed with USO tours entertaining our troops. She worked in the theatre and appeared on TV and in the movies. In the early years of a career, that has spanned over 70 years, she has performed with many of the great jazz artists; Basie, Ella, Nat Cole, the Duke, Cab Calloway and Ray Charles, among others. Lillette and her husband, Bud Harris, a veteran of radio, stage, and screen fame, were the first African Americans to own and operate a nightclub and hotel-casino in Reno-Sparks Nevada in 1945. On the theatrical stage, Ms. Jenkins-Wisner was musical director for the off Broadway hit, "One Mo’ Time" and musical director and performer in the production, "The Life Story of Thomas A Dorsey", the father of Black Gospel music. Other shows include The Sarah Vaughn Festival, "Sparrow in Flight”, and a production of "Eubie". On the big screen, she has appeared in several movies, including “The Cotton Club", and she appeared regularly as a jazz pianist in the ABC TV soap opera series, "All My Children.”

  • May 23, 1959 - 2026

    Clarinetist, saxophonist; "The Man is Magic" - Mel Tormé

    A virtuoso clarinet and tenor sax player born in Cleveland, OH. Mel Tormé once said, "Since Benny Goodman, there have been too few clarinetists to fill the void that Goodman left. Ken Peplowski is most certainly one of those few. The man is magic." This quote only hints at Ken Peplowski's virtuosity - not only is he an outstanding clarinetist and saxophone player, but also a true gentleman and a charismatic entertainer who has been delighting audiences for almost 40 years with his warmth, wit, and musicianship. Peplowski has recorded over 50 CDs as leader and hundreds as a sideman. He was the artistic director of the Sarasota Jazz Festival, the Newport Beach Jazz Party, and the Newport Oregon Jazz Festival. A member of the Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame, Ken received the German Critics Award for Jazz Record of the Year in 1992 for his album "The Natural Touch," and the "Creative Arts Prize" in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Field of Creative Arts from the Polish American Historical Association.

  • 1933-

    Ellington bassist, educator

    John joined Duke Ellington's orchestra and toured and recorded with him for a number of years. He also performed with the Duke, as part of the Ellington jazz trio. He was on the Downbeat listing of "Best Bassists" back in his Ellington days. An educator, he spent many years teaching. After his years of service in the Air Force, he resided in two musical towns, Philadelphia and Boston. In Boston he found himself sitting in with Count Basie and his jazz idol, Miles Davis, and played in bands backing some of the biggest names in music: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, and others. He played in a club run by legendary jazz promoter George Wein in Boston. He was celebrated as a "Community Builder" at the annual Studio Honors gala by the St. Petersburg's Studio @ 620. Later that fall, The Tampa Jazz Club recognized him with a tribute concert, as did the Suncoast Dixielanders. In 2004, The City of St. Petersburg issued a proclamation celebrating "John Lamb Day." Although retired from teaching, Lamb keeps a busy schedule as a musician, working mostly in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. Asked about retiring from music, he quotes Duke Ellington, ”Retire to what? This is where everything is. I’m doing what I enjoy doing. That’s it.”

  • Feb 28, 1916 - Feb 7, 2017

    Jazz violinist, The "Fiddling Viking"

    Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Asmussen is a jazz violinist known as "The Fiddling Viking". A swing style virtuoso, he played and recorded with many of the greats of jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Fats Waller, and Stephane Grappelli. Among his more celebrated recordings were two albums made in the 1960s that teamed him with other great jazz violinists: "Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session" with Stéphane Grappelli and Ray Nance, and "The Violin Summit," with Grappelli, Smith and Jean-Luc Ponty. He performed publicly until 2010, a career spanning eight decades.

  • April 6, 1960 -

    Guitarist, vocalist, son of Bucky Pizzarelli

    John is an American jazz guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader. He has had a lengthy career as a recording artist, performing for a variety of labels that include Telarc Records, CA Records, and Chesky Records  among others. He has recorded over thirty albums of his own, as well as other joint recordings with his father, Bucky Pizzarelli. Additionally, he has appeared on more than 40 albums of other recording artists, including those of Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Rosemary Clooney, and his wife, Jessica Molaskey.

  • Formed in 1948

    Harmonic vocalists, musicians

    An American male vocal band quartet that blends open-harmonic jazz arrangements with the big band vocal group sounds of The Modernaires (Glenn Miller), The Pied Pipers (Tommy Dorsey), and The Mel-Tones (Artie Shaw), founded in the barbershop tradition. The Four Freshmen is considered a vocal band because the singers accompany themselves on guitar, horns, bass, and drums, among other instrumental configurations. Nominated for six Grammies, the Four Freshmen have won Jazz Times magazine Reader's Poll many times and DownBeats Reader Poll six times.

Honorees 2009-2000

  • Mar 26, 1925 - Dec 9, 2010

    Saxophonist, flutist, educator, NEA Jazz Master

    Moody was an American jazz saxophone and flute player, occasional vocalist and educator, playing predominantly in the bebop and hard bop styles. Throughout his career, he was a member of various Dizzy Gillespie's bands. Demand for his musicianship extended to college and university campuses for master classes, workshops, and lectures, and he received honorary doctoral degrees from the Florida Memorial College and the Berklee College of Music. In 1997, he had an acting role in the Clint Eastwood film, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” In 2010, he was honored with the Jazz Journalists Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz. He received an NEA Jazz Master Award in1998 and in 2011, shortly after his death, a posthumous Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for his album “Moody 4B.”

  • Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr. - Nov 14, 1934 - April 1, 2020

    New Orleans Jazz Family, NEA Jazz Master

    An American jazz pianist and active since the late 1940s, Marsalis came to greater attention in the 1980s and '90s as the patriarch of a musical family, with sons Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis rising to international acclaim. With father Ellis as mentor, older brothers Branford and Wynton as leaders of a new generation, and younger siblings Delfeayo and Jason as rising stars, the Marsalis clan has been acclaimed through recordings, performances, compositions and educational efforts of its members. The Marsalis Family received an NEA Jazz Masters Award in 2011. Ellis was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame in 2018.

  • Aug 26, 1928 -Jul 17, 2013

    Vibes, percussions, composer

    Peter was a British-Canadian jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer. He spent most of his life living and performing in the city of Toronto where for many years he was a popular performer in the city's nightclubs and hotels. He also played and recorded with many of the city's orchestras and was featured on Canadian television and radio programs. In the early 1970s he drew wide acclaim for his performances with Benny Goodman's jazz sextet with which he toured internationally.

  • July 3, 1930-Aug 6, 2016

    New Orleans jazz legend, clarinet

    Pierre Dewey LaFontaine, Jr. is a world-renowned American clarinetist born in New Orleans, LA. He has played Dixieland, Pop Jazz, Honky-Tonk Jazz, and Creole music. Hired by Decca Records A&R head Charles "Bud" Dant, he recorded forty two albums for Decca and recorded many on other labels, some with trumpeter, Al Hirt. Fountain owned and performed in a popular club in New Orleans French Quarter and was a member of the Dukes of Dixieland and a regular with Lawrence Welk Orchestra. Pete received an honorary degree from Loyola University and was inducted into Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and has a star on the Delta Music Museum Walk of Fame.

  • Cleo Laine - October 1927- Singer, actress, England's "Queen of Jazz”

    John Dankworth - Musician, composer, movie scores

    British singer and actress who mastered a variety of styles but was often known as the "Queen of Jazz." She is the only female singer to receive Grammy Award nominations in jazz, popular, and classical categories and won a Grammy for best female jazz vocal performance for the album Cleo at Carnegie: The 10th Anniversary Concert. Laine joined John Dankworth's band in 1952 and they were married in 1958. She performed in musical theatre, TV and films. Cleo received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the British and the US recording industries and the Gold Award from the BBC and UK's BASCA Gold Badge Award. She received numerous Honorary Degrees from colleges and universities including Berklee College of Music and Cambridge University. She was appointed Dame Cleo Laine DBE in 1997.

    John Dankworth - English jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinetist, and writer of film scores. In 1949, he performed in the Paris Jazz Festival with Charlie Parker and toured Sweden with Sydney Bechet and was named Musician of the Year. Dankworth formed his group, the Dankworth Seven in 1950 and three years later his larger band. In 1959, the band became the first British group invited to the Newport Jazz Festival. He received an Honorary Degree of music from Berklee and in 2006 was made a Knight Bachelor.

  • April 13, 1920 - May 12, 2004

    Saxophone, clarinet, composer, arranger, educator

    John was a Philadelphia-born jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and educator. LaPorta appeared as a sideman with Lennie Tristano, the Sandole Brothers, the Metronome All Stars, Kenny Clarke, Thad Jones, Charles Mingus, and, for two years, Woody Herman Orchestra. He began giving lessons in the early 40s, taught at high school, and worked with the International Youth Band at the Newport Jazz Festival. From 1962 until he retired, LaPorta taught at Berklee.

  • Bucky Pizzarelli - January 9, 1926 - April 5, 2020

    Legendary jazz guitarist

    John Paul "Bucky" Pizzarelli was an American jazz guitarist and banjoist, and the father of jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and bassist Martin Pizzarelli. Pizzarelli worked for NBC as a staffman for Dick Cavett and also ABC with Bobby Rosengarden. The list of musicians Bucky has collaborated with over his career includes Les Paul, Stephane Grappelli, Benny Goodman, and others. Pizzarelli acknowledges Django Reinhardt, Freddie Green, and George Van Eps for their influences on his style and mode of play. In 1964, he became a member of The Tonight Show Band on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

    John Paul Pizzarelli, Jr.

    • See Honoree profile for 2011.

  • June 19, 1912 - November 17, 2001

    Saxophonist, featured tenor with big bands

    Jerry was an American jazz and Big Band musician, a tenor saxophonist. He lead tenor sax with many famed orchestras - Glenn Miller, Red Norvo, Benny Goodman, and Artie Shaw. An A&R man for Apollo Records, he worked in radio and TV and wrote commercial jingles, performing them with jazz artists such as Red Allen, Bobby Hack, and others.

  • March 8, 1927 -

    Pianist, composer, 2017 NEA Jazz Master

    Richard "Dick" Hyman is an American jazz and classical pianist and composer, best known for his versatility with jazz piano styles. Over a 60-year career, he has functioned as a pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and, increasingly, as a composer. His versatility in all of these areas has resulted in well over 100 albums recorded under his own name and many more in support of other artists. Mr. Hyman was one of the first to record on the Moog synthesizer, and his Minotaur landed on the Billboard charts.

    He has scored twelve Woody Allen films and others, including Moonstruck and Scott Joplin. Among his many awards is the NEA Jazz Master presented in 2017. Well into his 90s, Hyman continues to record and perform in concerts and festivals.

  • 1937-2013

    President, Jazz Club of Sarasota from 1990 - 2002

    Jerry Roucher followed his passion for jazz and got involved with the growing club that Hal Davis started in 1980 in his living room, where he invited friends to listen to his favorite recordings. "I always thought it was great that he had the opportunity to have a whole second career with something that he just loved, which was jazz," Nancy Roucher said. "He was really thrilled to do that, to meet all the musicians and get to know them." Roucher became president in 1990. By the time he stepped down in 2000, membership had doubled to 2,600, making it one of the largest jazz clubs in the country. The jazz festival also grew to a week-long series of events, parties and concerts, with attendance doubling to about 6,000.

Honorees 1999-1990

  • Robert Sherwood Haggart was a Dixieland jazz double bass player, composer, and arranger. Although he is associated with Dixieland, he was one of the finest rhythm bassists of the Swing Era. Haggart was a founder /  member of the Bob Crosby Band (1935), arranging and part-composing several of the band's big successes, including "What's New?", "My Inspiration”, "South Rampart Street Parade", and "Big Noise from Winnetka.” Bob and Yank Lawson later formed the Lawson-Haggart Band, and they also led the World's Greatest Jazz Band from 1968-1978. He was also a studio musician at Decca, recording with Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald.

  • December 6, 1920 - December 5, 2012

    Pianist, composer, "Take Five"

    David Warren Brubeck was an American jazz pianist and composer considered to be one of the foremost exponents of cool jazz. He wrote a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke." Brubeck's style ranged from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. His long-time musical partner, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, wrote the saxophone melody for the Dave Brubeck Quartet's best remembered piece, "Take Five". A member of DownBeat Hall of Fame, Brubeck has received the NEA Jazz Master Award, the Kennedy Center Honors, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Laetare Medal from of Notre Dame, and the BBC Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award. He received an Honorary Degree of Music from Berklee and from numerous other colleges and universities. Brubeck is a member of the California Hall of Fame.

  • August 13, 1919 - February 14, 2011

    Pianist, composer, "Lullaby of Birdland"

    Shearing was born in the Battersea area of London. Congenitally blind, he was the youngest of nine children. Shearing enjoyed an international reputation as a pianist, arranger, and composer. He wrote over 300 compositions, including the classic "Lullaby of Birdland," which has become a jazz standard. Shearing performed a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, and also performed before three US Presidents: Ford, Carter, and Reagan. A multi Grammy Award winner, he received the Horatio Alger Award, the Ivor Novella Lifetime Achievement Award, the first American Music Award by the National Arts Club, numerous Doctor of Music Honorary Degrees, and the BBC Lifetime Achievement Jazz Award. In 2007, Shearing was knighted for services to music.

  • December 12, 1918 - March 29, 1999

    Vocalist Basie band, "Every Day I Have the Blues", NEA Jazz Master

    Joe was an American jazz singer. He sang with the Count Basie and the Lionel Hampton Orchestras. Joe also sang in two films with the Basie orchestra and also worked as an actor. Williams rose to prominence with Basie, recording "Every Day I Have the Blues" and "Alright, Okay, You Win." Basie nicknamed him The Number One Son. He won a Grammy for his LP, “Nothing But the Blues”. His recording “Every Day I Have the Blues” was placed in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1984, and Williams was added to the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame in 2001. He received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee and, with his wife, Jillian, and friends, set up the not-for-profit Joe Williams Every Day Foundation to offer scholarships to talented young musicians. Williams toured and performed with notable jazz artists, including George Shearing, Thad Jones, Cannonball Adderley, "Sweets" Edison, Junior Mance, and others.

  • March 20 1918 - August 20, 2013

    Pianist, NPRs Piano Jazz, NEA Jazz Master

    Marian was an English-American jazz pianist, composer, and writer. She was host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on NPR from 1978 to 2011 and married trumpeter Jimmy McPartland in February 1945. In 1969 She founded Halcyon Records, a recording company that produced albums for 10 years. She was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2000. Later, in 2004, she was given a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement and was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2007. Although known mostly for jazz, she composed other types of music and performed her own symphonic work, “A Portrait of Rachel Carson,” with the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra in 2007. Marian was named a member of the Order of the British Empire in 2010. She is a recipient of the Downbeat Lifetime Achievement Award, a Peabody Award winner, a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame, and a member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

  • July 24, 1921 - December 28, 2010

    Pianist, educator, composer, NEA Jazz Master

    William Taylor was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster, and educator. Taylor has more than 20 honorary doctoral degrees and has received two Peabody Awards, an Emmy Award, NEA Jazz Masters Award (1998), a Grammy Award (2004), Down Beat magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award, National Medal of Arts, and the Tiffany Award. In 1981, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the Berklee College of Music, had received ASCAP's Living Legend Award, and was elected to the Hall of Fame for the International Association for Jazz Education. He served as Artistic Director for Jazz at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and performed at the White House seven times. Billy was one of only three jazz musicians to be appointed to the National Council of the Arts. Taylor was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

  • April 6, 1927 - January 20, 1996

    Saxophonist, arranger, composer

    Gerald Joseph Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history, he was also a notable arranger, working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton and others. His piano-less quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the more important cool jazz groups. He was also a skilled pianist and played several other reed instruments. He won DownBeat's readers' poll 42 consecutive years as bari sax of the year and is in the magazine's Hall of Fame, the American Jazz Hall of Fame, and the big band Jazz Hall of Fame. His album, “Something Cool,” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

  • April 20, 1908 - August 31, 2002

    "Hamp", Vibes, percussions, composer, NEA Jazz Master

    "Hamp" was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader, and actor. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich to Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Quincy Jones. Awards include the 1988 NEA Jazz Master Award, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, the National Medal of Arts in 1996, a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, honorary doctorates from many colleges and universities, and induction into the Jazz Hall of Fame.

  • 1916 - May 1990

    Founder - Jazz Club of Sarasota, Publicist for Benny Goodman

    Jazz Club Founder and publicist, Harold Davis, began his public relations career in the late 1930's in the publicity department of the Columbia Broadcasting System. He later was director of publicity for Columbia Records and, in 1941, formed his own public relations firm, Davis-Lieber Associates, to handle musical talent, like the Benny Goodman Orchestra and other top bands of the era. In retirement, he was the founder and president of the Jazz Club of Sarasota, an organization that he started in 1980 with a few neighbors and grew into a 1,500-member group that sponsors annual jazz festivals and concerts.

  • April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974

    Pianist, composer, band leader

    Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and bandleader of a jazz orchestra. He led his orchestra from 1923 until his death, his career spanning over 50 years. Often collaborating with others, Ellington wrote over one thousand compositions. His extensive body of work is the largest recorded personal jazz legacy, with many of his works having become standards. After 1941, Ellington collaborated with composer-arranger-pianist Billy Strayhorn, whom he called his writing and arranging companion. He has received 14 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement, a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1969), France's Legion of Honor, the Jazz Hall of Fame and a posthumous special Pulitzer Prize in 1969.

Honorees 1989-1987

  • April 25, 1917 - June 15, 1996

    "Queen of Jazz", "First Lady of Song", NEA Jazz Master

    Ella Jane Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, and Lady Ella. She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.  Her accolades included fourteen Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, the Jazz Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the NEA Jazz Master Award in 1985.

  • June 23, 1910 - December 19, 2000

    "The Dean of Bass Players", NEA Jazz Master

    Milton John Hinton, "the dean of jazz bass players", was an American jazz double bassist, photographer, and educator. He was nicknamed "The Judge". Hinton possessed a formidable technique and was equally adept at bowing, pizzicato, and "slapping" while a member of the Cab Calloway Orchestra from 1936 to 1951. Hinton was a prolific studio musician, performing on 1000s of recordings and jingles. He received honorary doctorates from numerous colleges and universities. Honors include the Eubie Award, the Living Treasure Award from the Smithsonian, and the first-ever Switzerland's Three Keys Award in Bern, Switzerland. An NEA Jazz Master Award recipient, he is listed on ASCAP's Wall of Fame. Photos from his prized collection of jazz performers have appeared in many documentaries.

  • October 3, 1925

    Founder-Newport Jazz Festival, NEA Jazz Master

    George is an American jazz promoter and producer who has been called "the most famous jazz impresario" and "the most important non-player in jazz history", although he was a jazz pianist in his youth while studying at Boston University. Wein is the founder of what is probably the best-known jazz festival in the United States, the Newport Jazz Festival. Wein received the NEA Jazz Master Award in 2005 and has received honorary degrees from Berklee and Rhode Island Colleges of Music.