#3070 Lesser-known Facts About Well-known Jazz Musicians, Part I

Register and pay for five classes at once and receive the sixth class for free.  You must register over the phone or in person.  This discount does not apply to registering online.  (The free class is of the same or lesser value.)

Tuesday, August 1, 11:00am - 1:00pm

#3070 Lesser-known Facts About Well-known Jazz Musicians, Part I

Instructor: Dr. Dick Fairley

Many of the stories about well-known jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and others, are well-known. This presentation will focus on lesser-known stories that shaped the careers and reputations of many well-known jazz musicians. For example, why did Louis Armstrong wear a Star of David necklace throughout his lifetime? How did Benny Goodman become host and bandleader of the nationally broadcast radio show “Let’s Dance” in the 1930s (that made his career) when he was not well-known and had no orchestra? How did an incident during a jam session that caused Charlie Parker to be chased off the stage lead to his becoming one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time? These and other lesser-known stories of better-known musicians will be related with ample time for questions and discussions.

Dick Fairley, PhD in Computer Science and Systems Engineering from UCLA.  He worked as an engineer, university professor, consultant, and as a jazz disk jockey at KRCC.

$25 PILLAR Members / $40 Nonmembers