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Countless thousands of
young musicians' lives have been touched by
Clark
Terry's
magical trumpet and encouragement. Terry, though best known as a
headliner at the world's premier jazz events, as well as a television
personality featured on national programs such as "The Tonight Show," is
one of jazzdom's finest educators.
Terry is director of
the Clark Terry International Institute of Jazz Studies at Westmar
University, director of his own "Big Band" Summer Jazz Camp, advisor to
the International Association of Jazz
Educators, and a much sought-after clinician. He is the author of
several trumpet and jazz texts which are used worldwide. Terry, one of
contemporary music's great innovators, is justly celebrated for his great
technical virtuosity, swinging lyricism and impeccable good taste.
Combining these with the gifts of a great dramatists, Clark Terry is a
master storyteller whose spellbinding musical "tales" leave audiences
thrilled and always wanting more.
Terry's musical credits
span much of the history of jazz. In the 1940's after serving in the
Navy, Clark's musical star rose rapidly with stints in the bands of
Charlie Barnet, Charlie Ventura,
Eddie
Vinson
, and then in the 1948, the great
Count Basie.
Along the way,
Terry
was exerting a positive influence on young musicians such as Miles Davis
and Quincy Jones.
In 1951, Terry was
asked to join
Duke Ellington's Orchestra, where he stayed for eight years as featured
soloist. "The time with Ellington was like attending a university," he
recalls warmly. Following his time with Ellington, Terry was courted by
and joined the musical staff of NBC in New York. Accepting the challenge
of becoming the first Afro-American musician on the NBC payroll, Terry
soon became a television star as one of the spotlighted players in the
"Tonight Show Band." When the Tonight Show moved to Los Angeles, he chose
to remain in New York City to continue his busy schedule as a highly
sought after jazz and studio musician.
Terry's considerable
accomplishments as a jazz innovator and educator have earned him an
impressive array of honors. He has received six honorary doctorates. Phi
Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national music fraternity, made him the first jazz
artist to be honored with its highest award for distinguished service to
music. Hall of Fame jazz trumpeter and vocalist, goodwill ambassador
across the globe, and friend to every aspiring student musician, we
welcome Clark Terry to the Carolina Jazz Festival!
Photos by your photo person
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Clark Terry keeps tradition alive in Ernie Wilkins'
Mumbles Returns

Clark Terry performs Dave Leech's The
Zinger


Clark Terry gives the world a lesson on using the mute in
Dave Slonaker's Dues Blues

Clark Terry performs Just Squeeze
Me


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