|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Houston Person Returns Home to Perform Benefit Concert After his parents bought him his first saxophone when he was 15 years old and living in Florence, Houston Person knew that a life in music was his destiny. Sixty years and 75 albums later, Person is still living that destiny and will return to Florence to perform a benefit concert for the Wilson High School Athletic Association, Inc. on August 27 at 7 p.m. at the Southeastern Institute for Manufacturing and Technology in Florence. There will be a reception at 6 p.m. "It's going to be great to be home, " said Person, who was actually born in Newberry, but was raised in Florence and graduated from Wilson High School. The Wilson High School Athletic Association, Inc., a tax-exempt non-profit organization, was founded in April 2008 by Clayton Brown, Willie McDaniels and George R. White to honor all students who participated in sports throughout the history of Wilson High School. The organization's goals include the purchase of land and the building of a sports hall of fame complex. The overall vision is a multi-purpose building with four wings - youth, hall of fame, auditorium, and sports restaurant – that will encompass approximately 23, 600 square feet. The association held its first induction ceremony at the Oakdale Country Club in Florence on February 28, 2009. Person grew up in Florence and first played piano before switching to tenor sax. He studied at SC State College (now SC State University) in Orangeburg, where he was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 1999. He is a tenor saxophonist and record producer and has recorded and produced 75 albums over a 50-year career. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. Person is also known for his distinctive sassy sound and his expressive style of playing. He received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award in 1982. In the US Air Force, he joined a service band stationed in West Germany, and played with Don Ellis, Eddie Harris, Cedar Walton, and Leo Wright. He later continued his studies at Hartt College of Music in Hartford, Connecticut. He first became known for a series of albums for Prestige Records in the 1960s. Contrary to popular belief, he was never married to the vocalist Etta Jones, but did spend many years as her musical partner, recording, performing and touring. For much of his career this association was what he was best known for. They first met playing in organist Johnny Hammond's band. Person's albums are on Prestige, Westbound, Mercury, Savoy, Muse Records and High Note labels. He has recorded with Charles Brown, Bill Charlap, Charles Earland, Lena Horne, Etta Jones, Lou Rawls, Horace Silver, Dakota Staton, Billy Butler, and Richard "Groove" Holmes. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Jazz News :: home page |