Dear Potential Sponsor,
Please join us in this historic occasion to honor one of Memphis' unfairly forgotten yet greatest musicians, visionaries and sons, the incomparable Jimmie Lunceford.
Please sponsor and support the first annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival. This three day celebration will take place on October 19-21 2007 throughout various locations in the city.
Purpose Of The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival:
To Honor And Bring Awareness To The Forgotten And Impressive Legacy And Achievements Of Jimmie Lunceford, The First High School Band Orchestra Leader/Conductor In The History Of The Memphis City Schools...Jimmie Lunceford formed the first high school band in Memphis at Manassas High School where he also taught football, baseball, English and Spanish...He later took his band of high school students and turned them into a professional and popular local Memphis band known as the Chickasaw Syncopators.
In the early 1930s Lunceford took his band to the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem, NY to take over as the house band for Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway...The group eventually became known as The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra...The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra would regularly broadcast live from the Cotton Club gaining a huge national audience...Jimmie Lunceford would constantly beat the great swing bands of his era in numerous “battle of the bands" contests including those led by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Chick Webb...The Lunceford Orchestra was considered by many including Glenn Miller and Miles Davis to be one of if not the best swing band ever!!! Unfortunately Jimmie Lunceford (after dying under mysterious circumstances on July 12, 1947 in Seaside, Oregon) has been forgotten by many in the Memphis Community for 60 years and counting.
Jimmie Lunceford, the essence of a true teacher, never forgot about Memphis or Manassas High School and would constantly come back to talk to students at Manassas High School and hold free concerts despite being one of the most popular bandleaders in the country, Black or White.
The purpose of this event is to bring awareness about Jimmie Lunceford and to instill community pride in the achievements and accomplishments of a native Memphian who never forgot Memphis. Jimmie Lunceford's remains are interred at the famous Elmwood Cemetery along with his wonderful legacy. Hopefully three days in October and many years to come we plan to change that.
The Three Day Celebration Which Will Take Place Oct. 19-21, 2007 Includes:
1) An opening symposium about the life and legacy of Jimmie Lunceford at his old stomping grounds: Manassas High School. Panelists will include people who knew Jimmie Lunceford personally, renowned music experts, and legendary musical figures who benefited from the example and music of Jimmie Lunceford. This will be broadcast live throughout the country courtesy of Americans For The Arts
2) Wreath laying ceremony at Jimmie Lunceford's gravesite in Elmwood Cemetery
3) Parade And “Battle of the Bands" featuring local area high school and middle school bands in honor of Jimmie Lunceford the first high school band director in Memphis
4) Tribute Concert to Jimmie Lunceford featuring local as well as national acts
5) An art exhibit paying homage to Jimmie Lunceford and jazz music
6) Debut Of The Jimmie Lunceford Scholars Fund
7) Debut Of The Jimmie Lunceford Legacy Award
Below are the different levels of financial giving one can give to support The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree. All financial donation levels with the exception of the highest level, Chickasaw Syncopator ( which is named in honor of Jimmie Lunceford's pioneering band formed from his Manassas High School band) are named for titles from some of Jimmie Lunceford's most popular and famous tunes.
If you have a service that you would like to offer in addition to or in lieu of a financial contribution feel to contact us by e-mailing [email protected] or call Ron Herd II at 901-299-4355 with details.
Please join us in this historic occasion to honor one of Memphis' unfairly forgotten yet greatest musicians, visionaries and sons, the incomparable Jimmie Lunceford.
Please sponsor and support the first annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival. This three day celebration will take place on October 19-21 2007 throughout various locations in the city.
Purpose Of The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival:
To Honor And Bring Awareness To The Forgotten And Impressive Legacy And Achievements Of Jimmie Lunceford, The First High School Band Orchestra Leader/Conductor In The History Of The Memphis City Schools...Jimmie Lunceford formed the first high school band in Memphis at Manassas High School where he also taught football, baseball, English and Spanish...He later took his band of high school students and turned them into a professional and popular local Memphis band known as the Chickasaw Syncopators.
In the early 1930s Lunceford took his band to the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem, NY to take over as the house band for Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway...The group eventually became known as The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra...The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra would regularly broadcast live from the Cotton Club gaining a huge national audience...Jimmie Lunceford would constantly beat the great swing bands of his era in numerous “battle of the bands" contests including those led by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Chick Webb...The Lunceford Orchestra was considered by many including Glenn Miller and Miles Davis to be one of if not the best swing band ever!!! Unfortunately Jimmie Lunceford (after dying under mysterious circumstances on July 12, 1947 in Seaside, Oregon) has been forgotten by many in the Memphis Community for 60 years and counting.
Jimmie Lunceford, the essence of a true teacher, never forgot about Memphis or Manassas High School and would constantly come back to talk to students at Manassas High School and hold free concerts despite being one of the most popular bandleaders in the country, Black or White.
The purpose of this event is to bring awareness about Jimmie Lunceford and to instill community pride in the achievements and accomplishments of a native Memphian who never forgot Memphis. Jimmie Lunceford's remains are interred at the famous Elmwood Cemetery along with his wonderful legacy. Hopefully three days in October and many years to come we plan to change that.
The Three Day Celebration Which Will Take Place Oct. 19-21, 2007 Includes:
1) An opening symposium about the life and legacy of Jimmie Lunceford at his old stomping grounds: Manassas High School. Panelists will include people who knew Jimmie Lunceford personally, renowned music experts, and legendary musical figures who benefited from the example and music of Jimmie Lunceford. This will be broadcast live throughout the country courtesy of Americans For The Arts
2) Wreath laying ceremony at Jimmie Lunceford's gravesite in Elmwood Cemetery
3) Parade And “Battle of the Bands" featuring local area high school and middle school bands in honor of Jimmie Lunceford the first high school band director in Memphis
4) Tribute Concert to Jimmie Lunceford featuring local as well as national acts
5) An art exhibit paying homage to Jimmie Lunceford and jazz music
6) Debut Of The Jimmie Lunceford Scholars Fund
7) Debut Of The Jimmie Lunceford Legacy Award
Below are the different levels of financial giving one can give to support The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree. All financial donation levels with the exception of the highest level, Chickasaw Syncopator ( which is named in honor of Jimmie Lunceford's pioneering band formed from his Manassas High School band) are named for titles from some of Jimmie Lunceford's most popular and famous tunes.
If you have a service that you would like to offer in addition to or in lieu of a financial contribution feel to contact us by e-mailing [email protected] or call Ron Herd II at 901-299-4355 with details.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
