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Clarence Acox is an American band director and jazz drummer. He is a native of New Orleans, and has been heard in a variety of settings in the Pacific Northwest.
Clarence Acox | |
|---|---|
 Acox in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Band director, jazz drummer |
| Instrument(s) | Drums, Piano |
He is the former director of jazz bands at Garfield High School,[1] where he has taught since arriving from Southern University in Baton Rouge in 1971, initially hired to rejuvenate the school's marching bands.[2][3] Under his tutelage since 1979, the Garfield Jazz Ensemble has won every major competition on the West Coast, including competitions in Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.[2] He retired from Garfield High School in June, 2019.
Acox was named Educator of the Year by Down Beat magazine in 2001.[1][2][4] In 2004 the Seattle Music Educators Association recognized him as its Outstanding Music Educator.[5] In 2007 he was presented the Mayor's Arts Award by Seattle mayor Greg Nickels.[1][6] In 2008 Seattle Metropolitan magazine named him one of the 50 most influential musicians in the history of Seattle music.[2] In 2010, he and Roosevelt High School's Scott Brown shared the Impact Award at Seattle's second annual City of Music Awards.[7] In May 2016 Acox was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Cornish College of the Arts.
Acox is a regular on the club scene in the Seattle area. He has performed with the Floyd Standifer Quartet (now Legacy Quartet) at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant since 1986.[1][3][8] His drum style also drives the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, which he co-founded in 1995 with University of Washington saxophone instructor Michael Brockman.[3][9][10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Garfield High School Jazz: Clarence Acox Jr. Archived 2009-01-22 at the Wayback Machine, Garfield High School. Accessed online 2 February 2009.
- ^ a b c d Steve Wiecking, "Clarence Acox Jr.", Seattle Metropolitan, December 2008, p. 62.
- ^ a b c Rebekah Denn, Meet conductor Clarence Acox, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 15, 2000. Accessed online 2 February 2009.
- ^ Jazz Journalists Association
- ^ Clarence Acox, Origin Records. Accessed online 2010-01-30.
- ^ "Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs "2007 Mayor's Arts Awards announced"". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
- ^ Seattle Times staff, Carlile, Schwarz, school jazz bandleaders honored by City of Music Awards, Seattle Times, 2010-09-20. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ New Orleans Creole Restaurant: LEGACY QUARTET with CLARENCE ACOX
- ^ Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Archived 2010-04-20 at the Wayback Machine, Artistic directors
- ^ Bowers, Jack (2002-08-01). "CD/LP Review: SRJO Live". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-06-20.