2017 Inductee The first jazz graduate at the University of North Florida, now in his 20th year, J.B. Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series. He directs the UNF JE I big band, winner of the 2015 Downbeat Magazine’s “Best Large Jazz Ensemble” undergrad award, which often backs major artists on the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and annually on the Savannah Jazz Festival. J.B. is profiled among...
2016 Inductee For over fifteen years Jack Melvin, Jr. has been an integral part of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. As owner of Keyboard Connections, Jack is a dedicated educator, sharing his passion and love of music by teaching over 100 students a week. Jack’s support of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival began with the Great American Piano Competition, now known as the world renowned Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. He has also has had a large role...
2015 Inductee Pianist, vocalist, writer and arranger are all talents that describe Noel Freidline. A graduate of the University of North Florida, he has kept us entertained for years, becoming the leader of his own group, the Noel Freidline Quintet, in 1991. Since that time, the group has become a renowned presence in the jazz world, performing for 13 years at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, as well as across the country. Friedline has been the...
2014 Inductee Ace Martin is currently Instrumental Music Chairman at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, FL, and has been since the opening of school of in 1984. Under the direction of Martin, Douglas Anderson’s Jazz Band I has been invited to play for various local, state, national and international Jazz Festival events....
2013 Inductee Performer, composer, educator, jazz vocalist Lisa Kelly has been a highly respected jazz artist for over 30 years. Winning an unprecedented 8 DownBeat Magazine awards for voice, arranging, and composition, she was the selected vocalist with the 2000 IAJE Sisters In Jazz Combo, and profiled among 320 of today’s international jazz artists in the 2010 book, The New Face of Jazz. Earning her B.M. and M.M. Degrees in Jazz Studies and Performance from...
2013 Inductee For nearly two decades, as the City of Jacksonville’s head of special events, Theresa O’Donnell Price made unparalleled contributions to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. Her passion, energy and professionalism gave life to the event and assured enjoyment by all in attendance....
2012 Inductee Gary Starling is a veteran of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, including 15 performances since 1985. Starling has also performed in local jazz clubs and private venues throughout the North Florida area. He has also appeared at the Hilton Head Jazz Society and the Gainesville Friends of Jazz. Starling’s professional jazz career began at 16, playing with Doug Carne at the El Dorado Lounge on Moncrief Road. During the late 60s and 70s, Starling...
2012 Inductee Bernard “Womack” Howard was a respected pianist in Jacksonville’s jazz community. He was trained as a child by his parents and went on to become an accomplished player. He performed with such notables as Teddy Washington, Longineu Parsons, Rev. Eugene White, Lisa Kelly, Gary Starling and other talented musicians during the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. After retiring from the U.S. government, where he was the first black air traffic controller in the southern region,...
2011 Inductee Performer, educator, composer, arranger, lecturer, and music education consultant, Bunky Green has had 14 albums released in his name and his latest album, Apex, was released in 2010. Green is the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida and he continues to tour around the world. He is the permanent chair of the Past Presidents Council of International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE and was inducted into the IAJE Hall...
2011 Inductee The Honorable Bill Chappell, Jr. was a U.S. Congressman from Florida for 20 years and his district included parts of Jacksonville. He served as Chairman of Defense Appropriation Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives and was also a former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Chappell was instrumental in obtaining crucial early funding for the Jacksonville Jazz Festival which allowed the festival to be nationally televised in the 1980s. This funding also...
