Albums Archive • Page 6 of 6 • Jacksonville Jazz Festival

July 1, 2021

The Honorable Elaine Brown

2003 Inductee The Honorable Elaine Brown has worked tirelessly to serve her community for more than 20 years. She has served as Jacksonville City Council President and member as well as on various boards of directors, including I.M. Sulzbacher Center, Jax Pride and March of Dimes. Council President Brown has also volunteered for numerous community causes, including the Jacksonville Oceanside Rotary, the Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI), “Walk America” and as a suicide prevention volunteer....

July 1, 2021

Marcus Roberts

2003 Inductee Marcus Roberts was first exposed to music in the local church in Jacksonville where his mother was a gospel singer. A few years after losing his eyesight at age five, he began teaching himself to play piano but did not begin any formal lessons until age twelve. As a jazz pianist, Roberts joined Wynton Marsalis’ band, touring and recording with him for six years. Roberts won the Jacksonville Jazz Festival’s first Great American Jazz...

July 1, 2021

Ira Koger

2000 Inductee Ira Koger believed the quality of a community’s cultural life attracts business, so business leaders should not regard the arts and music as “frills.” He was widely respected as a patron of the arts and devoted himself to cultural developments and events. Koger thrived at a variety of vocations and roles, including election to the South Carolina House of Representatives at age 21, President of O.P. Woodcock Company and Chairman and CEO of...

July 1, 2021

Rich Matteson

2000 Inductee Rich Matteson was recognized nationally as one of our county’s most exciting jazz soloists and clinicians, with a career which included public school music teacher, professional performer, conductor, arranger, composer, and college professor. Matteson became involved with jazz education in 1968 and performed as clinician and guest soloist at high schools, colleges and universities throughout the world. In 1986, he was appointed the Kroger Distinguished Professor of American Music at the University of...

July 1, 2021

Dan Kossoff

1999 Inductee Dan Kossoff has produced, directed, written and developed thousands of films, commercials, television programs and special events. He began his media career in 1961 by hosting a campus jazz radio program in Duluth, Minnesota. During college, he toured the Midwest as a guitar/folk singer. He joined WJCT in 1968, specializing in public affairs and documentary production. Kossoff produced and directed the PBS coverage of the Festival from 1981-1984. From that time until 1991 he...

July 1, 2021

Mike Tolbert

1999 Inductee Mike Tolbert is a self-employed strategic planning and communications consultant in Jacksonville, who represents corporate and political clients. He has worked with Mayors Jake Godbold, Hanz Tansler, Ed Austin, Congresswoman Tillie Fowler and Florida State Senator Betty Holzendorf. Tolbert helped produce the first five Jacksonville Jazz Festivals and introduced the Great American Jazz Piano Competition to the Festival. He played a key role in the agreement that led to the national and international...

June 25, 2021

The Honorable Jake Godbold

1999 Inductee Jake Godbold served on the Jacksonville City Council for 13 years, including two as Council president, before being elected as mayor for eight years. During his terms as mayor, the Riverwalk, The Jacksonville Landing, and Metropolitan Park were built. Mayor Godbold helped bring 80,000 new jobs and 165 new companies to Jacksonville and was the overseer of $1 billion worth of construction in Jacksonville and Duval County. The Jacksonville Jazz Festival and Spring...