Thara Memory was a trumpeter and educator from

Eatonville, Florida Eatonville is a town in Orange County, Florida, United States, six miles north of Orlando. It is part of the Orlando– Kissimmee metropolitan statistical area. Incorporated on August 15, 1887, it was one of the first self-governing all-black ...

. He attended

Alabama State University Alabama State University (ASU) is a public historically black university in Montgomery, Alabama. Founded in 1867, ASU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. History Alabama State University was founded in 1867 as the ...

and

Marylhurst University Marylhurst University was a private applied liberal arts and business university in Marylhurst, Oregon. It was among the oldest collegiate degree-granting institutions in Oregon, having awarded its first degree in 1897. Marylhurst was founded as S ...

. He lived in Portland, Oregon, United States from the 1970s until his death in 2017. His daughter, Tahirah Memory, is an internationally known jazz vocalist.

Biography

In 2005, he founded the

American Music Program Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra The American Music Program (née Pacific Crest Sinfonietta, Cultural Recreation Band) is a youth jazz band in Portland, Oregon founded by jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator Thara Memory. This non-profit youth music program mentors primary school ...

(often shortened to American Music Program), a youth jazz orchestra in Portland, Oregon, that has won national accolades. During the 2012

Portland Jazz Festival The Portland Jazz Festival, now known as the Biamp PDX Jazz Festival, is an annual multi-venue series of over 100 jazz events held during the month of February. Events are presented throughout Portland, Oregon in such venues as P5 Center for the ...

, Memory was honored as 2012's Portland Jazz Master. Memory was a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. On February 10, 2013, Memory won a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

in the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) category for his arrangement for the

Esperanza Spalding Esperanza Emily Spalding (born October 18, 1984) is an American bassist, singer, songwriter, and composer. Her accolades include five Grammy Awards, a Boston Music Award, and a Soul Train Music Award. A native of Portland, Oregon, Spalding ...

track "City of Roses" from her album ''

Radio Music Society ''Radio Music Society'' is the fourth studio album by Esperanza Spalding, which was released through the record label Heads Up International on March 20, 2012. The album earned Spalding Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Instrumental ...

'', which featured the students of the American Music Program in the music video and backing up Spalding on the album. On May 9, 2014, Berklee College of Music awarded Memory an honorary doctorate of music degree. Memory's message to the students was direct and sharp, a piece of wisdom from a seasoned educator. "You can't keep it unless you give it away. Start giving it away as soon as you walk out this door. Rehearsal every day is the answer. If you rehearse every day, you have nothing to worry about." On May 9, 2015, the American Music Program, which Memory still directed at the end of his life despite his failing health, won Jazz at Lincoln Center's

Essentially Ellington The Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival is an annual high school jazz festival and competition that takes place every May at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. The festival is aimed at encouraging young musician ...

high school jazz band competition, playing Ellington's "Tattooed Bride" from memory. At the time of his death he had been under arrest, after being charged with 8 counts of sexual abuse and assault. Memory died on June 17, 2017, at the age of 68.

Discography

* ''Juke Music'' - Flying Heart Records, 1992 * ''Chronicle'' - CD Baby, 2008

Biography

Discography

References

Further reading