Title: Jon A. English Papers, 1946-1996
Arrangement
Organized into one series called Personal Papers.
Biographical Note
John A. English was born in Kankakee Illinois, March 22, 1942. He died September 25, 1996 of Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
He attended Burcham Elementary School and Bradley High School before going to University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in 1960 for a music degree. He says he was one of the first to perform a non-traditional jazz piece at his senior recital. He graduated in 1965. He met and married Myra Williams during his time at U of I. When he later divorced, he married Candace N. English, who helped him write his autobiography.
His professional career as a musician started in his early 20s. He played the trombone, bass trombone, bass and "various percussion". During his undergraduate education ee was part of the Harry Partch Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Trombone Choir and Contemporary Chamber Players.
English was a part of recording at least 4 albums: "Contemporary Music From the University of Iowa" by Salvatore Martirano, "Gay American Composers" by Robert Helps, "Heiss/Brün/Yttrehus: Chamber Works" by Rolv Yttrehus, and "Philip Niblock - YPGPN" by Phill Niblock.
English played in many groups in Illinois, then in Europe during the 1970s and after 1984 in Northern California. He also taught at Sonoma State University and UC Santa Cruz and directed the Bay Area Jazz Composer's Orchestra.
Sources:MEMORYspace by Jon A. English and Candance N. English
Memorial program
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