John O'Connor (1917-2013) was an Extension Assosicate Professor of Continuing Education in the Music Office, and Medicare 7, 8 or 9 cornetist (1968-1983). John O'Connor was born on April 4, 1917 to Ida and John O'Connor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He spent most of his childhood in California. At age 10, he began playing trumpet. He formed his first band, "Johnny's Hot Socks," soon after. At 16, he moved back to Milwaukee. O'Connor attended the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, performing at various restaurants to pay for his tuition. After earning a degree in music, he taught elementary school band in Shreveport, Louisiana. Here he became a founding member of the Shreveport Symphony.
In 1941, O'Connor enlisted in the Army-Air Force, earning the rank of second lieutenant. During the war, he flew antisubmarine patrols in the Gulf of Mexico and piloted a B-24 with the 15th Air Force in Italy, earning the distinguished Flying Cross in 1944. Following the war, he moved to Urbana, Il to persue a masters in music education at the University of Illinois. He studying with Albert Austin Harding and became president of the Concert Band in 1946. Following this he served as director of Bands at the College of Puget Sound (WA) until 1950. He was called back to active duty during the Korean War, serving as an air traffic control officer. Following the war, he remained in the Air Force, serving at based in Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Japan, and Germany.
O'Connor joined the University of Illinois School of Music in 1967. In November 1969 John O'Connor, with Dan Perrino, brought together a group of faculty with experience in Dixieland Jazz to perform in the south lounge of the University Illini Union building, known at the time at as the "free speech area." The effort was motivated by a desire to strengthen communications between an unrestful student body and faculty. This concert, called "Dialog in Dixieland Jazz," attracted 500 persons and Medicare 7, 8 or 9 was born. John O'Connor was a member of Medicare 7, 8 or 9 until 1983, performing across the country to spread the band's message of using music as communication. Without rehearsing, the band engaged with dialogue with audience members to the music to be played, its key and its arrangement. John O'Connor was also active with the Jimmy Dorsey Band, Barnum and Bailey Circus, Ice Capades, Orrin Tucker, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra and the National Jazz Educators Association. O'Connor died in Seattle, Washington on May 28, 2013.
Sources:Box 1, Folder 1: "Dixieland Dialogue" pamphlets, March 1973
John O'Connor Obituary, The News-Gazette (June 2, 2013).
Gilmore, Nancy. The Magic of Medicare 7, 8 or 9 and all that Jazz. Champaign: Sagamore Publishing, 1993.
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