1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

One of my heroes has died

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Another Brother, Feb 4, 2008.

Tags:
  1. Another Brother

    Another Brother Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2001
    Messages:
    7,314
    Likes Received:
    881
    Inner city Houston in the 70-80's was not exactly a breeding ground for confidence among black kids. If you didn't posses athlete or drug dealer potential then you were left with little hope of being special among your peers, and even less hope of being any sort of mainstream commodity. Conrad O. Johnson was an educator who turned a poorly funded high school jazz program into an international musical phenomenon. The Kashmere Stage Band was the only high school jazz band at the time with jazz albums that sold all over the world, and the only high school entity that could boast travelling internationally to perform their original works. Conrad Johnson embodied the classic inner city mentor/non-motivated black kid scenario, he shaped lives with confidence while leading by example. He cultivated our improvisional skills while making sure that we could sight read professional jazz charts. He forced us to compete with magnet programs at a time when judging such events was racially biased, and we did so with difficult big band pieces and flashy instrumental choreography. When we competed we impressed...so when we lost, we still won.

    Conrad Johnson died this past weekend and a significant part of Houston's music history will never be the same without him.

    RIP Prof

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5599377

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/music/5504478.html
     
    #1 Another Brother, Feb 4, 2008
  2. Jeremiah

    Jeremiah Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2008
    Messages:
    2,034
    Likes Received:
    16
    That's sad. RIP.
     
    #2 Jeremiah, Feb 4, 2008
  3. xiki

    xiki Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2002
    Messages:
    17,875
    Likes Received:
    3,226
    Thanks for sharing...sounds like a great loss, to all of us.
     
    #3 xiki, Feb 4, 2008
  4. jcee15

    jcee15 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2006
    Messages:
    3,528
    Likes Received:
    598
    Sorry to hear that
     
    #4 jcee15, Feb 4, 2008
  5. Lil Pun

    Lil Pun Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 1999
    Messages:
    34,143
    Likes Received:
    1,038
    Sorry for your loss.
     
    #5 Lil Pun, Feb 4, 2008
  6. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2002
    Messages:
    43,862
    Likes Received:
    3,734
    so he died right after they published this article? that's messed up. sorry to hear that, sounds like a great man.
     
    #6 pgabriel, Feb 4, 2008
  7. bigtexxx

    bigtexxx Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    26,980
    Likes Received:
    2,365
    RIP Conrad. I love Jazz
     
    #7 bigtexxx, Feb 4, 2008
  8. Another Brother

    Another Brother Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2001
    Messages:
    7,314
    Likes Received:
    881
    #8 Another Brother, Feb 4, 2008
  9. Rowdie Brandon

    Rowdie Brandon Rookie

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2007
    Messages:
    894
    Likes Received:
    0
    never knew much about the guy, but R.I.P.
     
    #9 Rowdie Brandon, Feb 4, 2008
  10. MadMax

    MadMax Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 1999
    Messages:
    76,684
    Likes Received:
    25,927
    very sorry to hear that...but it sounds like he lived an amazing life.
     
    #10 MadMax, Feb 4, 2008
  11. bigbadjon_e

    bigbadjon_e Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2007
    Messages:
    479
    Likes Received:
    1
    He and his students created some of the best music from that era. You are lucky to work with the man. He will be missed.
     
    #11 bigbadjon_e, Feb 4, 2008
  12. Isabel

    Isabel Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 1999
    Messages:
    4,667
    Likes Received:
    58
    Very inspirational story - cool that you got to be a part of that. RIP and I wish guys like this got as much attention as some of those other "celebrities" our society obsesses over.
     
    #12 Isabel, Feb 4, 2008
  13. Blake

    Blake Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2003
    Messages:
    9,976
    Likes Received:
    3,019
    from what I read and what you said, it seems as if this was a big loss

    my condolences
     
    #13 Blake, Feb 4, 2008
  14. Cesar^Geronimo

    Cesar^Geronimo Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2003
    Messages:
    1,530
    Likes Received:
    7
    Seems like proof of the power of one man with a vision.
     
    #14 Cesar^Geronimo, Feb 4, 2008
  15. ferrari77

    ferrari77 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2006
    Messages:
    9,447
    Likes Received:
    1,504
    My condolences Another Brother. May he RIP.
     
    #15 ferrari77, Feb 4, 2008
  16. IROC it

    IROC it Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 1999
    Messages:
    12,629
    Likes Received:
    89
    Very sorry to hear it, AB... I'm sure you'll remember some great memories and pay tribute in your act somehow.

    Real life's tragedies can bring us to remember some of the most humorous moments we've ever experienced.

    And thanks for sharing this with us... I think we've all benefited from Conrad Johnson's life, in some way... We've, at least, enjoyed watching you blossom in your personal improvisational skills... which he helped you perfect.
     
    #16 IROC it, Feb 4, 2008
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page