 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject.(August 2010) |
Clarence Acox | |
|---|---|
 Acox in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Band director, jazz drummer |
| Instrument(s) | Drums, Piano |
Clarence Acox is an American band director and jazz drummer. He is a native of New Orleans, and has been heard in a variety of settings in the Pacific Northwest.
He is the former director of jazz bands at Garfield High School, [2] where he has taught since arriving from Southern University in Baton Rouge in 1971, initially hired to rejuvenate the school's marching bands. [3] [4] Under his tutelage since 1979, the Garfield Jazz Ensemble has won every major competition on the West Coast, including competitions in Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. [3] He retired from Garfield High School in June, 2019.
Acox was named Educator of the Year by Down Beat magazine in 2001. [2] [3] [5] In 2004 the Seattle Music Educators Association recognized him as its Outstanding Music Educator. [6] In 2007 he was presented the Mayor's Arts Award by Seattle mayor Greg Nickels. [2] [7] In 2008 Seattle Metropolitan magazine named him one of the 50 most influential musicians in the history of Seattle music. [3] In 2010, he and Roosevelt High School's Scott Brown shared the Impact Award at Seattle's second annual City of Music Awards. [8] In May 2016 Acox was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Cornish College of the Arts.
Acox is a regular on the club scene in the Seattle area. He has performed with the Floyd Standifer Quartet (now Legacy Quartet) at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant since 1986. [2] [4] [9] His drum style also drives the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, which he co-founded in 1995 with University of Washington saxophone instructor Michael Brockman. [4] [10] [11]
