Honored Guest: Dr. T Marshall Jones, Retired Chair/Professor, Music and Fine Arts, Albany State University
March 13, 2014- Albany, GA- The Albany Tech Foundation will hold its annual "Roast" event on Friday, March 14, 2014, beginning at 7pm in the Kirkland Conference Center, with a Silent Auction beginning at 6pm in the atrium of the Kirkland Conference Center. This year's honored guest is Dr. T. Marshall Jones, retired Chair/Professor of the Music and Fine Arts department at Albany State University.
"Roasters" for this year's event include: Clift E. Felton, retired educator and administrator, Terrell County School System; Patsy Martin, Realtor, Coldwell Banker/Walden and Kirkland Realtors; Dr. James L. Hill, Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English, Modern Languages, and Mass Communications, Albany State University; Dr. Leroy E. Bynum, Jr., Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, and Professor of Voice and Opera, Albany State University; and Dr. Anthony O. Parker, President of Albany Technical College.
Dr. T. Marshall Jones is a native of Orange,Virginia and received his formal education in the public schools of Orange County, Virginia. He graduated from George Washington Carver High School in Rapidan, Virginia.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music from Virginia State University (Petersburg); a M. Mus. Degree from the University of Michigan School of Music (Ann Arbor), and earned a Doctorate of Music Education Degree from the University of Oklahoma School of Music at Norman. Other studies include Eastern Michigan University, Northwestern University and Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. He also served two years in the Adjutant General Corps, Special Services, of the United States Army.
Dr. Jones served as Band Director at the Lapeer State Training School – Lapeer, Michigan, before assuming the position of Director of Bands at Albany State University (College) in 1963. Over a period of six years, he built the band from about 32 members to 125+ before taking a leave of absence to pursue a doctorate degree at the University of Oklahoma. During his tenure there, he served as a Graduate Assistant in the University Band Program and as a Teaching Assistant in the School of Music.
Dr. Jones has served as Guest Conductor/Clinician/Adjudicator in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina. He has also presented lecture-performances at the State, Regional and National Music Educators Conferences in Nashville, Atlantic City, Miami and Anaheim, California.
As Founder and Performer with the ASU Jazz Quartet, Dr. Jones has presented Lectures/Concerts all over the State, and toured with the "First Georgia Festival of the Arts in Italy" during 1977. He also performed on four occasions on the Governor's Arts Program at Symphony Hall in Atlanta, and on two occasions for the Georgia Legislators at the Governor's Mansion.
Dr. Jones has served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Arts Federation, National Assembly of State Arts agencies; appointed to a three-year term (1985–87) to the National Endowment for the Arts, serving as Co-Chair (with Ellis Marsalis) of the Jazz Fellowships Music Panel; served as Vice-President and President of the Albany Area Arts Council; Vice-President and President of the Albany Symphony Association, Board member of the Concert Association and Board Member of the Easter Seal Society, where he served as Chairman of the 1984 Easter Seals Telethon. He is past Board Member of the Albany Museum of Art, Charter Member and Past-President of Leadership Albany. He was appointed as the first African-American President of the Georgia Council for the Arts by Governor Joe Frank Harris in 1985–87.
Honors, Awards and Appointments include: "Teacher of the Year" (1976 & 1983), Albany State University; cited by the Georgia General Assembly for "Outstanding Performances and Contributions" promoting Jazz as an Authentic Art Form (1978); Chairman of the University System of Georgia Fine and Applied Arts Academic Advisory Committee (1980–81); Southern Division Representative to the National Committee on Instruction of MENC (1979–82); received the "Golden Deeds" Award from Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where he has served as Minister of Music and Director of the (Senior) Sanctuary Choir since 1974; Southern Representative on the Board of the National Association for the Study and Performance of African-American Music (formerly National Black Music Caucus) serving as Southern Region Membership Chairman. He was honored by the Albany Symphony Orchestra for services rendered as a Board Member and first African-American President of the Association. He is the recipient of numerous plaques, citations, resolutions, and certificates.
Dr. Jones is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity, Kappa Phi Kappa Education Society, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society, Alpha Phi Omega, Charter Member of Sigma Pi Phi Boule, and Life Member of Albany State University National Alumni Association, Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Life Member University of Michigan Alumni Association and Life Member of University of Oklahoma Alumni Association. He is also the recipient of a 1990 Governor's Award in the Arts. In 1998, 2001 and 2008, Dr. Jones was chosen by Gamma Omicron Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. as "Alpha Man of the Year."
In November 2013 in Savannah, Georgia, Dr. Jones was awarded the Charles W. Green Award of Merit by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Georgia District Convention. In March 2014, he will represent Georgia at the Regional Convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Dr. Jones was employed for thirty-three (33) years at Albany State University, where he served as Director of Bands, Chairman of the Music Department and Professor and Chairman of the Fine Arts Department until his retirement in June of 1996.
Dr. Jones served as an Adjunct Professor of Music at the University and recently retired (for the second time) on May 1, 2010 – rendering a total of 47 years to the University. On April 2, 2011 Dr. Jones was honored with a banquet in which the Lyceum Series at Albany State University was renamed The T. Marshall Jones Fine Arts Performance and Lyceum Series.
Dr. Jones coordinated the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's (Gamma Omicron Lambda Chapter) Mentoring Program (Go To High School/Go To College) from 1998 to 2009 for about 50 to 60 boys at Southside Middle School.
After over twenty years of service on the Georgia Council for the Arts (under Governors George Busbee, Joe Frank Harris, Zell Miller, Roy Barnes, and Sonny Perdue), Dr. Jones was appointed to the Georgia Humanities Council in 2003. He was recently re-appointed to a new three-year term through 2014 under Governor Nathan Deal.
Dr. Jones has been associated with the Celebration Concert Series by the Albany Symphony Orchestra at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, which showcases the music of African-American composers and performers. He has served as Master of Ceremonies since its inception in 1998.
Dr. Jones is married to Mary Watson Jones, a retired Reading Specialist from the Dougherty County School System. She is currently an Instructor serving as Reading Coordinator in the Department of English, Modern Languages and Mass Communication at Albany State University. They are the parents of Reverend Brian Marshall Jones (Stephanie), a 1999 Graphic Art and Design Major from Georgia State University and now Youth and Collegiate Pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Albany, and Mrs. Stephanie Harrison-Dyer (Ken), Assistant Athletic Director at Albany State University and Doctoral Candidate at the United States Sports Academy in Mobile, Alabama.
All proceeds from the Roast will go to benefit Albany Tech students in need of financial assistance through the Albany Tech Foundation.
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