Dr. John R. Lamkin II, Ph.D.
Formally the Director of Bands and the coordinator of Music and Music Education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dr. John R. Lamkin II, received his Bachelors from South Carolina State University, his Masters from Morgan State University, and his Doctorate from The University of Maryland at College Park. All his academic degrees have been in Music Education. A native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dr. Lamkin taught in the public school systems in South Carolina and in Baltimore Maryland, before joining the faculty at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Dr. Lamkin also served on the faculty of Sojourner Douglass College. Not only is Dr. Lamkin a professional educator and a professional trumpet player who is equally adept in the jazz, classical and sacred genres, Dr. Lamkin has served as an instrumental/music education clinician, a guest conductor, a festival adjudicator, and the promoter & organizer of the Eastern Shore High School Jazz Ensemble Festival.
Dr. Lamkin’s performance credits include performances with Eubie Blake, the Manhattans, Bob Hope, Stephanie Mills, Maurice Hynes, Sunny Stitt, Vaughn Freeman, Frank Foster, Onaje allan Gumbs, Cyrus Chestnut, Charles Earland, Keter Betts, Ralph Peterson, Harvey Mason, the Dells, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, the Zim Zimeral Orchestra, the Baltimore City Big Band, the Hank Levy Legacy Band, the Whit Williams Big Band, the Lynn Gray Orchestra, the Dale Corn Big Band, the Blue Moon Big Band, the African American Jazz Caucus Big Band, the Washington Jazz Battalion, and the Peabody Jazz Ensemble. Dr. Lamkin has performed with his own jazz and jazz/rock groups in various night clubs in the Baltimore and Washington area, and for private parties and weddings.
In 1984, Dr. Lamkin recorded his first album, titled “Hot,” on which he wrote all but one of the compositions. In 2018 he released his second recording titled “Transitions,” on which he composed seven out of the ten compositions on the CD.
As a child, Dr. Lamkin grew up in Atlantic City NJ, during a time when live jazz music filled its streets, and was an integral part of the community; especially during the summer months. It was during these formative years that he fell in love with music, particularly the sound of jazz, and realized that he was called to dedicate his life to the perpetuation of our American Musical Treasure – Jazz.
Dr Lamkin was married to the late Orangeburg, SC native, Eartha S. Lamkin, an exceptional vocalist and an educator, and they had three children: John III, David, and Jocelyn, all of whom are married with children of their own.
Currently Dr. Lamkin teaches private trumpet lessons, is a trumpet and French horn coach at a local Baltimore elementary/middle school, and he leads and performs with his traditional post hard-bop group he calls the “Favorites” Jazz Quintet. To learn more about Dr Lamkin, visit his website at: www.jrlamkin2.com.
Ron Westray
Ron Westray was born in Columbia, SC, in 1970. From 1993 to 2005 he was a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (New York), directed by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. As lead trombonist and arranger, he participated in most of the concerts, tours and recordings of this band over those twelve years. A collaborator of pianist Marcus Roberts since 1991, he has also played, toured and recorded with many. Since 2009, he has occupied the [inaugural] Oscar Peterson Chair in Jazz Performance at York University in Toronto, where he is an associate professor in the Music Department of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design.