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New Orleans pianist and composer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roger Donald Dickerson (born August 24, 1934) is a New Orleans pianist, composer, and educator.[1]
Coming from a musical family, Dickerson began piano lessons at 8 years old. In elementary school he played the French horn, baritone and tuba. His experience playing brass instruments continued in college where he played trombone.[2] From a young age, Dickerson was interested in, and influenced by the music of the French Quarter.[2] At 15 Dickerson played in a popular music band called "Roger Dickerson and his Groovy Boys", which played high schools and community centres in his neighbourhood; showing the influence of current New Orleans musical culture.[2] Wallace Davenport, a jazz trumpeter, versed in styes ranging from traditional jazz to bebop,[1] was Dickerson's uncle.[1] From Wallace, Dickerson got his first introductions to harmony, counterpoint and orchestration.[3][1] After high school, Dickerson studied music at Dillard University earning his Bachelor of Music in 1955, then a Master's degree in music from Indiana University in 1957 where he studied with Bernhard Heiden.[1][2][3]
After finishing his Master's degree, Dickerson joined the United States Army. While in the Army, he played in service bands around Europe.[2] After two years in the Army, Dickerson was able to travel to Vienna on a Fulbright Scholarship, where he studied music with Karl Schiske and Alfred Uhl.[4][2][1] In 1965 he was elected to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Dickerson has received notable commissions, including a series of concert pieces commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1972,[4] and his New Orleans Concerto, commissioned in 1976 by the New Orlean's Centennial Commission.[2] This concerto serves as the focal point of the 1978 PBS documentary New Orleans Concerto.[3]
Dickerson is a professor emeritus at Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO). There he was the University Choir Director and Music Coordinator.[5] Along with elements of New Orleans culture,[2] Dickerson's work shows the influence of Jazz and Blues music.[3]
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