Jeffrey Thomas King was born on April 14, 1958, in Akron, Ohio, to Miriam and Wendell King. He was born at Akron General Hospital, a place where Jeff’s father, Dr. Wendell King, frequently worked as a practicing pediatrician for nearly fifty years. Jeff’s parents were happily married for sixty-six years and shared the exact same birthday (day and year).

Jeff grew up in a musical household where older brothers Dan and Phil played various instruments including piano, double bass, tuba, and percussion. Mom was a music major in college with an emphasis in voice and flute. Later in life, Miriam King directed an all-volunteer women’s choir made up of doctor’s wives called, The Doctor’s Belles. Wendell played a metal clarinet in high school and enjoyed playing the piano after a long day of treating patients. In fifth grade it was finally Jeff’s turn to pick an instrument. After hearing the high school students perform, the trumpet was the obvious choice for Jeff. Learning to play the trumpet in the mid-sixties was a magical time with the likes of Herb Albert and Al Hirt as role models. Jeff had most of the Tijuana Brass song book memorized on his cornet by the end of sixth grade. Throughout middle and high school, Jeff took weekly lessons with Robert “Bob” Paolucci, who played under Arturo Toscanini, as first trombonist in the CBS Symphony Orchestra. The value of these three-dollar lessons with Mr. Paolucci were priceless, playing out of vocal books, duets with Mr. Paolucci playing either trombone or euphonium or Jeff’s first Arban’s book. It was here that Jeff also honed his sight-reading skills as he was not always fully prepared for his lessons. Coincidentally, Richard Williams, a future colleague, also took lessons at Paolucci’s Music Store, but these two would not meet until many years later.

Jeff’s interest to become a band director started with his high school band director, Gary Kleptach. Mr. Kleptach was a talented musician on and off the podium, as he played double bass professionally in jazz bands and symphony orchestras throughout his life.

In 1975, Jeff’s senior year in high school, he began taking lessons with James Darling of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. After surviving a major embouchure change, Jeff continued his studies at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music in Cleveland, Ohio, and studied with both James Darling and Mary Squire (Ohio Chamber Orchestra). Jeff holds these two people in the highest regard and a major influence in his musical life. After graduating from
B-W, Jeff drove his non-air-conditioned car down to Dallas to continue his musical journey at Southern Methodist University, studying trumpet with Thomas Booth of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Tom was also an alumnus of B-W and a former student of Mr. Darling. While pursuing his Master of Music degree at SMU, Jeff was Howard Dunn’s graduate assistant and played in the SMU Wind Ensemble under Mr. Dunn. Playing principal trumpet in the SMU Wind Ensemble at the 1982 TMEA Convention was the beginning of decades of attending this event. Jeff also enjoyed playing trumpet in various SMU ensembles with his friend Frank Ticheli. All these experiences were extremely influential in his ultimate musical path.

During his SMU days, Jeff was also in The Dallas Cowboy Band for one year, playing with the likes of John Wasson and Mario Casanova. It was also during graduate school that Jeff became interested in vocal music, especially when sung by a mezzo soprano, Leslie Rice. Leslie and Jeff were married on St. Patrick’s Day 1984 in the Perkins Chapel on the SMU campus. Leslie and Jeff just celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary by spending two weeks in Scotland.
After graduating with a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from SMU, Jeff began teaching private lessons in schools around the metroplex. This experience of teaching at various schools opened the door for many future teaching opportunities. In 1984, he started his band directing career as the assistant band director at Skyline High School in the Dallas ISD, working with his best friend and best man, Jim Edgeton. Jeff then worked at Irving High School as the assistant band director with Glen Oliver (HOF 2018). After two years of learning (on and off the podium) at Irving High School, Jeff began teaching at Sam Houston Junior High, where he learned about this competition called honor band. Jeff entered his first honor band “tape”, advancing to state, finishing in tenth place out of ten bands in the CC middle school classification. It was after hearing what bands could sound like, that Jeff started to realize the endless possibilities of excellence. Jeff always liked the quote on the TMEA forms: “Competition…not to defeat an opponent or to win a prize, but to pace one another on the road to excellence.” Also, during this time, Jeff enjoyed playing trumpet in the Irving Symphony Orchestra and the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving for a decade.

In 1989, Tom Shine and Brian Merrill asked Jeff to apply for an opening at Byrd Junior High School in the Duncanville ISD. After accepting the job at Byrd, Jeff had the pleasure of working with Verda Shine (HOF 2017) and the late Richard Williams. Rich and Jeff got tired of pulling exercises and warm-ups out of various books, so they started to write their own materials to use with their Byrd bands. With the mentorship, guidance, and friendship from Eddie Green (HOF 2005), these exercises eventually became the text for the Foundations for Superior Performance (aka “The Blue Book”). Jeff considers himself extremely fortunate to have learned and grown as a band director from the legendary Eddie Green for over thirty years.

The “Blue Book” has allowed Jeff to do clinics for band directors across the United States, Canada, Australia, and China. Some of his notable clinics include: The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference, National Association for Music Educators, Texas Music Educators Association, and the Texas Bandmasters Association.

Jeff considers himself extremely fortunate to have been surrounded by directors Tom Shine (HOF 2015), Brian Merrill (HOF 2021), and Evelio Villerreal (HOF 2022) during his Duncanville years. Over his twenty-six years in Duncanville, he witnessed many changes and worked with many great directors, all with the mindset that kids are kids, and if we meet them where they are and don’t give up on them, the possibilities are endless. Jeff is very thankful for the continued wisdom and musical guidance from his former colleague and friend Brian Merrill. In 2008, Tom Shine and Jeff were co-conductors of the wind ensemble which was the TMEA 5A Honor Band. Tom unselfishly shared the podium with both Brian and Jeff. One constant throughout his time in Duncanville was David Brandon, who followed Jeff at Byrd, the Ninth Grade School and finally shared the podium with Jeff at the high school. Jeff considers David an extremely valued colleague and friend for life. In 2019, the Texas Bandmasters Association recognized the Duncanville High School Band, directors Tom Shine, Brian Merrill, Jeff King, and David Brandon, as the Exemplary High School Band Program. There are too many great directors that have taught with Jeff and have positively influenced him to mention, but you know who you are.

During his time as a band director, Jeff also enjoyed doing band camps at Lake Texoma, Baylor University, and Stephen F. Austin University. Participating in the SFA band camp for a decade, Jeff considers his East Texas friendships to be a major influence and joy in his life. To all his East Texas friends, Jeff says, thank you for accepting this Yankee, Big City Boy into your lives. He is richer for knowing you all! It was here that his friend and current TBA Bandmaster of the Year, Fred Allen became the SFA Director of Bands. Jeff considers Fred to be a valued source of inspiration and a life-long friend.

From 2011-2018, Jeff and Leslie served on the Texas Bandmasters Association board, proudly serving as president in 2017. Jeff is so grateful to have served this wonderful organization with great band directors across Texas led by the wonderful TBA Executive Director, Mike Brashear. He is so thankful to give back to a profession that means so much.

After thirty-one years of being a Texas band director at all levels, Jeff was encouraged to apply for an opening in the Irving ISD as the Director of Fine Arts. Learning to be a Fine Arts administrator, overseeing band, choir, orchestra, elementary music, visual arts, theatre arts, and dance was a welcome challenge. Getting to help staff members become more effective teachers to so many students was extremely rewarding. After five years of administration, it was time for the next chapter.

With the pandemic looming in 2020, Jeff officially retired from administration and became an assistant professor of music for The University of Texas at Arlington. For the next two years, Jeff would supervise student teachers and teach a senior level methods class for future band and orchestra teachers. His admiration and respect for college professors grew for what they do to prepare students for teaching and performance.

After thirty-eight years of a regular schedule, Jeff now enjoys working on his own timeline, consulting with various band programs, adjudicating and being a clinician. Helping directors and students has always been very rewarding and important to Jeff.

While not working in the band world, family time is most important to Jeff. His supportive and lovely wife Leslie has put up with Jeff for forty plus years. Being a music major herself, she has always been a positive role model and accepting of Jeff’s long hours of work.

Jeff and Leslie’s daughter Lauren married her high school sweetheart David, and they have three very above average children, Olivia, Ryan, and Eva. Both David and Lauren were in Jeff’s ninth grade band at different times, playing the trombone and clarinet respectively. With a Master of Business Administration, David works as a manager of analytics over supply chain operations for a major company, all while being an active baseball coach and all-around great guy. Lauren recently earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy and enjoys helping others improve their daily lives.

In his not so much free time, Jeff enjoys being outside, whether boating, hiking, camping, or cooking. This may sound weird, but Jeff also enjoys working out at the gym.

Jeff considers being inducted in the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame to be of the highest honor and considers himself very humbled and fortunate to be in this most prestigious group of band directors. Jeff is blessed to have so many talented and dedicated teachers in his life that have allowed him to positively affect so many students.

Jeff would like to thank Phi Beta Mu for this honor and the Texas Bandmasters Association for hosting this ceremony today honoring all the recipients.