Skipp Pearson

Upon completion of his formal education, Pearson spent 4 years in the United States Air Force. An enlisted man, with a distinguished military career, Pearson also performed professionally throughout the United States and in Western Europe while faithfully serving his country.

In 1965, Pearson enrolled in Claflin College, now Claflin University, to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education. As career educator, Pearson has taught scores of public school children the importance, and benefits of having music in their lives. For 30 years, Pearson served as the general music teacher, as well as, band director in Bamberg and Clarendon School Districts, building the first band programs, that still survives today, to children in those areas. After many years of community service activities, Pearson officially retired from the South Carolina National Guard Band in November of 1997.

Over the years, Pearson amazing professional career has allowed him to share the stage with renowned musicians to include: John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, Ron Carter, Sam Cooke, Wycliffe Gordon, Barry Harris, Jimmy Heath, Art Pepper, Chris Potter, Daryl Sherman, Otis Redding, Patti Austin, Drink Smalls, Fred Wesley, Pete Neighbour, Dick Goodwin, Ron Westray, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti and many, many others.

Pearson numerous professional music credits include, and are not limited to, performances given in Western Europe and across the United States. In 1998, Pearson was inducted into the South Carolina Jazz Music Hall of Fame.

Throughout his career Pearson has been the subject of numerous South Carolina Public TV programs, local, regional and statewide news articles, and interviewed by syndicated radio and television talk shows hosts.

In 2002, 2004 and 2006 the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate presented Pearson with a commendation in honor of his extraordinary contributions to the world of jazz music and to congratulate him on an outstanding career and to name him South Carolina’s second ambassador of jazz music. Dizzy Gillespie was the first.

In 2003 Pearson, received the state of South Carolina’s highest artistic honor; the distinguished Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award for individuals artistic excellence.

Beginning in 2016, one of Pearson's greatest accomplishment was to realize the work and program support his Foundation provided to UNESCO/United Nation.

On January 14, 2017, five months before his death, Pearson received the state of South Carolina's highest civilian honor, the distinguished Order of the Palmetto.

Awards

2010 Endorsing Artist Selmer Paris 2002 Official Ambassador of Jazz Music for the State of South Carolina 2003 Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award for Life Achievement 2017 Order of the Palmetto (State of South Carolina's Highest Civilian Honor)

Gear

Mark 6

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