Rapp on Jazz

Trumpeter Johnny Helms was a pillar of Columbia’s jazz scene for more than fifty years. A gifted musician from an early age, he was performing in local clubs by thirteen and leading his own band by sixteen. 

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Drummer Stockton Helbing is one of the most dynamic musicians to emerge from South Carolina’s jazz community. Born in 1980 and raised in Florence, he picked up the drums in sixth grade and quickly earned spots in the South Carolina All-State Jazz Band before graduating from West Florence High School. 

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Saxophonist Lonnie Hamilton III has long been one of Charleston’s cultural leaders—both on stage and in public life. Born in 1927, he grew up immersed in the city’s rich musical traditions and played in the Jenkins Orphanage bands during the 1940s.

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Ralph "Iron Fingers" Goodwin was a self-taught pianist whose lightning touch made him a beloved figure in South Carolina’s jazz community. 

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Kip Anderson was one of South Carolina’s most soulful and resilient musical voices. Born in Starr, SC around 1938, he first sang in church and was discovered early on by gospel great Edna Cooke.

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Leonard Feather was among jazz’s most influential voices -- not as a performer, but as a critic, historian, and tireless advocate for the music. Feather contributed to Down Beat, edited Metronome, and authored The Encyclopedia of Jazz, still a vital reference today.

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Jazz impresario George Wein was one of the most visionary figures in American music. As founder of the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954, Wein changed how jazz was presented, moving it from clubs to large outdoor venues, creating a true festival experience that brought together legends, emerging artists, and passionate audiences to celebrate the music.

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Jazz impresario Norman Granz had a strong passion for justice that influenced both the music and the culture surrounding it. In 1944, he started Jazz at the Philharmonic, which brought jazz out of smoky clubs and into major concert halls.

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Behind every legendary performance, groundbreaking recording, and thriving jazz scene, there’s often an unsung hero: the jazz impresario. These visionaries champion artists, build audiences, and create the spaces where jazz flourishes. 

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Before bebop and the cool jazz era, swing dancing was the heartbeat of American nightlife. In the 1930s and ’40s, big bands filled ballrooms with lively rhythms that practically lifted dancers off the floor. 

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