Illinois Jacquet Foundation Inc.

IJF was formed to preserve the legacy of Illinois Jacquet and to promote the study of Jazz Music. Our primary focus is on the education of young Jazz students. We do this through the establishment of Scholarships with schools like Juilliard School of Music in New York, Middle Tennessee University's Jazz Department and Arizona State University's Jazz Department to name a few.

Born on October 31, 1922, in Broussard, Louisiana, Jean Baptiste "Illinois" Jacquet, at the age of 19 on the very first recording of his career, spawned an entirely new style and sound for the tenor saxophone. His classic solo on "Flying Home" recorded with the Lionel Hampton Band at Decca Records in New York City, on May 26, 1942, catapulted Jacquet to international fame and the solo became more famous than the song itself.

Illinois Jacquet grew up on stage, singing and dancing as a small child in front of his father's territory band in Houston, Texas, the family having moved there from Louisiana before Jacquet was a year old. Formal musical training began in high school on drums and alto saxophone which he played with Milt Larkin's legendary territory band. Graduation took him to the universities of the Lionel Hampton, Cab Calloway and Count Basie bands. After "Flying Home" with Hampton. he appeared in the film "Stormy Weather" with Calloway. For Basie, he recorded the hits "The King" and "Mutton Leg"; and with his own record-breaking small band he had hits on every major label.

The Juilliard School of Music awarded Illinois Jacquet an Honorary Doctorate of Music degree on May 21, 2004. As he told President Polisi, "This is the happiest day of my life." The Illinois Jacquet Scholarship in Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School has been established to honor his memory.

With a host of individual programs and scholarship opportunities offered nationwide, the Illinois Jacquet Foundation along with its network of committed staff, top music educators, historic preservation supporters, volunteers and generous sponsors work diligently to not only influence the lives of promising young jazz musicians but also brings increased awareness to the productive and critical roll the music education plays in the success of students in all areas of study.