Sammons Center Spotlight
35 Years of Jazz
…and the Dallas jazz scene was disappearing. Popular joints like The Recovery Room and 6051 Club, where local jazz lived and breathed, were slowly shutting down, becoming a whisper of the past. Just recently in 1988, the Turtle Creek Pump Station building had reopened as the newly renovated Sammons Center for the Arts. This small organization with a staff of 1 (our own Executive Director Joanna St. Angelo) could never imagine all the music that could live between its walls.
In 1980, Vicho Vicencio, a Chilean jazz musician, arrived on the Dallas jazz scene with an enthusiasm for the American artform he hoped to share. Feeling firsthand the dearth of jazz performance opportunities for local musicians, he and fellow jazz enthusiast Tom Guerin pitched to Joanna an idea of utilizing the Sammons Center for proper jazz-club style concerts. This new team of three managed to cobble together a concert on the second floor mezzanine, complete with boxed wine disguised in carafes and self-prepared celery sticks and ranch dip. The community caught wind of the surprisingly well attended jazz concerts, and this small operation steadily grew into the Sammons Jazz series we know today.
At the time, no one could know the impact a simple idea could have. Since then, the Sammons Jazz series has become integral in rejuvenating the fabric of the Dallas jazz scene as the city’s longest-running jazz series, spinning off into other programs such as Dallas Jazz Appreciation Month, the Sammons Youth Jazz Initiative, and other concert series like Sammons Cabaret and Sammons Discovery.
Our loyal patrons, some of whom remember those very first concerts, have joined us in nurturing the growth of rising stars and celebrating the careers of local legends. To date, over 30,000 audience members have enjoyed over 2,600 local musicians in our jazz series.
(from left to right)
Roger Boykin
Vicho Vicencio Arlington Jones
James Gilyard
We know you agree that the Sammons Center and the Sammons Jazz series are special. Without the guidance of Founding Artistic Director Vicho Vicencio (1989-96), followed by Roger Boykin (1996-99), James Gilyard (1999-2011), and Steinway Artist Arlington Jones (1999-Present), what we’ve accomplished today would not have been possible. To celebrate the milestone of our 35th anniversary, join us for our opening concert “Coming Full Circle” on Wednesday, September 4 at 7:30 PM where Vicho, who has appeared over 20 times on our stage, returns for a final performance. Joining him on stage in the second set is the incomparable Heather Paterson & Straight Ahead who you may also remember from our first concerts.
Witness Dallas jazz history for yourself and order tickets by calling (214) 520-7788 or visiting sammonsartcenter.org.
Did You Know?
The Oak Lawn Band performs all around the country with emphasis on supporting the LGBTQIA+ community and its artists in Dallas. Originally formed as a marching band for the Dallas Pride Parade, they soon added a symphonic band and have now become a prominent performing arts group in the area. Their concert season runs from September through June, featuring performances for the annual Texas Freedom Parade and many other events.
King Creative Arts Expressions (KCAE) specializes in creative arts & cultural programs promoting health and social-emotional wellness. Rooted in musical practice with a community-oriented ethos, KCAE—founded by board certified music therapist and multidisciplinary artist Kamica King, MA, MT-BC—is a leading North Texas service provider delivering interactive performances, wellness workshops, trainings, and cultural events that inform, uplift and connect with audiences of all ages and abilities.
We are thrilled to have both organizations as a part of our community!
Every year, premier LGBTQ+ publishing company Dallas Voice announces the crown jewels of North Texas in their Readers Voice Awards. After thousands of votes were cast, we were extremely fortunate to win Best Local Arts Organization of 2024! We are so thankful to all who voted for us and to Dallas Voice for including us as a nominee!
Sensational Staff
In most organizations, it is rare to have staff members who have dedicated years of their lives to fulfilling their duties at one place. We at the Sammons Center are blessed to have not one, but two such employees celebrating…25 years of service this fall!
Michael Cook, our Assistant Director, has been an integral part of organizing and maintaining an effective rental system for our resident groups and users, among many other responsibilities in support of our Executive Director.
Jaime Torres, our Building Supervisor, is the primary caretaker of the building as well as an enthusiastic and diligent event setup coordinator.
Both have seen the impact of the Sammons Center on Dallas over the years and have been instrumental in its growth since their arrival. We congratulate them on their 25-year anniversary, and we thank them for all their years of hard work!
Michael:
1. I am a two-step dance state champion
2. I am a silk-weaving expert and have written for several national publications about it
3. I make my own soap and study lucid dreaming
Jaime:
1. I have a twin
2. I am the cook of my family due to my many years of experience in restaurant kitchens
3. I have 5 dogs, each named after influential people in my life
Which one is the lie?
Click Here for the Answer!
2 Truths & A Lie:
Michael – (1) I am an accomplished two-step dancer, but have not recieved such an award.
Jaime – (3) I have 2 dogs, named Saint and Angelo. 😉