DENISE KING

Where were you the first time you heard music?

The first time I heard music was growing up in West Philadelphia. We listened to everything R&B, Soul, and Gospel. In the late 1960’s, I was a part of the desegregation program. We were bussed to Woodrow Wilson Jr. High School, in the far Northeast. There were only 10 Black kids that went to the school. That’s how I was exposed to the groups, The Nazz and Strawberry Alarm Clock. That’s when I was exposed to Jazz. I was 13.

My Uncle, Herbert Tatum, had a massive Jazz collection. I discovered Lee Morgan and The Sidewinder, the first Jazz recording that I heard. My cousin introduced me to Nina Simone’s music. I found Sarah Vaughn by listening to one of the many Jazz stations in Philadelphia - WHAT, WRTI, and WDAS.

That’s where I discovered a wide variety of musicians and singers. I learned most of the lyrics to songs, listening to Frank Sinatra. Every week, it was Fridays with Frank and Sundays with Sinatra. I listened to Sid Mark on WHAT 1340 AM. I didn’t realize that was school.

My father was a want-to-be drummer, so he got my brothers into drumming. Max Roach was one of my father’s friends. Music was in my genes. My mother sang in the choir and my aunt played the piano.

Do you compose? How many songs have you composed and published? Are they in a book?

Jingle Bell Jam session. The Toy Drive helps people who run into problems and cannot provide toys for their children. I’ve been there. So, I help to remove negative feelings they have about being unable to give a gift. We provide something that they can give their children for the holiday. Last year, we expanded to include socks, coats, and pajamas for adults.