Roger Donald Dickerson
Roger Donald Dickerson (born August 24, 1934) is a New Orleans pianist, composer, and educator. Biography. Coming from a musical family, Dickerson began piano lessons at 8 years old. In elementary school he played the French horn, baritone and tuba. His experience playing brass instruments continued in college where he played trombone. From a young age, Dickerson was interested in, and influenced by the music of the French Quarter. At 15 Dickerson played in a popular music band called "Roger Dickerson and his Groovy Boys", which played high schools and community centres in his neighbourhood; showing the  influence of current New Orleans musical culture. Wallace Davenport, a jazz trumpeter, versed in styes ranging from traditional jazz to bebop, was Dickerson's uncle. From Wallace, Dickerson got his first introductions to harmony, counterpoint and orchestration. After high school, Dickerson studied music at Dillard University earning his Bachelor of Music in 1955, then a Master's degree in music from Indiana University in 1957 where he studied with Bernhard Heiden. After finishing his Master's degree, Dickerson joined the United States Army. While in the Army, he played in service bands around Europe. After two years in the Army , Dickerson was able to travel to Vienna on a Fulbright Scholarship, where he studied music with Karl Schiske and Alfred Uhl. In 1965 he was elected to American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Dickerson has received notable commissions, including a series of concert pieces commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1972, and his New Orleans Concerto, commissioned in 1976 by the New Orlean's Centennial Commission. This concerto serves as the focal point of the 1978 PBS documentary "New Orleans Concerto". Dickerson is a professor emeritus at Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO). There he was the University Choir  Director and Music Coordinator. Along with elements of New Orleans culture, Dickerson's work shows the influence of Jazz and Blues music.