BOSTON – (April 5 , 2018) —WGBH will celebrate legendary jazz radio personality Eric Jackson’s 40th anniversary with the Boston public broadcaster with a full week of special events in Boston. Jackson, widely considered the “Dean of Boston Jazz Radio,” has made major contributions to jazz, radio, arts, educational and African American communities during the course of his prolific and career on 89.7 WGBH radio as the host of his signature program, Eric in the Evening.
“WGBH is so grateful to have Eric as the voice of jazz radio in Boston on our airwaves since 1977, welcoming listeners to a diverse and dynamic genre of music with unmatched authority,” said WGBH President and CEO Jon Abbott. “We hope that Boston jazz fans will join us for Eric Jackson Week and a celebration of Eric’s significant contributions to so many communities.”
Over the years, Jackson has hosted over 3,000 interviews with artists ranging from Wynton Marsalis to Ornette Coleman to Dizzy Gillespie and has garnered numerous awards for his knowledge and influence. Adding to Jackson’s accolades, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker will proclaim April 22-29 Eric Jackson Week. The City of Cambridge will proclaim Monday, April 23 Eric Jackson Day and the City of Boston will proclaim Wednesday, April 25 Eric Jackson Day. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren will issue a National Citation acknowledging Jackson’s role in jazz culture and his illustrious career.
Eric Jackson Week Events Schedule
SUNDAY, APRIL 22
Jazz Brunch
City Winery Boston
11am – 2pm
Hosts: Fred Taylor, Sue Auclair, Jazz Boston, Mass Jazz
Tickets: https://citywinery.com/boston/ericjackson0422.html
Eric Jackson Concert series – Celebration kick-off
Abundant Life Church, Cambridge, MA
6pm
Hosts: Cambridge Jazz Festival, Harvard University Office of the Arts, Harvard University Hutching Center for African American Research
Tickets: http://www.cambridgejazzfestival.org/
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25
Eric in the Afternoon Live Radio Broadcast
WGBH Studio at the Boston Public Library
2 – 3pm
Non-ticketed
Guests: Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, City Council President Andrea Campbell, Berklee College of Music President Roger Brown
Hosts: WGBH, City of Boston, Berklee College of Music
THURSDAY, APRIL 26
Eric Jackson Celebration Jazz Jam
City Winery Boston
7:30pm
Hosts: City Winery Boston, WGBH’s Jazz 24/7, Whaling City Sound
Tickets: http://www.wgbh.org/events/event.cfm?eid=Eric%20Jackson%2040th%20Anniversary%20Jazz%20Jam-277
FRIDAY, APRIL 27
Live from Scullers Radio Broadcast – Celebration of Eric in the Evening
Sculler Jazz Club
10pm
Hosts: WGBH, Scullers Jazz Club
Tickets: http://www.wgbh.org/events/event.cfm?eid=Eric%20Jackson%2040th%20Anniversary%20Live%20from%20Scullers-285
SATURDAY, APRIL 28
Celebrating Eric Jackson’s Legacy in Education and Broadcasting at Northeastern
Northeastern University
10am – 2:30pm
Hosts: Northeastern University, Museum of African American History
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-eric-jacksons-legacy-in-education-and-broadcasting-tickets-44860647404
SUNDAY, APRIL 29***
Eric Jackson 40th Anniversary Celebration Brunch
WGBH
1pm – 4pm
Guests: Eric Jackson’s friends, family and colleagues, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren
***The Celebration Brunch is invite only and not open to the public. Press interested in attending should contact WGBH Media Relations Manager Emily Balk directly.
About WGBH
WGBH Boston is America’s preeminent public broadcaster and the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the Web, including Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, Frontline, Nova, American Experience, Arthur and more than a dozen other primetime, lifestyle and children’s series. WGBH’s television channels include WGBH 2, WGBX 44, and the digital channels World and Create. WGBH TV productions focusing on the region’s diverse community include Greater Boston, Basic Black and High School Quiz Show. WGBH Radio serves listeners across New England with 89.7 WGBH, Boston’s Local NPR®; 99.5 WCRB Classical Radio Boston; and WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® Station. WGBH also is a major source of programs for public radio (among them, PRI’s The World®), a leader in educational multimedia (including PBS LearningMedia™, providing the nation’s educators with free, curriculum-based digital content), and a pioneer in technologies and services that make media accessible to deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired audiences. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards and Oscars. Find more information at wgbh.org.
