Reuben Jackson
{{Short description|American poet and jazz historian (died 2024)}}
File:Reuben jackson 1214730.jpg
Reuben Jackson (October 1, 1956 – February 16, 2024){{Cite news | first=Harrison | last=Smith | url=https://wapo.st/3OVOO73 | title=Reuben Jackson, poet, jazz scholar and radio host, dies at 67 | newspaper=The Washington Post | access-date=2024-02-24 | date=2024-02-22 }} was an American poet, educator, jazz historian, and music reviewer.
Early life and education
Jackson was born in Augusta, Georgia on October 1, 1956. He grew up in the Brightwood neighborhood of Northwest Washington D.C. he attended Western High School, now known as the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He graduated from Goddard College in 1978.{{Cite web |last=Gallant |first=Greg |date=2024-02-20 |title=The Passing of Reuben Jackson |url=https://www.goddard.edu/blog/memorial/reuben-jackson/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=Goddard College |language=en-US}} He learned about the college while reading The Saturday Evening Post while bored at a party. He then received a MA in library science from the University of the District of Columbia.
Career
Jackson started working for the Smithsonian museum in the gift shop of the National Air and Space Museum.
From 1989 to 2009, he was the curator of the Duke Ellington Collection at the Smithsonian Institution. He retired in 2009. After his retirement, he moved to Vermont where he taught high school English and lead poetry workshops at Goddard. From 2012 to 2018, he was the host of Friday Night Jazz on Vermont Public Radio. He returned to Washington to work as a jazz archivist at the University of the District of Columbia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2024-02-16/one-of-a-kind-poet-dj-and-jazz-scholar-reuben-jackson-dies-at-67|title='One of a kind' poet, DJ and jazz scholar Reuben Jackson dies at 67|date=February 16, 2024|website=Vermont Public}}{{cite news |last1=Sukiennik |first1=Greg |title=Poet Reuben Jackson visiting Northshire Bookstore |url=https://www.benningtonbanner.com/arts_and_culture/poet-reuben-jackson-visiting-northshire-bookstore/article_025a3ced-6127-5011-90a1-7523e976a3af.html |access-date=17 February 2024 |publisher=Bennington Banner |date=6 March 2020}} Jackson was a mentor with The Young Writers Project, where he served on the Board since 2020.{{Cite web |title=Remembering Reuben Jackson (1956-2024) {{!}} Young Writers Project |url=https://youngwritersproject.org/reuben |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=youngwritersproject.org |language=en}} He co-hosted a radio program, The Sound of Surprise, on WPFW in Washington, D.C., alternating Sunday shows with the show's founder, Larry Appelbaum.
Personal life
Jackson died on February 16, 2024 in Washington at the age of 67.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/reuben-jackson-poet-jazz-scholar-and-longtime-vermont-public-dj-dies-at-67-40222311|title=Reuben Jackson, Poet, Jazz Scholar and Longtime Vermont Public DJ, Dies at 67|website=Seven Days}} He had had suffered a stroke on February 2, hours after completing his show at WPFW.
Works
- Fingering the Keys (Gut Punch Press, 1990)
- Scattered Clouds: New & Selected Poems (Alan Squire Publishing/Sante Fe Writer's Project, 2019)
- [https://www.rootstockpublishing.com/rootstock-books/p/my-specific-awe-and-wonder My Specific Awe and Wonder: Poems] (Rootstock Publishing, 2024)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://americanarchive.org/special_collections/fridaynightjazz Friday Night Jazz with Reuben Jackson]
- {{discogs artist|Reuben Jackson}}
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Category:Year of birth uncertain