Jack King, noted musician, educator in Blount, Knox and Sevier counties, dead at 81
By Rheta Murryrhetam@thedailytimes.com
Originally published: November 07. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: November 06. 2009 10:54PM
Jack King's claim to fame was much more than being Dolly Parton's high school band director.
Parton is just one of a lengthy list of successful former students of King, a noted area musician and instructor who died Thursday. He was 81.
According to his son, David King of Maryville, King taught many students through the years to play instruments in Blount, Knox and Sevier counties, including his own son.
"I started at age 7 ... and by age 16, I was playing with his band and other local and area bands," David King said.
As a musician, the elder King performed at many local and regional venues, including Knoxville's Cherokee Country Club for more than 35 years, beginning with the Jerry Collins Orchestra and in later years as the leader of his own combo and solo pianist.
As a band director and private instructor, King enhanced the musical talents and lives of hundreds of students, many of whom established records for superior rating at the prestigious Solo and Ensemble Festival that still stand today, his son said.
"He was a renown as an individual instructor on woodwind instruments," King said.
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