The Jazz Society of Pensacola (JSOP) is an organization of business and professional people, musicians, teachers, students and listeners working together for the purpose of advancing jazz music in Pensacola and the surrounding area. Originating in 1983, JSOP is incorporated as a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, affiliated with the Arts Council of Northwest Florida, a founding member of the American Federation of Jazz Societies, and a charter Network Affiliate Member of Jazz Education Network (JEN).
JSOP Officers and Board of Directors
The Jazz Society of Pensacola (JSOP) is an organization of business and professional people, musicians, teachers, students and listeners working together for the purpose of advancing jazz music in Pensacola and the surrounding area. Originating in 1983, JSOP is incorporated as a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, affiliated with the Arts Council of Northwest Florida, a founding member of the American Federation of Jazz Societies, and a charter Network Affiliate Member of Jazz Education Network (JEN).
JSOP Officers and Board of Directors
Crystal Joy Albert — President
Crystal began her singing career as a toddler and continued her formal musical studies winning awards and scholarships until she eventually left Boston University to devote time to her flourishing singing career. Soon she was appearing at New York’s top clubs, gaining national acclaim. She was discovered by Steve Allen and appeared on his television show. She also recorded an album for him titled “The Fabulous Crystal Joy Sings Steve Allen.” Of Crystal, Allen said, “She has pure and simple talent and a beautiful style of her own.”
She has traveled all over the US, the Caribbean and Europe in various roles promoting her recordings, acting and directing. After retiring from a career in interior design she moved to Navarre, Florida to return to her first love, singing. For the last ten years Crystal has been Musical Director for the Pensacola JazzFest.
Tara Leigh Miller – Vice President
Born in Pennsylvania, Tara grew up in northeastern New Jersey, just across from NYC. She spent a great deal of time in New York, where she enjoyed the culture, music, arts and of course, Broadway. She has an extensive background in the arts, including theater, music, dance, voice and modeling, as well as business and marketing.
She has also bee involved in teaching, directing and mentoring children interested in the arts, and has served on the boards of several organizations. Tara has been a member of JSOP since 1996. She loves the music and the people, and appreciates all that JSOP offers to the community.
Kathy Beall – Secretary
A jazz lover since she was 15 years old, Kathy was happy to learn that Pensacola had an active jazz society when she moved here from Richmond, VA, in 2001 with her husband Larry. They have both enjoyed being JSOP volunteers since joining in 2001. Kathy and Larry have a grown son and daughter and one granddaughter who live with their families in Richmond, Virginia.
Kathy’s career was in health care, first as a nurse, then Director of Hospice, then V.P. of the Bon Secours Health System Richmond, Va., and developed their Senior Services Continuum of Care. Since 2000 she has traveled extensively as a project consultant for SB&A and Brooks Adams Research based in Richmond, VA. to develop senior living communities in the U.S. Now retired, she enjoys serving on the Board and advancing the continued success of JSOP.
Dave Jensen – Treasurer
“I first remember listening to jazz when I would tune in WWL New Orleans. I listened to a lot of jazz when I was in the Army in Washington, DC in the late 1950s, and used to go to the London House in Chicago when I was there on business in the 1960s. I have always enjoyed jazz. My wife Sue and I enjoy the Jazz Society very much and attend Jazz Gumbos and Jam Sessions whenever we can.
We first learned about JSOP when we attended a Jazz Fest a few years ago, and were happy to learn about JSOP and all its activities. I also enjoyed the trip to the French Quarter Festival in 2009 when JSOP chartered a bus and I look forward to taking the trip next year.
“I was trained as a chemist, played Baritone Bugle in an Army Drum and Bugle Corps, worked as a computer network engineer for IBM and then for the State of Wisconsin, and am now retired. I play Baritone horn in the Pensacola Civic Band and sing in a choir, and enjoy many flavors of music”.
Tom Sylte
Tom Sylte grew up on a farm in Minnesota, receiving the first eight years of education at a one-room country school. His biggest academic achievement took place when he graduated from eighth grade at the top of his class (there were 2 students in the class). He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in economics. The U.S. Navy brought him to Pensacola the first time. Later Tom returned to Minneapolis working for Land O’ Lakes and Honeywell, and finally got back to Pensacola through working in accounting departments of American Cynamid and Air Products. He has since been active with real estate development and is now managing investments while taking time to fish and shoot skeet.
Chuck Minnich
“I came from a musical family. My mother played piano and organ, taught both, served many years as church organist and choir director for various churches, and played piano and entertained at several night clubs. We always had music in the home. My father was a fan of big band music, which had a profound influence on me as a child. My sister became a primary education music teacher and retired after 30 years of service. Her husband was also a music teacher for many years.
“I went to high school in the mid 50’s, which exposed me to rock and roll, which I have always felt set me up for an interest in jazz. While in the US Air Force I became exposed to jazz for the first time. I met a guy from California who had a Hi Fi set in his room and played a lot of west coast jazz. In fact the first jazz I ever heard was Errol Garner’s Concert by the Sea album, which I own both in CD and LP format. From that time on, jazz has been my favorite musical genre.
“But my interest in music is strictly from the listening side. The only instrument that I regret not learning is the piano. In fact the closest I ever came to playing a musical instrument was in high school when I constantly played the buffoon.
“Before we moved to Pensacola we had a friend who lived here, and for years he would invite us down for the weekend of JazzFest. At that time it was in Bartram Park, and quite often we would tie his boat up to a dock and we would sit on his boat and listen to the music. Then we moved to Pensacola in 1999 and shortly after, I joined the Jazz Society. In 2005 I became a board member. Then I served as the wine and beer chairman in 2005 and as JazzFest Director from 2006 to 2009”.
Frits Forrer
After living with near-daily bombings during World War II while growing up in the Netherlands, Frits decided to become a fighter-bomber pilot himself, earning his Silver Wings with the United States Air Force in 1953. Still an active Pilot, he has lived in the United States continuously since 1957. He has written a number of biographical and mystery books. He now writes and lives with his wife Katy on a boat in Gulf Breeze. Frits has been an active JSOP volunteer, coordinating the JazzFest Arts & Crafts Exhibition, as well as manning the door at the Jazz Jams. He and Katy can often be spotted on the dance floor at JSOP events and around town, where they are ardent supports of live music. They are participants in the Belles and Beaus community singing group.
Peg Sheridan
Peg was born in Columbus, Ohio 1936. She earned a B.A. in Biology from St. Mary of the Springs College (now called Ohio Dominican University). She worked at Battelle Columbus Laboratorie 1958 -1994 as a Research Scientist, performing research in the fields of Cancer Chemotherapy, Carcinogenisis, Tissue Culture, Cleanup of Nuclear Research Sites. An active attendee at Jazz Society events in Columbus, Ohio, Peg moved to Pensacola in 1998, where she discovered the Jazz Society of Pensacola and has really enjoyed the association. Peg is a great supporter of live jazz in venues throughout the area.
Roger Villines
Born in Roswell, NM, Roger lived in several states before enrolling at the University of Central Oklahoma where he earned a bachelors degree in music education. He taught band at schools in Oklahoma for three years. In 1971, Roger joined the Air Force serving a tour of Vietnam and attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. He retired from the Air Force after 25 years, going on to earn a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas in 2003. He and his wife Kat moved to Pensacola shortly thereafter, and became involved in JSOP. Roger is a trumpeter and local band leader. He is also an Adjunct Music Professor at Pensacola Junior College (PJC), Director of PJC Jazz Ensemble. Roger serves on the Music committee for the Pensacola JazzFest, is the musical programmer for Jazz Gumbos and leads the monthly Jam sessions.
Volunteer Executive Director, Emeritus
Norman Vickers
Administrator
Kathy Lyon
To contact any of the Board members, email info@jazzpensacola.com or call the office, 850-433-8382.