San Marcos Celebrates Eddie Durham

By Aaron Derton
News Reporter

Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday: These are just a few Jazz musicians you have probably heard of. One you may not have heard of is the San Marcos-born Eddie Durham.

Born in 1906, Durham was a guitarist, trombonist, composer and arranger. Most famously, he was also an early pioneer of the electric guitar. Durham was the first jazz soloist to be recorded playing the electric guitar. Throughout his long career, Durham helped pave the way not just for jazz, but for the music we listen to today.

In 2003, the City of San Marcos declared August 19 “Eddie Durham Day.” Eddie Durham park was established in 2013 to honor his memory and contributions to music.

This year’s event had a number of sponsors, including Hays County Constable David Peterson and Texas State’s Black Art Association. This was Mr. Peterson’s second year cooking food and raising money for the Eddie Durham Birthday Celebration.

“We’re going to donate 75% of all the money back to the Eddie Durham Cephas House,” Peterson said.

Sammera Fadul created the BAA this year to help promote art created by students.

“The Black Art Association exists to showcase black creativity both on and off campus through visual art, poetry, prose, dance, music, cooking even, anything really that can be created,” Fadul said.