Reggie Houston

July 12th, 2019

Doors Open: 4:30pm
Event Begins: 8:00pm

Event Website: reggiehouston

Reggie's Story
A seventh-generation New Orleanian, Reggie Houston was born on July 2, 1947, to Ralph Houston, a pianist and acoustic bassist, and Margarete Houston, an educator and social activist. Reggie embraced education and followed in his parents footsteps to become an arts education advocate, teacher, and world-renowned saxophonist.

Reggie was inspired to study saxophone at age 10, after seeing Ray Charles play alto sax at Lincoln Beach Amusement Park, where Fats Domino also performed during Reggie's childhood. Years later, Reggie would share the stage with both musical giants, and spend 22 years as a member of Fats Domino's band, before moving to Portland, Oregon in 2004.

Highlights of Reggie’s time in Portland include:

Serving as one of the teachers who prepared The American Music Program high school students for their 2015 1st place win at Lincoln Center's prestigious Essentially Ellington competition that featured 88 high school jazz bands from across the US.
Performing for, and helping to coordinate three Hurricane Katrina relief benefits:

1. Portland, Oregon – Blues for Katrina, organized by the Oregon Food Bank raised $125,000.
2. Seattle, Washington - a successful tri-state effort, coordinated with the Tipitina's Foundation, that culminated in the first Instruments A-Comin’ fundraiser held outside of New Orleans to raise money and collect musical instruments for Louisiana school children impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
3. Corvallis, Oregon - Rockin’ The Cradle of Jazz, held at The University of Oregon in conjunction with The United Way.

Serving on Portland's Regional Arts & Culture Council Music Panel for Project Grants. RACC Grants Program Officer Lorin Schmit Dunlop recalls, "[Reggie] was really pleased to be asked to serve the Arts Council and the arts community this way... and he was a delight! So knowledgeable and a real gentleman...a real asset on the panel."
Participating by invitation as a founding member of the award-winning Northwest Ray Charles Tribute Band and performing with the Oregon Symphony.
Winning four consecutive Muddy Awards earning him a place in the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame.
Playing the title character in Sherman, Grammy award winning composer Thara Memory’s historical opera about Portland Jumptown-era saxophonist, Sherman Thomas.
Maintaining weekly, long-standing gigs at some of Portland’s most beloved eateries: Tapalaya (8 years), Eats – An Oyster Bar (8 years), and Cannon’s during the summer months (11 years).

Tickets are Non Refundable.