My name is Gary Hammon, and my story begins on 28th Ave S in Seattle’s Central District. I grew up in a home filled with music, surrounded by the sounds of saxophones, trumpets, and drums pouring out of neighborhood gatherings. Larry Gossett’s father and Rocky Woods—mentors and musical gurus in the community—would bring over musicians who filled the air with everything from jazz to country western. That was where I first heard the saxophone. From that moment, I knew: I had to play.

I fell in love with the music and never looked back. I played for the Masons, YMCA dances, high school events, and cabarets. My bandmates and I eventually made it to the big stages—the 410 Supper Club, the Black and Tan—the beating heart of Seattle’s jazz scene. Music became my livelihood.

In 1969, I became part of the first cohort of Black jazz students admitted to the New England Conservatory of Music. That opened the door to an incredible career—touring and performing with some of the greatest musicians in the world: Stevie Wonder, Albert King, Albert Collins, Big John Patton, Johnny Hammond Smith, Barbara Donald, Jaki Byard, and many others. My journey took me across the country and around the world, but my roots remained firmly planted in the Central District.

Fifteen years ago, I returned home to care for my aging mother in the house where I grew up. I came back to a neighborhood that had changed dramatically. The vibrant African-American cultural presence that once defined the Central District had been pushed to the margins. I realized that if we didn’t act now, the stories, the sounds, and the history of Seattle’s jazz legacy could be lost forever.

That’s why I’m raising funds to create something lasting—a space dedicated to teaching young people jazz and the history of the music in Seattle. My vision is to offer classes, host live demonstrations, and present lectures that don’t just teach notes and scales, but also the culture and history that shaped the music.

This is about more than music education. It’s about passing down a tradition, showing our youth that jazz is their heritage, and empowering them to carry it forward. I want them to understand that the Central District was once a place where music thrived in every corner, where world-class musicians played just down the block, and where art and community were inseparable.

My Goals:

Your support will help me take the first steps—covering startup costs, securing a location, and equipping the space so we can welcome students as soon as possible. Together, we can ensure that Seattle’s jazz history is not just remembered, but lived, played, and passed on.