REID JORGENSEN Jr.

JORGENSEN, Reid Jr. Musician/Educator/Entrepreneur Of Wellesley, formerly Boston and Duxbury, passed on April 24th, at 79, after a courageous battle against an aggressive cancer, with his beloved wife, Judy, at his side. For over 60 years, Reid demonstrated professional musicianship as a performer, teacher, bandleader, orchestra member, and music studio owner and manager in the Boston area. As a Musician: throughout his life, drumming anything was his true passion. He was the consummate jazz drummer, well-known for his gentle brush technique. However, he also performed with Symphony, Chamber Orchestras, Supper Clubs and many private events. From an early age, he thrived on the relationships he developed and techniques he learned from music mentors, such as: Al Maglitta, Les Harris, Sr., Alan Dawson, Fred Buda, Lou Magnano, and Arthur Press. During Boston's early "golden" jazz years, he performed and recorded with many in the Boston area: Sabby Lewis, Cab Calloway, Gunther Schuller, Arthur Fiedler, Ron Gill and Manny Williams, Herb Pomeroy, Aardvark Orchestra, ProArte Chamber Orchestra, Fred Reynolds and The Good Time Jazz Band, the Bay State Syncopators, and the David Whitney Orchestra, to name a few. He performed for weddings, reunions, graduations, parties of all occasions, featuring musical styles ranging from calypso to swing. He was a member of the Wellesley Town Band for the last several years, before the COVID Pandemic. He was included in Ruth Williams "Faces of Jazz" published by Boston Publishing Company, Inc. in 2001, and was a proud member of the Boston Musicians' Association. As an Educator: in 1976, Young Audiences of Massachusetts engaged Sarah Tenney to form a percussion group to travel throughout New England. Sarah asked Reid to lead the group, eventually called the Spectrum Percussion Trio, performing over 2,200 childrens' workshops throughout New England schools, often performing multiple workshops in a single day. The members of the Trio changed periodically, but all have gone on to lead very successful musical lives. He continued to lead the trio until he retired from Young Audiences in 2001. In 1981, Reid joined the Rivers Music School, Weston, now the Rivers School Conservatory, as a faculty member. For 50+ years, Reid instructed students in both jazz and classical styles, individual instruction as well as ensembles (32 years at Rivers). Prior to Rivers, he taught primarily at Jack Weaver's in the Music Corner in Newton and Jack's Drum Shop on Boylston St, in Boston. He became the chairman of the Percussion Department at Rivers in 1984, and was a named recipient of the Percussion Department Chair Fund in 2000. He was a Wellesley College Percussion Faculty Member from 1993-2001. In 2005, Reid became the Registrar of the Rivers School Conservatory until he retired in 2014. As an Entrepreneur: from 1976 to 1991, Reid owned and managed Studio 203 at 295 Huntington Ave., Boston. The studio was a magnet for players seeking practice, recording and performance space, not far from Symphony. Small concerts there were always well organized and so much fun. Beyond his music, Reid was a fanatical Boston sports fan, especially passionate about the Red Sox. He cherished his annual trips to Fenway Park with his grandkids from Charleston, SC, and watched nearly every game! Reid was born in New York City, son of Reid Jorgensen and Virginia Phelan Kimball. He moved to Boston at a young age. He attended The Fessenden School and Wilbraham Academy, prior to attending and graduating from Merrimack College, B.S. and Berklee College of Music, Diploma in Arranging and Composition. He leaves behind his wife, Judy; stepdaughter, Heather Wilson (Thaddeus); step-grandchildren: Pierce, Street, and Willy Wilson of Charleston, SC; his beloved first cousins: Jennifer Leaning (Ruth), John Leaning (Jan), Derryle Brown (David), Tracy Wiggins (Tom), Courtney Gabrielson, and Brooks Reid Brown, Edward Gallagher (Susan), Priscilla Gallagher Lovell (Bob), Carol Gallagher Civetti, Richard Gallagher (Susan), Paul Lyons (Susan), Patricia Lyons Mayer (Mark), Peter Lyons (Heidi); beloved in-laws John Kneipp (Julie), Sally Kneipp, Stephanie Willis (Park), and Tom Kneipp (June) and his many beloved 2nd cousins. He was godfather to Mary Love Gallagher, Lynn Prescott Hopping and Frederick Edward Reynolds. A musical celebration of Reid's life will be held on Monday, May 23 at 2:00pm in the Christ Lutheran Church, 113 Union St., Natick. Memories can be added to the online guestbook at www.gfdoherty.com Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you plant a tree in Reid's memory. George F. Doherty & Sons Wellesley 781-235-4100