James Wilbur Rea Hacker

James Wilbur Rea Hacker, 55, of Miami, FL, unexpectedly passed away Friday, April 28, 2023. He was born in Carrollton, Kentucky on July 12, 1967. Jim married the love of his life, Jeni, on April 9, 1999. They have two children, Reed and Bailey.
Jim was the consummate family man. If you knew Jim, you knew his wife and his children because he never stopped talking about them. He worked hard but prioritized his family at every turn, which included his parents, brother, in-laws, nieces and nephews. And if you were his friend, you were also his family and felt that same intentional love and care. He served faithfully at his church in both the deacon and student ministries. He loved baseball, traveling with his wife and kids, and often could be found in front of his garage working on another piece of furniture for their home.
Jim was larger than life. His reach was broad and his impact was strong. As an educator, he helped to shape the talents of hundreds and hundreds of students. His investment was extensive, it wasn't just musical, it was personal.
Jim received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Miami in 1989 and then continued his studies at UM by pursuing a Master of Music Degree as the teaching assistant to Gilbert Johnson for two years. While in school, he was the lead trumpet for five years with the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, directed by Whit Sidener.
Prior to joining the FIU faculty in 1996, he taught at Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus for 5 years. He has been a faculty member at the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts since 1996 as the Trumpet Instructor, Conductor of the University Brass Choir and Director of Brass Chamber Music. In the fall of 2010, he was appointed as the Director of the FIU Studio Jazz Big Band and also served as the Associate Director of Marketing for the School of Music from January 2011-May 2012. He served periodically as Area Coordinator for both the Wind and Percussion Studies area and the Jazz Studies area. In 2014, Jim was promoted to the rank of Senior Instructor of Trumpet and in 2020, promoted to the rank of Teaching Professor of Trumpet. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he held trumpet positions with the Boca Symphonia and Atlantic Classical Orchestra and was a founding member of both the Miami Brass Consort and the Florida Trumpet Quartet. Since coming to Miami in 1986, he has been a regular performer and/or soloist with the Miami City Ballet, Florida Grand Opera, Florida Philharmonic, Naples Philharmonic, Seraphic Fire, Miami Chamber Symphony, Miami Symphony, Palm Beach Symphony, Orchestra Miami, Palm Beach Pops, Miami Bach Society and Palm Beach Opera as well as other orchestral and chamber ensembles throughout the South Florida area.
Jim also performed regularly with many artists' concert tours and Broadway shows throughout the state, and can be heard on numerous CDs, television and radio commercials as a studio musician including The Latin Grammy Awards, American Idol, The Dove Awards, The Orange Bowl, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, America's Got Talent, PBS, MTV and the Original Broadway Cast Recording of The Scarlet Pimpernel. His talents and versatility have enabled him to travel throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia and to perform and/or record with such noted artists as Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr., Luciano Pavarotti, Timbaland, Madonna, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Pharrell Williams, The Neptunes, Diddy, Prince, Busta Rhymes, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Ricardo Montaner, Doc Severinson, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Barry Manilow, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, The Bee Gees, Bruce Hornsby, The O'Jays, Andrea Bocelli, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Flo-Rida, Wyclef Jean, Joan Rivers, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles, Anthony Newley, Shirley Bassey, Henry Mancini, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, The Russian National Orchestra, Natalie Cole, James Galway, Jon Secada, The Temptations, Pat Metheny, Randy Brecker, Bernadette Peters, The Four Tops, Marvin Hamlisch, Englebert Humperdink, Gregory Hines, Chita Rivera, Pia Zadora, John Rutter, Toots Theilman, Rob McConnell, Tommy Tune, Bob Brookmeyer, Paul Anka, Lionel Hampton, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Bob Mintzer, Peter Allen, Lucy Arnez, The Moody Blues, Gloria Estefan, Chayanne, Raul DiBlasio, Willie Chirino, Celia Cruz, Paquito D'Rivera, Peobo Brison, James Ingram, Roberta Flack, Sheila E., Sheena Easton, Liza Minelli, Connie Francis, Nancy Reed, Vicki Carr, Clarence Clemons, Lalo Schifrin, Quincy Jones, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Tito Puente, Ed Calle, The Jaco Pastorius Big Band, Luis Enrique, Pimpinela, Jon Faddis, Vic Damone, Regis Philbin, Michel Camilo, Ignacio Berroa, Arturo Sandoval, Nestor Torres, James Taylor, Barry White, Keely Smith, Jim McNeely, John Fedchock, Ira Sullivan, Maria Schneider, Jaci Valesquez, Deana Martin, Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Maureen McGovern, Jack Jones, Lena Horne, Meatloaf, The Spinners, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Fabian, Stephen Marley, El Puma, Inner Circle, KC and the Sunshine Band, Baha Men, Thalia, Cristian Castro, Debbie Boone, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight, Taylor Hicks, Perry Como, Little Richard, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Donna Summer, Kevin Spacey, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Dave Samuels, Tommy Mottola, Darius Rucker, The Radio City Rockettes, Richie Suppa, Victor Manuelle, Romes Santos, Alejandro Sanz, Leslie Grace, Maluma, Malu and Melendi, Diego Torres, Carlos Vives, Julieta Venegas, Rita Moreno, Myriam Hernandez, Alvaro Torres, Fonseca, Alejandra Guzman, Beto Cuevas, Rudy Perez and many more.
He was preceded in death by his father, James Hacker. He is survived by his mother, Gerry Hacker; his wife, Jeni; daughter, Bailey; son, Reed; his brother, Dan (Tobie) and their daughters.
A celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, May 6th at 1:00pm at Christ Journey Church followed by a reception to visit and share stories of our deep love for him.
The service will also be live streamed: www.christjourney.org/jimhacker
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the FIU Jim Hacker Scholarship for Musical Excellence at https://give.fiu.edu/give-now/college-of-communication-architecture-the-arts/?BBFund=3900&BBHideOtherFunds=1