Clarence Acox Jr. served as the Director of Jazz Bands at Garfield High School in Seattle from 1971, after arriving in the city from teaching at Southern University in New Orleans. Eight years into his tenure at Garfield, he took over the jazz band, transforming it into one of the nation’s premier high school jazz ensembles. Under his leadership, the Garfield Jazz Ensemble participated in nearly every major competition on the West Coast and gained national recognition for its excellence.

From 2000 to 2010, the ensemble competed in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival at Lincoln Center in New York, winning first place four times (2003, 2004, 2009, and 2010)—more than any other high school in the country. They also finished second in 2002 and 2008, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in high school jazz. The ensemble toured internationally, performing in countries such as Switzerland and the Netherlands, and collaborated with legendary musicians including Quincy Jones and Wynton Marsalis.

Acox Jr.’s remarkable career earned him numerous honors. He was named Musician of the Year by the Earshot Jazz Society in 1991 and inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1994. DownBeat Magazine recognized him as Educator of the Year in 2001, and in 2008, Seattle Metropolitan named him one of the “50 Most Influential Musicians in the History of Seattle Music.” He also received the Mayor’s Arts Award from Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels in 2007. Through his dedication, expertise, and vision, Clarence Acox Jr. left an indelible mark on generations of student musicians and the broader jazz community.