Melton Mustafa facts for kids

Melton "Shakir" Mustafa Sr. (born November 23, 1947 – died December 28, 2017) was a talented American jazz musician. He played the trumpet and flugelhorn, which is like a trumpet but with a softer sound. He was also a music teacher and helped arrange music for bands.

Biography

Early Life and Music Journey

Melton Mustafa grew up in Miami, Florida. He was the younger brother of another musician, saxophonist Jesse Jones Jr.. Melton started learning the trumpet when he was in middle school. As a teenager, he played in a band with his brother that performed RnB and calypso music.

He studied music at Berklee College of Music and Mississippi Valley State College. Later, he earned a degree in music education from Florida A&M University. In the late 1960s, he played trumpet for famous soul artists like Sam & Dave and Betty Wright. He became a well-known part of the jazz music scene in Miami and joined Ira Sullivan's band.

Performing with Jazz Legends

In the early 1980s, Melton played in Florida with Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth Band. He then performed in New York City with musicians like Bobby Watson. From 1986, he joined the famous Count Basie Orchestra, which was led by Frank Foster.

He also played with other legendary groups, including the Duke Ellington Orchestra and Woody Herman and His Orchestra. He worked with many other great jazz artists like George Cables and John Hicks.

His Own Music Albums

In 1995, Melton Mustafa released his own big band album called Boiling Point. He followed this with another album, St. Louis Blues, in 1997. He also recorded music with other artists, including Eric Allison and his brother Jesse Jones Jr. His last album, The Travelling Man, was recorded in 2012. Overall, he was part of 32 recording sessions between 1980 and 2012.

Teaching and Mentoring Young Musicians

In his later years, Melton Mustafa spent most of his time in Florida as a music teacher. He started the jazz studies program at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens.

In the 1990s, there was also an annual Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival. This festival helped raise money for college and high school jazz students. Many famous jazz musicians performed there, such as Jon Faddis, Benny Golson, Grover Washington Jr., and Clark Terry. Melton Mustafa passed away in 2017 in Miami.