Douglas Jackson

The Trumpet And Senior Citizen Performers: A Discussion On The Impact Of Aging And Playing The Trumpet 

Douglas A. Jackson is a Professor of Music at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth  City, NC, where he teaches trumpet, African American Music History, Music Business and  directs the Elizabeth City State University Jazz Ensemble.  

Douglas earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from California State University,  Los Angeles. His principal instrument is the trumpet.  

Douglas joined the ECSU faculty in 2006 after a career in film, music, and television  accounting. His former employers include Motown Records, A&M Records, Metro Goldwyn- Mayer (MGM) Studios and BMG Music Publishing. 

In 2012 Douglas founded the annual Elizabeth City State University Jazz Festival where the  list of guest artists includes: Jae Sinnett, Lesa Terry, Sean Jones, Michael Dease, Marcus  Anderson, The US. Navy Band Commodores, The Rhythm Project, Ron Carter, Shana  Tucker, Charlton Singleton, The L.A. Big Daddys Blues Band, Adam Hawley and Kat Hawley.  On April 14, 2026 Douglas directed the Elizabeth City State University Jazz Ensemble in a  Centennial celebration for John Coltrane and Miles Davis.  

In 2024 Douglas Jackson received a $10,000 Grant from The National Endowment for the  Arts to host the Max Roach Centennial Celebration in Elizabeth City, NC. The Elizabeth City  State University Jazz Ensemble participated in the 2023 and 2025 Virginia Arts Festival Jazz  At Lincoln Center HBCU Residency hosted by Wynton Marsalis. 

Douglas has presented “History at Noon, for the North Carolina Museum of History, on  music icons George Clinton, Chuck Brown, and music executive Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks.  Douglas is an advocate of the arts in his service on the North Carolina Humanities Board of  Trustees and The Arts Of The Albemarle Board of Directors. 

Douglas is an advocate of the arts in his service on the North Carolina Humanities Board of  Trustees, The Arts Of The Albemarle Board of Directors and The International Trumpet  Guild-Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition Committee.  

Douglas Jackson has successfully composed and produced Smooth Jazz tracks “ In Style”  and “Elizabeth City Grooves” both landing in the Smooth Jazz Network Top 100.