Thomas Kerr

1915 - 1988

About

Thomas Kerr (1915-1988), Baltimore native, began playing and studying the piano, taught himself to play the organ and, by fourteen, was playing for church as well as in clubs on Pennsylvania Avenue. In his adolescence, he was guided by his high school teacher, Llewellyn Wilson, and idolized Mark Fax. Kerr received three degrees at the Eastman School of Music and studied at Howard University. Kerr’s first position was as an Instructor at Knoxville College in Knoxville, Tennessee and it was during this time that he started to compose. Kerr produced around 60-65 pieces and the compositions run the gamut, with the exception of orchestral works, from solo voice to instrumental ensemble works. There are works for voice and piano, piano solos, piano duets, and piano duos; voice, violin, and organ; choral works (a cappella) as well as with piano or organ accompaniment; organ solos organ, brass ensemble, and choir; and one instrumental ensemble piece. In 1942, as Warner Lawson’s first appointee at Howard University, Kerr applied for a position as a Theory teacher by submitting a musical composition. This was perhaps the only such job application ever received by Warner Lawson, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University who served from 1942 to 1975. Kerr attended Howard University as a freshman but transferred, preferring the Eastman School of Music. But he returned to Howard University where he remained for the rest of his life as Professor and Chairman of the Piano Department. Kerr has received honors and prizes in composition and performed many times as piano soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra. Among his compositions are Three Dunbar Songs, Easter Monday Swagger, Seven Dancetudes For Piano, Fanfare for Christmas, and others.

Related Information

http://www.music-research-inst.org/subs/im4_1/hrkerr.htm, http://www.darryltaylor.com/alliance/composers/thomas-kerr

Works by Thomas Kerr