Al Downing Credit: Photo vy Jared, CC BY-SA 3.0

Last year, the City of St. Petersburg made Al Downing Day a thing.

To continue celebrating the life and legacy of the late educator, musician and mentor who was also the city’s first Black Commissioner of the Housing Authority, his namesake foundation is hosting its first-ever awards ceremony of sorts.

A who’s who of the local jazz scene with be on hand as members of the Downing family—including Mrs. Deirdre Downing-Jackson—pay tribute to locals who’ve contributed to the fabric of Tampa Bay’s jazz landscape (including Frank Williams III, Michael Cornette. Naturally, the Al Downing All-Stars provide music for this matinee which also features vocalist Greg Porter, who is currently Director of Music at St. Pete’s Historic Bethel AME Church where Al Downing once served as church organist.

Tickets for Al Downing Honors on Sunday, July 21 at Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg are still available and start at $10.

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This article appears in Jul 11-17, 2024.