WINDS OF CHANGE: THE MUSIC OF JOTHAN CALLINS
Calvin Sexton & Friends presents: Winds of ChangeThe music of Jothan Callins
A powerful 60–75 minute live concert experience honoring the legacy, musical influence, and mentorship of Birmingham jazz artist, composer, arranger, educator, and cultural catalyst Jothan Callins.
Available for major jazz festivals, performing arts centers, museums, cultural institutions, and select university and international presentation.
About Jothan Callins and Winds of Change
Jothan Callins
1942 - 2005
Jothan McKinley Callins (1942–2005) was a Birmingham, Alabama–born jazz artist, composer, arranger, educator, and cultural catalyst whose influence reached far beyond the stage. A graduate of Florida A&M University, he performed with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and with artists including Max Roach, Milt Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Sun Ra, Cecil McBee, George Coleman, Geri Allen, Joseph Jennings, and Jeff Watts. In 1978, he became the first Jazz Artist-in-Residence for Birmingham Public Schools and helped found the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and City Stages. After earning a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, he completed a master’s degree in Ethnomusicology and Jazz Studies and taught jazz history there for five years.
Callins led “The Sounds of Togetherness,” performing across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with original compositions featured in radio, television, theater, video, and film. In 1994, he founded the Birmingham Youth Jazz Ensemble, shaping generations of young musicians through mentorship, discipline, and artistic excellence. His legacy endures through his music, his students, and the cultural institutions he helped build.
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