Jazz Town USA, Could Save Phoenix’s Struggling Artists From Being Homeless
By 602AZ Mag
Jazz Town USA is a new community initiative, designed to help Jazz and Blues musicians struggling due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
William Doc Jones considers himself one of the lucky ones. Doc, who is Executive Director of International Jazz Day AZ Foundation and President of Jazz Town USA, was born and raised in Chicago but moved to Phoenix thirty years ago to pursue his career as a jazz musician. With just a saxophone and a keyboard, Doc has been able to sustain himself and his family alone with his wife Shirley of 52 years. Most other musicians in Phoenix aren’t so fortunate.
“When I moved to Phoenix in 1986, the music scene was thriving,” he said, “but then came the saving and loan crash of the early ’90s, then the 2008 real estate crash. It was devastating for the arts community.”
