Atlanta's own Graham Jackson was a multi-talented dynamo of a musician who poured his energies into music of all kinds. He created jazz groups and full orchestras; played piano and organ in church, movie theatres, and on radio and television; led his own choir; taught music; and became famously known (as his business card so succinctly stated) as the 'Favorite of Presidents'.While never an “official” organist at the Fox Theatre, he made many appearances at "Mighty Mo", offering his impressive jazz and improvisational touch to the music emanating from those five pipe chambers at the Atlanta Fox. ATOS Atlanta is proud to shed the spotlight on one of the most influential musicians to call Atlanta home and equally proud to help another young musician take his or her next steps toward a career in music.The concert will not only present Ken Double, organist at the Atlanta Fox Theatre on "Mighty Mo", but will also feature the Stephenson High School Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Quentin Goins - the 2023 Georgia Music Educator of the Year and our great partner and supporter of the Grande Page pipe organ.
Ken Double likes to joke that he's enjoyed a "double life" getting paid to have fun. For 33 years he was a sportscaster: NBA and college basketball, the worldwide radio broadcast of the Indy 500, and 17 years in hockey, including the Atlanta Knights in the early 90s. His other life found him taking advantage of his 10 years of organ lessons and creating a concert career on the great theatre pipe organs of the movie palaces of the 1920s.He's performed all across the US, in Canada, Great Britain, and eight tours of Australia and New Zealand. Since 2017, Ken has been privileged to present "Mighty Mo", the great pipe organ at the Atlanta Fox Theatre, to appreciative audiences more than 120 times a year.
Under the Direction of Quentin Goins, the SHS Wind Ensemble is the top organization of the Stephenson High School Band program, playing level 6 compositions. Among many distinctions, they were selected to perform for the 2005 Georgia Music Educators Association Convention in Savannah, Georgia as well as invited to perform at the 2005 Southeastern United States National Honor Band Clinic in Troy, Alabama.Over the past several years, the Stephenson Band program has earned many local, state, and national awards, including: Superior Band Ratings over the past ten years in GMEA district events, marching in the nationally televised 113th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and being featured guests for the Bands of America Super Regional in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Grande Page Theatre Pipe Organ was originally built in 1927 by the Page Organ Company in Lima, Ohio for Chicago radio station WHT. It eventually landed in Atlanta and was a focal point of activity for ATOS Atlanta during its time at the Winn Sound warehouse before being donated to the Chapter and later installed and expanded in the Performing Arts Theatre of Stephenson High School.The organ console boasts four manuals and over 300 stop tabs, pistons, and controls. There are 23 ranks of pipes installed in two chambers at the rear of the auditorium. Today, there are but two true theatre pipe organs playing in the greater Atlanta area – “Mighty Mo” at the Fox and the Grande Page at SHS.
The Atlanta Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society is a 501(c)(3) organization and your contribution, whether big or small, directly supports the Graham Jackson Scholarship Fund and Concert Series.
Yes, it's okay to send me text messages including confirmations, changes, updates, and/or promotions. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. View our terms of service & privacy policy.
