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{{Infobox musical artist

{{Infobox musical artist

| name            = Dr. David W. Tucker

| name            = Dr. David W. Tucker

| image          = DavidWTucker.jpg

| image          =  

| alt            =  

| alt            =  

| caption        = Dr. David W. “Doc” Tucker<br/>Director UC Jazz Ensembles,1969-1985  

| caption        = Dr. David W. “Doc” Tucker<br/>Director UC Jazz Ensembles,1969-1985  

| years_active    = {{start date|1947}}– 1985

| years_active    = {{start date|1947}}– 1985

| label          =  

| label          =  

| associated_acts =  

| associated_acts = Pacific Coast Jazz Festival

| website        =  

| website        =  

| current_members =  

| current_members =  

| past_members    =  

| past_members    = [[Michael Wolff]], [[Andy Narell]], [[Dave Meros]], [[Les Golden]], Cheryl Pyle, Nic TenBroeck Paul Giorsetto, Susan Muscarella, Dave LeFebvre

}}

}}

'''David W. Tucker''' (1929–2003) was a jazz trombonist, music educator, composer of band and orchestral music, record producer, and marching band arranger, most renowned as the director of the [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]] from 1969 until 1985.  Under his direction, the organization expanded to become the largest musical organization on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley, had an international reputation resulting from foreign tours, and sponsored the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival.  Numerous student members of the organization have become renowned jazz musicians, composers, and music educators.

'''David W. Tucker''' (1929–2003) was a jazz trombonist, music educator, composer of band and orchestral music, record producer, and marching band arranger, most renowned as the director of the [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]] from 1969 until 1985.  Under his direction, the organization expanded to become the largest musical organization on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley, had an international reputation resulting from foreign tours, and sponsored the [[Pacific Coast Jazz Festival|Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival]].  Numerous student members of the organization have become renowned jazz musicians, composers, and music educators.[[File: DavidWTucker.jpg|thumb|right|250px|<small> David W. Tucker was the first director of the University of California Jazz Ensembles who during his tenure led it to international renown and began its sponsorship of the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival.</small>]]

==History==

==History==

In the fall of 1968, Tucker was hired as an arranger and composer for the  Cal Marching Band.<ref>2004. ''San Francisco Chronicle'', Obituary, November 12</ref><ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/11/12/MNTUCKERDR2.DTL#ixzz1SUt6w0lb</ref>  He was appointed Associate Director in 1969.  His responsibilities with the Cal Band included rehearsing, auditioning prospective new members, and directing on the football field opposite director James Berdahl.  For the 1971 season, during Berdahl’s sabbatical year in Japan, Tucker was named Acting Director.   

In the fall of 1968, Tucker was hired as an arranger and composer for the  Cal Marching Band.<ref>2004. ''San Francisco Chronicle'', Obituary, November 12</ref><ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/11/12/MNTUCKERDR2.DTL#ixzz1SUt6w0lb</ref>  He was appointed Associate Director in 1969.  His responsibilities with the Cal Band included rehearsing, auditioning prospective new members, and directing on the football field opposite director James Berdahl.  For the 1971 season, during Berdahl’s sabbatical year in Japan, Tucker was named Acting Director.   

At this time, he volunteered  to direct the fledgling University of California Jazz Ensembles,<ref name="first"/> which had begun in the fall of 1967<ref>Golden, Leslie (May 17, 1968), “Jazz Enthusiasts Organize Big, New ‘ASUC Ensembles’”, ''The Daily Californian'',  '''198''', 38, p. 1</ref>  under Cal bandsmen Bob Docken and Rick Penner  following a letter-to-the-editor announcements by, first, graduate student [[Les Golden]] in the fall of 1966 and then Docken and Penner in the fall of 1967.   

At this time, he volunteered  to direct the fledgling [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]],<ref name="first"/> which had begun in the fall of 1967<ref>Golden, Leslie (May 17, 1968), “Jazz Enthusiasts Organize Big, New ‘ASUC Ensembles’”, ''The Daily Californian'',  '''198''', 38, p. 1</ref>  under Cal bandsmen Bob Docken and Rick Penner  following a letter-to-the-editor announcements by, first, graduate student [[Les Golden]] in the fall of 1966 and then Docken and Penner in the fall of 1967.   

At the end of the 1971 season, Tucker left the Cal Band to accept  the newly-created position of Director of UC Jazz under Cal’s musical activities department.

At the end of the 1971 season, Tucker left the Cal Band to accept  the newly-created position of Director of UC Jazz under Cal’s musical activities department.

===Family===

===Family===

Tucker was predeceased by his wife Barbara, and leaves his second wife Carol, and, by his first wife, Jeff and Debbie and their families.  A eulogy by Les Golden is presented on the UC Jazz Ensembles First Decade website.<ref name="first"/>

Tucker was predeceased by his wife Barbara, and leaves his second wife Carol, and, by his first wife, Jeff and Debbie and their families.  A eulogy by [[Les Golden]] is presented on the UC Jazz Ensembles First Decade website.<ref name="first"/>

==Professional career==

==Professional career==

Within a couple years of Tucker's assuming the position of director, increasing interest of more student musicians to join the big band led to the creation of, two additional big bands, the Tuesday Night Band and the Thursday Night Band, with the original big band, composed of the most skilled of the jazz musicians, named the Wednesday Night Band.

Within a couple years of Tucker's assuming the position of director, increasing interest of more student musicians to join the big band led to the creation of, two additional big bands, the Tuesday Night Band and the Thursday Night Band, with the original big band, composed of the most skilled of the jazz musicians, named the Wednesday Night Band.

Tucker directed the University of California Jazz Ensembles until 1985, his early retirement resulting largely from a bad back that had him lying flat for a year.    Each year 100 students worked under his direction in the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night big bands, combos, and classes.   

Tucker directed the [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]] until 1985, his early retirement resulting largely from a bad back that had him lying flat for a year.    Each year 100 students worked under his direction in the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night big bands, combos, and classes.   

Under Tucker's guidance, the University of California Jazz Ensembles became the most successful and visible performing arts organization on the Cal campus.  The bands of the University of California Jazz Ensembles performed throughout California, at cultural venues such as the Oakland Art Museum and International House, once or twice weekly on campus, and at student and administration functions, including receptions for the Chancellor of the Berkeley campus.   

Under Tucker's guidance, the [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]] became the most successful and visible performing arts organization on the Cal campus.  The bands of the [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]] performed throughout California, at cultural venues such as the Oakland Art Museum and International House, once or twice weekly on campus, and at student and administration functions, including receptions for the Chancellor of the Berkeley campus.   

The first tier band, the Wednesday Night Band, was sponsored by the government of Poland to travel to Poland to perform at Katowice University in 1979 and the Montreux Jazz Festival<ref>(1979) U.C. Berkeley Jazz Band invited to perform at Montreux Festival, ''Berkeley Gazette'', March 18, p. 23</ref> arranged for the group to perform as the featured collegiate band during the trip and paid for its travel to Switzerland.  The total trip lasted four weeks, with other sponsored-appearances in the four Scandanavian countries.  Tucker had formed a friendship with Japanese dignitaries during their educational trip to Berkeley, and the prefectures of  Okayama and Hyogo jointly sponsored the group on a Japanese tour during 1981.  The group received critical acclaim and a last-minute concert was arranged by the sponsors at the Japanese major league baseball Korakuen Stadium.<ref>(1986) Kuzmich, John, Jr., "Doc" Tucker Retires:  Esteemed Educator Put Cal Berkeley on the International Jazz Map, ''Jazz Educators Journal'', '''18''', page 14-18; http://www.kuzmich.com/articles.html#Jazz</ref>   

The first tier band, the Wednesday Night Band, was sponsored by the government of Poland to travel to [[Poland]] to perform at Katowice University in 1979 and the Montreux Jazz Festival<ref>(1979) U.C. Berkeley Jazz Band invited to perform at Montreux Festival, ''Berkeley Gazette'', March 18, p. 23</ref> arranged for the group to perform as the featured collegiate band during the trip and paid for its travel to Switzerland.  The total trip lasted four weeks, with other sponsored-appearances in the four Scandanavian countries.  Tucker had formed a friendship with Japanese dignitaries during their educational trip to Berkeley, and the prefectures of  Okayama and Hyogo jointly sponsored the group on a Japanese tour during 1981.  The group received critical acclaim and a last-minute concert was arranged by the sponsors at the Japanese major league baseball Korakuen Stadium.<ref>(1986) Kuzmich, John, Jr., "Doc" Tucker Retires:  Esteemed Educator Put Cal Berkeley on the International Jazz Map, ''Jazz Educators Journal'', '''18''', page 14-18; http://www.kuzmich.com/articles.html#Jazz</ref>   

==Recognition==

==Recognition==

==Influence==

==Influence==

Many student musicians who studied privately with Tucker or who performed with UC Jazz became musicians, band leaders, and music educators in their own right as a result of their experience with Tucker.  These include pianist, band leader, and composer [[Michael Wolff]], steel drum player [[Andy Narell]], and bass guitarist [[Dave Meros]](who played bass trombone in the jazz ensemble).  Others, provided the opportunity to be soloists and announcers for the organization, embarked on careers as musician agents, music producers, radio disk jockeys, and stand-up comedians.  UC Jazz continues as a viable organization on the Cal Berkeley campus, celebrating its 44th anniversary in 2011.

Many student musicians who studied privately with Tucker or who performed with UC Jazz became musicians, band leaders, and music educators in their own right as a result of their experience with Tucker.  These include pianist, band leader, and composer [[Michael Wolff]], steel drum player [[Andy Narell]], trumpet player [[Les Golden]], and bass guitarist [[Dave Meros]](who played bass trombone in the jazz ensemble).  Others, provided the opportunity to be soloists and announcers for the organization, embarked on careers as musician agents, music producers, radio disk jockeys, and stand-up comedians.  UC Jazz continues as a viable organization on the Cal Berkeley campus, celebrating its 44th anniversary in 2011.

 

 

<i>Never Split Tens!</i>, a novel based on the life of pioneering blackjack probability theorist [[Edward O. Thorp]], by [[Les Golden]] published in 2017 by Springer features a scene from the [[Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival]] and numerous musicians from the [[University of California Jazz Ensembles]] including director Dr. [[David W. Tucker]], saxophonist and assistant director David LeFebvre, pianist and steel drummer [[Andy Narell]], co-founders Bob Docken and Rick Penner, and Golden as emcee.

==References==

==References==