Band director Donald Crawford receives check from A. G. Gaston

Band director Donald Crawford receives check from A. G. Gaston

Historically, Birmingham schools have played an essential role in developing the city's jazz community; many Birmingham music teachers were also accomplished and highly respected players.

Here, Jackson-Olin High School band director Donald Crawford receives a check from millionaire-entrepreneur A. G. Gaston. Original newspaper caption: "CONTEST WINNERS PLAN TO PURCHASE NEW UNIFORMS WITH MONEY ... Band director Donald Crawford receives a check from A. G. Gaston while band members Reginald Lavender, Cleve Finley, Doretha Huggins and Robin Stephenson cheer."


Crawford taught band at Jackson-Olin from 1976 to 2011 and later served as band director at Miles College. He also performed in the 291st and 283rd Army Band in Fort Benning, Georgia, in the Birmingham Heritage Band, and at the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Brighton, Alabama. In addition, Crawford was owner of Crawford and Sons Bus Transportation Company, founded in 1951 by his father, Worcy Crawford. In 2011, he published a book -- The Wheels of the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement -- about the role his father's company played in that movement.

Original press photo, c. 1977.

Photograph