2008 Woodie Awards
Music professor is 'a prince of a guy'
Professor uses trumpet to teach, entertain local community
Kenneth Long
Issue date: 7/9/08 Section: A&E
Music professor Prince Wells III has met many famous musicians, has traveled the country and has won numerous awards.
Wells, who recently stepped down from his three-year position of music department chair, said despite meeting musicians like Benny Goodman and Miles Davis, as well as being named one of the most influential St. Louis African Americans and making his own CD, he's not one for the limelight.
"I'm no egomaniac," Wells said. "I never had the desire to be a household name."
Wells was born and raised in Brooklyn, Ill., a town he said has mistakenly been targeted by media for its strip clubs.
"There are so many good things to come out of Brooklyn," Wells said.
Wells attended Lovejoy Public School for his entire childhood, where he started playing trumpet in the fifth grade.
"The teacher asked the class what instruments we were interested in, and I said trumpet," Wells said. "I got a trumpet, and I never complained about it."
Wells said his teacher, George Hudson, was extremely influential in his musical development.
"I was lucky to learn from (Hudson)," Wells said. "He had friends like Clark Terry and Oliver Nelson, which made him even greater."
Wells graduated from Lovejoy and had his heart set on attending SIUE for music.
"I never had a second thought," Wells said.
When Wells began his undergraduate degree at SIUE in 1971, he said the university still had the attraction of a fairly new campus.
"It seemed like the whole campus fit into about six buildings," Wells said.
Rudolph Wilson, the former assistant provost for cultural and social diversity said he knew Wells even before he started going to SIUE.
"I've known Wells for a long time," Wilson said. "SIUE's tradition of making sure we grow our own has been exemplified by him."
Wells can credit himself for technically graduating with one of jazz's biggest names, Benny Goodman.
Goodman received an honorary doctorate from SIUE during Well's graduation ceremony in the summer of 1976. Wells was able to meet Goodman during the ceremony.
Wells, who recently stepped down from his three-year position of music department chair, said despite meeting musicians like Benny Goodman and Miles Davis, as well as being named one of the most influential St. Louis African Americans and making his own CD, he's not one for the limelight.
"I'm no egomaniac," Wells said. "I never had the desire to be a household name."
Wells was born and raised in Brooklyn, Ill., a town he said has mistakenly been targeted by media for its strip clubs.
"There are so many good things to come out of Brooklyn," Wells said.
Wells attended Lovejoy Public School for his entire childhood, where he started playing trumpet in the fifth grade.
"The teacher asked the class what instruments we were interested in, and I said trumpet," Wells said. "I got a trumpet, and I never complained about it."
Wells said his teacher, George Hudson, was extremely influential in his musical development.
"I was lucky to learn from (Hudson)," Wells said. "He had friends like Clark Terry and Oliver Nelson, which made him even greater."
Wells graduated from Lovejoy and had his heart set on attending SIUE for music.
"I never had a second thought," Wells said.
When Wells began his undergraduate degree at SIUE in 1971, he said the university still had the attraction of a fairly new campus.
"It seemed like the whole campus fit into about six buildings," Wells said.
Rudolph Wilson, the former assistant provost for cultural and social diversity said he knew Wells even before he started going to SIUE.
"I've known Wells for a long time," Wilson said. "SIUE's tradition of making sure we grow our own has been exemplified by him."
Wells can credit himself for technically graduating with one of jazz's biggest names, Benny Goodman.
Goodman received an honorary doctorate from SIUE during Well's graduation ceremony in the summer of 1976. Wells was able to meet Goodman during the ceremony.
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Brandon Wells
posted 7/12/08 @ 8:57 AM CST
What a wonderful, and momentous article written about Mr. Prince A. Wells III. I am truly blessed to have a friend and a delightful family member in him. (Continued…)
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