A Recognized Unrecognized Trumpeter’s Dream

When you have a talent and in your heart you know this is your gift to share with the world nothing should stop you or get in our way. Every one is born with at least one gift and must share that gift with the world for their wholeness and humanity’s wholeness. One person’s struggle encourages the next person’s struggle to be the best they can under any and all circumstances.

Clora Bryant, a trumpet player who broke barriers in jazz. Born May 30, 1927 and transitioned August 25, 2019. Ms. Bryant played the trumpet while attention and recognition was slow in coming, if it came at all being in a male dominated arena and during a time when she was considered a novelty.

Ms. Bryant stated, “When you put that iron in your mouth, you run into problems, the other horn players gave me respect, but the men who ran the clubs considered me a novelty, “ per the Los Angeles Times from an interview in 1998.

She was a barrier breaker who stood steadfast and firm in her resolve to be respected as a jazz trumpet player despite the open sexism and racism that shadowed her career. When you are the first or one of the first, that door of opportunity is like a brick wall…