“What we play is life!” Louis Armstrong

Dedicated to Dewayne Hogans

Over the past 20 years, Mr. W. Lee Hogans has taught trumpet and other brass instruments in a diverse capacity including private lessons, high school clinics, university classes, clinics, and ensembles. Mr. Hogans has over 15 years of experience as a touring musician, having performed with such respected artists as Prince, Maceo Parker, Marcus Miller, Maceo Parker, Jay-Z, Jill Scott, Illinois Jacquet, Clark Terry, and Winard Harper.  As of recent, Mr. Hogans has taken on the role of Director of Music and Education at Jazz House Kids, where he is afforded the opportunity to work with young artists who represent the future of jazz music.

Mr. Hogans’ music studies include earning a Masters of Music (M.M) degree from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, which included private training from Rutgers University trumpet professor William Fielder as well as jazz trumpet legend Clark Terry. Since earning this degree, Mr. Hogans has furthered his professional development by working as a music producer, arranger, and composer, generating commercial music for such companies as Levi’s Jeans and Toyota and producing for jazz, r&b and hip hop artists in the New York area. This line of work also helped Mr. Hogans become technically fluent with computer programs used in the music industry, including Finale, Avid Protools and Logic Pro. 

Another one of Mr. Hogans’ passions is bringing music to the special needs population. Through Jazz House Kids and the “Give an Instrument/Build a Musician” organization, he has been fortunate enough to teach music to special needs students at the John F. Kennedy School in Newark, N.J for the past eight years. His involvement in these classes has taught Mr. Hogans to use creativity in the approach to teaching due to the proficiency required to address the needs of these particular students. Thought this work, Mr. Hogans has learned the joy that music can bring to anyone, regardless of skill level.

Lee is a Conn Selmer Artist.

Lee uses and endorses Reunion Blues Gig Bags.