He Dropped Out of College to Follow His Dream

He Dropped Out of College to Follow His Dream

What began as an elective double bass course grew into a lifelong jazz journey. Gerald Cannon left college to pursue his passion at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, where he immersed himself in the art of jazz and laid the foundation for an extraordinary career.

By age 28, he had made the leap to New York City, debuting at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club with Winard and Philip Harper and Justin Robinson. Soon after, he was performing with some of the greatest names in jazz, including Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Dexter Gordon, the Cedar Walton Trio with Billy Higgins, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Scott, James Williams, and many others.

Cannon’s career truly took flight when trumpeter Roy Hargrove discovered him at a performance—sparking seven years of touring the world’s top jazz festivals, from Montreux to Cape Town.

Watch our conversation with Gerald Cannon: