Charles L. Booker, Jr.,is Associate Professor of Music at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith where he has served as the Director of Bands, Director Jazz Studies, and Chair of the Music Department. He currently teaches conducting, music theory, orchestration and composition. Mr. Booker is a composer, and a former U.S. Army Bandmaster, receiving his degrees from the University of the State of New York and the University of Texas at San Antonio. He later completed courses for Texas teacher certification in secondary music at Texas State University. His compositions are published by Alfred, Kendor, Southern Music Company, John Ross Music, and Booker Music. His music has been performed internationally by schools, universities and professional bands that include The Army Band (“Pershing’s Own”), the U.S. Army Field Band, the U.S. Military Academy Band (West Point), the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America and the U.S. Air Force Academy Band. During his 21-year military career, he conducted bands in Texas, Louisiana, Germany, New York and Washington, D.C. with performances for the returning American hostages from Iran, two Presidential funerals and inauguration parades, the centennial of the Statue of Liberty, and at the Kennedy Center. Also, he led the U.S. Army Field Band’s “Jazz Ambassadors” in concerts in 48 states, India, Japan, Europe, Mexico and Canada. He studied composition with Hank Levy (composer/arranger for Stan Kenton), Dr. Steve Strunk and Dr. James Balentine and conducting with Dr. Robert Garofalo and Dr. Robert Rustowicz. He is a past president of the Arkansas Chapter of College Band Directors National Association, past president of the Arkansas Chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators, a member of the National Band Association, Texas Bandmaster Association and is a member of the executive board of the Arkansas Bandmaster Association. Booker is also a member of the Arkansas Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi, and honorary music fraternity Pi Kappa Lambda. He is the founder and conductor of the River Valley Community Band of Fort Smith, Arkansas. He has been recognized by the Mayor of Fort Smith (the 2006 “Mayor’s Honors to the Visual and performing Arts”), the North Side Independent School District of San Antonio, Texas (the 2008 “Pillars of Character Award”) and has received the Arkansas Arts Council Award in music composition for 2009. In 2007, the New Mexico State University Symphonic Winds released a CD entitled “Centra-fuge: The Music of Charles L. Booker, Jr.” and in 2008, Mr. Booker released his second CD “American Jubilee: The Music of Charles L. Booker, Jr., Volume II”. Booker’s newest CD “Time Remembered: The Music of Charles L. Booker, Jr. Volume III will be released July 30, 2009.