Several high school jazz bands and jazz choirs from southeast Washington come together ever year for the annual Bill Bolick Jazz Night held in the Kimbrough Concert Hall.

This tribute to Bolick represents all of his honors as a music educator in the Colton School District for more than 20 years, according to the event page. Some of these prestigious awards and honors include the Christa Cliff Award in 1988 and the Teacher of the Year Award from the Music Educators of Washington state in 1992.

Before starting his teaching career in 1972, he was a rock-and-roll musician who performed all over the state with some of the premier Northwest bands, according to the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

He retired from teaching in 2001 but his love of music continued until his death in 2007. This jazz night is in remembrance of all his achievements and the hearts he touched as a music educator.

“He often remarked that his proudest achievement was the positive influence he had on local students,” the Daily News reported.

The Bill Bolick Jazz Night will take place from 6 – 10 p.m. tonight in the Kimbrough Concert Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

Reporting by Chloe Grundmeier