Concert in Seattle in 2020 honored jazz pianist/legend Overton Berry, a Linfielder

CONCERT IN SEATTLE IN 2020 HONORED JAZZ PIANIST/LEGEND OVERTON BERRY, A LINFIELDER

“Remembering Overton Berry” was a concert at Town Hall Seattle on Oct. 9, 2020, at Town Hall Seattle. It featured jazz pianist Diane Schuur and a host of Seattle artists and kicked off that year’s Earshot Fest. 

Source: John Gilbreath, host Jazz Theater at KEXP. Host: Caravan at KCBS Radio and Director at Earshot Jazz.

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Although Overton Berry graduated from Seattle's Lincoln High School that was because he attended a summer session at Lincoln so he could graduate early. His alma mater was Garfield High in Seattle.

Jazz pianist/legend Overton Berry (born 1936-died 2020) attended Linfield College his freshman year (1953-1954). He was president of the freshman (Class of 1957) and a pledge (“page”) of Linfield’s chapter of the Intercollegiate Knight men’s service honorary.

Posted here are five photos of Overton Berry from the 1954 Linfield Oak Leaves yearbook. Thanks to Linfield Archives for the scans. Also posted are photos from his jazz pianist career.

Info about Overton Berry:

https://www.historylink.org/file/10326

More info:
https://southseattleemerald.com/.../local-jazz-legend.../

Oct 21, 2020 — One of Seattle's most beloved and popular musicians, the effervescent jazz pianist Overton Berry, died at home. (Seattle Times)

He attended Linfield, 1953-1954, and then transferred to the University of Washington, Seattle.

=The 1954 Linfield Oak Leaves student yearbook includes this text: “Keeping the traditions of Linfield, the class of 1957, began its college life with active participation in the homecoming activities, presenting its many talents Dr. Dillin’s Medicine Show. Although losing the Tug-O-War, the class kept up its spirit and added school sporting to athletic and other events. Led by Overton Berry, the class helped carry out student body functions and especially worked to make the May Day celebration a great event.”

=An article headlined “2 Honoraries Tap Students,” in the April 7, 1954, Oregonian said Overton Berry of Seattle was among 27 new “pages” of Linfield’s chapter of Intercollegiate Knights (I.K.), men’s national service honorary.

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