George “Doc” Manning – a True Champion of Jazz
Doc Manning, a true fan and lover of jazz and a champion of the musicians who made it, passed away on Dec. 24th 2024, at the age of 74. A funeral service was held Thursday, January 16th, at Mt. Olive United Methodist Church. After his death, dozens of tributes were posted on Facebook, and he was the subject of articles in the Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Banner, testifying to the place he held in the hearts of the Baltimore jazz community.
A native of Baltimore, an Army veteran, and an employee in various departments of the county of Baltimore, he was a lifelong historian of and advocate for jazz here and elsewhere. In 1989 he became the host of “In the Tradition,” a radio show he created for WEAA 88.9 at Morgan State University, and Robert Shahid, his colleague at the station, gave a tribute at the funeral service. Until 2021, on his weekly Monday night program, he interviewed local musicians and others from far and wide. For three decades, he was the emcee for jazz concerts at An die Musik, and its founder, Henry Wong, also spoke at the funeral. Doc cofounded New Avenue Productions announcing artists at Caton Castle. During the pandemic, he co-hosted outdoor lawn concerts at the home of Eric Briscoe. Todd Barkan, owner of Keystone Korner, also spoke at the funeral.
As described in his obituary, “[You could] ask Doc about any song, and he could tell you who wrote it, the names of the musicians who played it, the year it was produced, and where it was first performed. He lived and breathed music; he was a ‘musician without an instrument.” (quoted by Lafayette Gilchrest).
Bass clarinetist Todd Marcus, who also spoke at the funeral, shared the following reflections:
Doc took an interest in all musicians on the scene. He was very knowledgeable about musicians nationally and internationally, and often when he would introduce them at shows or interview them on his radio show, you could sense that they were impressed by how much he knew about them and their music. But it was his knowledge, support, and encouragement of musicians here in Baltimore that really set him apart.
Doc was kind to and friends with all types of people. He was a genuine warm spirit and for decades was quick to offer support through his radio show on WEAA. So many of us were supported by Doc, who would play our music on the radio, announce our upcoming performances, invite us on air for interviews, and come hear us play.
Once Doc met a musician, he would quickly take an interest– even if we were still early in our journey. He saw our potential and would watch us grow and develop in our careers over years and even decades. And although Doc knew a ton of musicians, he treated a young musician with just as much respect as a famous veteran because he genuinely loved the music and all of us that made it.
Doc would frequently interview musicians on his radio show – and his approach was unique. He would often start with the intent to ask questions of his guests but in his excitement, he would instead end up telling them about themselves for many minutes before actually asking a question.
Sometimes this seemed to confuse national guests who didn’t know Doc well, but usually they started to realize that his unconventional approach was rooted in his love and respect for their work as artists and never for his own ego.
Doc’s work as an MC was as prominent as his radio show. He would often introduce musicians at concerts – and much like his interviews, his intros could be epic as he packed in insights about the musicians along with his love and knowledge of their work. This often took twists and turns but always flowed from his love of us and our work.
Doc Manning will truly be missed. He was not a musician himself but knew the music and was the spirit of the music. We loved him and he truly will be missed.
by Liz Fixsen & Todd Marcus
Liz Fixsen is a dedicated jazz enthusiast and a small-time jazz performer. She serves on the board of the Baltimore Jazz Alliance and edits and writes for the quarterly newsletter.
Todd Marcus is well-known in Baltimore and beyond as a bass clarinetist, composer, and band-leader. He has recorded several albums, including one titled On These Streets, reflecting the experience of Baltimore’s Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, where Marcus heads a non-profit organization called Intersection of Change.