Trumpeter Shaheed to lead Pierce Street performance

  School of Business  

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Throughout a decades-long music career, trumpeter Nolan Shaheed has performed and recorded with numerous notable acts. On May 22, he will bring his talents to the stage at La Sierra University.

<p> Acclaimed trumpeter Nolan Shaheed will perform at La Sierra University on May 22. (Photo courtesy of Nolan Shaheed) </p>

Acclaimed trumpeter Nolan Shaheed will perform at La Sierra University on May 22. (Photo courtesy of Nolan Shaheed)

On Wednesday at 7 p.m., Shaheed will perform for Pierce Street Jazz in Troesh Conference Center at the Zapara School of Business. Joining him will be music industry icons Henry “the Skipper” Frankin on bass, Theo Saunders on piano, and Marvin “Smitty” Smith on drums. Admission is free.

Shaheed, a native of Pasadena, Calif., specializes in the cornet as well as the trumpet. His career began in the mid 1970s in Los Angeles when he worked with iconic soul vocalist and songwriter Aretha Franklin and served as music director for legendary vocalist Marvin Gaye. He also served as lead trumpet with the County Basie Orchestra and as his career progressed, he worked with numerous stars of various genre including  Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Phil Collins, Miles Davis, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Shaheed last performed for Pierce Street Jazz in 2016. In addition to his musical achievements, Shaheed is also an accomplished masters athlete and middle-distance runner, holding world records in the 800 meter, 1500 meter and one-mile races.

Pierce Street Jazz, which showcases professional artists, began in 2009 as a free-admission summer community series through the efforts of Franklin and the university’s Summer Program with assistance from former La Sierra University Provost Warren Trenchard. It later expanded to offer performances throughout the year and is currently made possible through a collaboration with the Zapara School of Business. 

A Los Angeles native and Inland Empire resident, Franklin has held a career as a professional musician since 1959 and has performed on stage and in the studio with many greats of the jazz industry from ‘60s star Hugh Masekela to Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Freddie Hubbard, Count Basie and many others. He has played on and produced more than 150 recordings including gold releases, and appeared at venues around the U.S., South America, Europe and Asia. Southern California performance locales have included Riverside’s Historic Mission Inn where he played for 13 years.

In February 2023, Franklin was awarded Outstanding Jazz Album-Instrumental for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards along with producers Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge. They bested several contenders in their category, including jazz icon Boney James.

Series information and concert livestreaming is available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/piercestreetjazz/. La Sierra University is located at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside.

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