One of my favorite people in this world is Ellis Moss, Class of 1979. As I recall, I recruited him to be a moderator of the Black Alumni Listserv and I was the one who wanted to play for something meaningful in the annual football forecasting competition. As the Commish, Ellis came up with the Cup which is now named for Uthman Muhammad, Class of 1970, and Greg Domingue, Class of 1972. I won the Cup, I think in 2021, and retired not long after. After all, it was a Miracle that I won, so any attempt to repeat the Miracle seemed to be blasphemous.
I love Ellis for other reasons as well. Every year I send out over 250 Season Greetings cards. Ellis is on my list. He is one of the few who responds to my season greetings by sending a season greetings card of his own. But his is special because he includes a photo of his extended family. Simply beautiful!I also appreciate that when Ellis was on his grand tour of every Major League Baseball park, he paused to have me join him and Yvette when they came to visit Oracle Park in San Francisco. On that night, the Giants played a tribute to Prince that made the night special even if I cannot remember which team won the game.Ellis also has a beautiful voice. For the 2021 Black Alumni Memorial Service, a virtual event, Ellis Moss sang Precious Lord, Take My Hand from the front seat of his car. It was an amazing performance and contributed to my belief that the 2021 Service was blessed by God.By now you know that I think Ellis Moss is special. So, whenever Ellis Moss speaks as he does below, I take the time to listen... and to enjoy.Peace,Everett "Skip" JenkinsClass of 1975September 20, 2026----- Forwarded Message -----From: Ellis MossSent: Monday, September 14, 2026 at 04:37:10 PM PDTSubject: Re: Amherst Memories with Bob Bellinger, Class of 1977Thank you all for your contributions to this thread. The Straight Ahead Concerts were wonderful opportunities to witness great artists at bargain basement prices. There were great concerts, lectures and other events that happened in the Five College area and I saw many, but I also missed a lot.
I do recall attending two concerts in the Recital Hall that moved me greatly: 1) South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand at that time) and 2) saxophone giant Dexter Gordon.
We also had other legendary artists as professors in the Valley. Dr. Horace Boyer taught at UMass and I grew closer to him when he was the musical director for Hampshire College's production of Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope. I still recount the day that he put me in check for attempting to showboat during a performance: it was an early experience of what I have come to call a "relationship analyzing moment".
He was firm, fair and 100% right and he humbled me when I needed swift correction. The thing that got me was that 30 or 40 years later, I saw him on a PBS documentary on gospel music where he was used as a primary source as he had performed with gospel giants Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward and James Cleveland among others. Little did I realize that I was getting trained by one of the all time greats.
As I lean into a new chapter of life of three score and ten (November 4, gifts are encouraged), I recall and repeat an adage that "youth is wasted on the young". We had access to extraordinary experiences. If I knew then what I know now, I would have taken better advantage of the learning opportunities that were present presents. We were indeed fortunate.
Ellis Moss'79----I received the following from Bob Bellinger, Class of 1977. He wants to know when Kool and the Gang played in the Cage. My recollection is that the appearance of Kool and the Gang predates their breakout hit "Jungle Boogie"which came out late in 1973. As I recall, they were mainly an instrumental group on that night. However, if there are others who have any memories, please do chime in. I am amazed at the clarity of the memories held by so many of musical events from over fifty years ago. And Bob, count me among the Brothers who missed so much during our College days. All during my Amherst days, I always felt that I was behind everyone and that I needed to catch up. This feeling was increased when I missed all of the Fall of 1972 and began taking extra courses so that I could graduate on time. And then again, after Gerald's death, I found my life complicated by trying to respond to what was.I envy all those who were able to enjoy the jazz offerings in the Valley. But looking back, I think God had other plans for me. And God's will won.Peace,Everett "Skip" JenkinsClass of 1975September 13, 2026----- Forwarded Message -----From: "siphob@aol.com"To: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>;Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 08:38:06 AM PDTSubject: Re: Amherst Memories with Roger CoySkip,could you tell me when Kool and the Gang performed at the Cage? Its must have been before the fall of 1973 because I was such a fan of that group there is no way it would have happened without my knowing about it. And it is not something I remember happening.As for the mysterious McCoy Tyner non-event. It is not likely that you are confusing it with a Max Roach concert as Max Roach generally did not use a piano player, as McCoy Tyner was, when he performed in the Valley. You may be referring to a solo concert by pianist Don Pullen in the spring of 1976 that took place at the Recital Hall. It was one of the Straight Ahead morning concerts organized by Lehman Black and others.He had the concerts at 9:00 am on Saturday and Sunday because he was making a statement about the importance of the music. It shouldn't only be presented at night, in clubs, with alcohol, etc. It was a distinct experience hearing such wonderful music at 9:00 am, especially when you were out partying until 2:00 or 3:00.Through Lehmans love of the music there were a lot of significant musicians who graced that Recital stage in the morning. .I remember David Murray (saxophone), Beaver Harris (drums), Archie Shepp, and Max Roach.There was so much music that came through the Valley in those years that an article in the Village Voice (I think during the summer of 1976) referred to Amherst as the mini-jazz capital of the country. I remember I went to as many concerts, lectures, and events as I could at all of the Five Colleges. Maybe I'll put together a list some time. I also remember how difficult it often was to get Brothers to go out to programs and events. "I have to study," or "I'm too tired," were too of the most common excuses I heard. No disrespect to those who focused on their academics, but going to the many events gave me more enduring memories than studying did. One memory is an evening spent at Professor Sonia Sanchez's house. celebrating Max Roach's birthday, with the food prepared by Sister Yvonne, and many of the amazing Black faculty from the various schools in attendance.Bob BellingerOn Monday, September 7, 2026 at 07:06:33 AM EDT, skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com> wrote:My apologies Roger. You do not recall the McCoy Tyner event because it does not appear to have ever occurred. The recital event was more likely a Max Roach event.Max was a visiting professor at UMass in the 1970s when we were at Amherst, so it is much more likely that it was Max not McCoy who I saw.Others can chime if they care to do so. But for now, my 72-year-old memories stand corrected.Thanks Roger.Everett "Skip" JenkinsClass of 1975September 6, 2026----- Forwarded Message -----From: Roger CoyTo: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 08:01:02 PM PDTSubject: Re: Amherst Memories with Chucky SoulOMG - I don't know why I can't recall the McCoy Tyner event. I have a bunch of his CDs and while I wasn't into Jazz then the way I have been for the past several decades, I'm sure I would have been there.As always, thanks for sharing.Roger CoyOn Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 02:27:43 AM EDT, skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com> wrote:--I received the following question from Charles Donaldson, Amherst College Class of 1974. Charles was known as "Chucky Soul" during our Amherst days, and I always remember him for his upbeat attitude. In answer to his question, the musical talents I may have missed in my lifetime appears to have been many. I have been trying to catch up, but even as I do so, more musical talents keep popping up.As for taking advantage of the enriching musical experiences offered to us during our Amherst years, I must admit that I did not take advantage of as many as I would have liked. I sampled a few. I seemed to remember a Kool and the Gang concert in the Cage; a McCoy Tyner offering in the Recital Hall; and a number of impromptu jazz offerings by the "Brothers" in the Octagon. I also remember the Zumbyes and the Glee Club. Otherwise, I pretty much remained cloistered in my room.I do believe that I missed much during my Amherst College days. There are so many classes that I wished I had taken; so many people that I wished I had spent some time with; so many events that I wished I had attended. I suppose that is one of the reasons why I am drawn to writing the The Memorial List biographies. With each one, I learn about a person that I wished that I could have known, and I learn about activities that I wish that I could have partaken of.Like with Chucky Soul, I remember some of our time in the Vegetarian Dining area in Valentine Hall and some our discussions concerning a new religion that had ventured into the Valley.I wish we had had more.Peace,Everett "Skip" JenkinsClass of 1975September 4, 2026-----Forwarded Message -----From: Charles Walter Donaldson Jr.To: "skipjen2865@aol.com" <skipjen2865@aol.com>Sent: Friday, September 4, 2026 at 07:28:55 AM PDTSubject: Re: Cassandra Wilson, Grammy Award Winning African American Jazz Singer, Songwriter and ProducerWhich other musical talents have you missed, Skip? Did you take advantage of the enriching musical experiences offered to us during your Amherst years?
