Jerry Blackstone is a two-time GRAMMY award winner and internationally known conductor. His roots are in rural Kansas.
Jerry grew up on the family farm in the northern part of Jewell County. His family consisted of farmers, not musicians, although his grandfather played
the harmonica and his dad would sing for fun while riding the tractor. Jerry’s mother liked to play piano and sing also. His parents always encouraged and supported his interests.
Jerry grew up going to a one-room country school. His first teacher was a young woman named Miss Lippe. After he completed first grade, Miss Lippe told his parents, “He is a bright little boy and I’m afraid he’s going to get bored. Why don’t you get him piano lessons?” They did so and Jerry loved it. He grew up playing and singing in church.
Jerry’s sisters enjoyed music as well. Sister Marilyn now lives in Iowa and sister Ruth lives at Manhattan.
After four years in the one-room school, Jerry went to the school in town, but it was still quite rural in nature. The town was the nearby rural community of Burr Oak, population 249 people. Now, that’s rural.
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