Jerald Daemyon

Once thought of strictly as a classical instrument best suited to small chamber groups or large orchestras, the violin has seen an evolution in recent years, becoming a formidable lead voice in urban music, contemporary jazz and world music. The refining of its distinctive capabilities, however, could only proceed with the emergence of violinist and artist, Jerald Daemyon a young innovator willing to expand on music history and incorporate modern ideals, fusing the past with the present in a creative synthesis of styles to achieve a vibe that’s wholly original.

Jerald Daemyon is known for bringing technical refinement to modern violin improvisation and performance. His technical artistry is fused with improvisatory expressions reminiscent of the famed concert violinists and composers Ole Bull, Pablo de Sarasate and Henryk Wieniawski. With a broad tone and ostentatious technique he plays the violin with a bold masculine bravado and exquisite gracefulness that is sympathetic to the articulate nature of the violin.

Jerald began studying the violin in in the Detroit Public Schools at under the guidance of cellist Connie Miner and was soon spending his weekends in a music program at Wayne State University under the instruction of violinist Angela Thomas-Lott. At thirteen, he started his professional career as a first violinist in the International Symphony Orchestra of Windsor, Canada, The Detroit Metropolitan Orchestra and The Detroit Jazz Orchestra in a be-bop jazz setting with Detroit saxophonist, Donald Walden and Jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. While listening to everything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Classical and Jazz, he complemented his formal training as a classical music concert artist at Wayne State University studying with Dr. Morris Hochberg, former first violinist in the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell and Assistant Concertmaster of The Detroit Symphony, under Paul Paray and Sixten Ehrling. He has also studied under renowned Czechoslovakian concert violinist Peter Michalica and took master classes with the internationally renowned concert violinist Isaac Stern, and attended the famed International Music Camp at the Interlochen School of Performing Arts and The Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

Jerald graduated from Cass Technical High School and holds a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and a B.A. in Mathematics Secondary Education. He studied Jazz Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Education and Composition at Marygrove College in Detroit, MI. He has worked as a curriculum consultant for the Center for Educational Leadership and Technology (CELT) and has developed instrumental, vocal music, interactive design and music technology, science and general academic curriculums for secondary and collegiate institutions around the country.

Jerald’s scholarly writings on academic pedagogy, technology based Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) curriculum and music technology make him a frequently sought after guest lecturer on academic professional development and contemporary instruction practices in the urban classroom. He has been profiled in several international reference publications and also in the Contemporary Black Biography, the reference series that provides biographical profiles of important and influential persons of African heritage who form the international black community whose influence continues to have an impact on contemporary life.

He is a recognized member of the National Academy of Recording Artists & Sciences (The Grammy Awards), has received the 3M Award of Artistic Innovation, The Spirit of Detroit Award and at sixteen received the State of Michigan Certificate for outstanding achievement, and numerous other honors for his work with children and community service across the United States. Currently he serves as music supervisor for The Art City Institute & Foundation for Theater Productions and has been an artist endorser for Barcus Berry, NS Designs and the CodaBow Company.

Jerald has appeared with Gladys Knight, Yolanda Adams, Brian McKnight, Rachelle Farrell, legendary jazz vocalists Joe Williams, Bernie Mac, Michael Colyar Nancy Wilson, Will Downing, Tracy Braxton, Angela Winbush, K’Jon, Roy Ayers, Vesta Williams, Maysa, Silk, Amel Larrieux, Ronny Laws, Lenny Williams, Carl Thomas, Jon B, Dee-Dee Sharp, The United States Air Force Symphony Orchestra and various other symphony orchestras across the country and has been a guest performer numerous times on the nationally syndicated radio program “The Tom Joyner Morning Show”.

Jerald has produced and collaborated with a range of Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Electronic Dance Music DJ’s and popular artists including Bootsy Collins, K’Jon, internationally acclaimed dance music producers Louie Vega & Kenny Dope Gonzales, “The Master at Work”, Urban Contemporary Gospel Artist, Stellar Award Peoples Choice winner and 2015 Rhythm Of Gospel Awards nominee Prenestine Williams-Porter, Pop/Rock/Country band “iM-O.K.”, R&B singer Kourtney Heart, guitarist Dennis Coffey, Jazz Saxophonist, Eddie Baccus Jr. and Contemporary Jazz Flutist Althea Rene’ and many others across the film, theater and music industry.

“SUMMER MADNESS”, whose widespread urban radio airplay success throughout the U.S. and Chicago area helped bring Daemyon to GRP Records and the Universal Recording Company’s attention, is a fresh urban, hip and funky, take on Kool & The Gang’s early Seventies, feel good smash. The big-sounding “Thinking About You” was released independently on Jerald’s own label Jazzestra Records, before making its way around the urban radio and jazz market in the United States and the world, where his urban-contemporary R&B sound was an instant airplay request and commercial sales success under the GRP/Universal Records label achieving international recognition as a chart topping smash on Billboard’s Magazine’s Urban and Contemporary Jazz Charts earning Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

Jerald’s dream of achieving the love and respect of all people as an ambassador of music to the world comes much closer to reality with the all-new 2015 Urban Adult Contemporary release “The Jerald Daemyon Experience” and his original Urban Latin Musical and Orchestral project “The Matador” is guaranteed to blow you away and take the violin where no violin has ever gone before. Show less