Julian Clifford Mance, Jr. (better known as “Junior Mance”) was a musical genius. The iconic American composer and jazz artist was born into a talented musical family. He began tickling the ivories at just five years-old. His father, Julian, taught him to play stride piano and boogie-woogie. He had his first professional performance at the tender age of ten. He was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War and served in the military for two years. Then, he promptly started playing gig... moreJulian Clifford Mance, Jr. (better known as “Junior Mance”) was a musical genius. The iconic American composer and jazz artist was born into a talented musical family. He began tickling the ivories at just five years-old. His father, Julian, taught him to play stride piano and boogie-woogie. He had his first professional performance at the tender age of ten. He was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War and served in the military for two years. Then, he promptly started playing gigs at Chicago’s famed Bee Hive Jazz Club, backing up respected artists, like Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, “Lockjaw” Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sonny Stitt. While battling Alzheimer’s Disease, Junior suffered a fall that would deliver a fatal head injury that claimed his life at 92 years-old. He was survived by his love wife, Gloria Clayborne Mance.
