Jazz musician John Blake Jr. will return to his alma mater to perform during the West Virginia University Alumni Association Black Alumni Weekend Oct. 18-19.


The reunion, which will be held in conjunction with WVU Homecoming activities, is the Alumni Associations fastest-growing event, said Christy Day, assistant director, and interest across the country continues to spread.


Blake �€who will perform Saturday evening, Oct. 19, at EricksonAlumniCenter �€graduated in 1969 as the first black to receive a degree from the College of Creative Arts. Since graduation, he has enjoyed a stellar career, receiving numerous awards and performing with jazz greats such as Grover Washington Jr. and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.


He believes his experience at WVU had a significant impact on him creatively, socially and professionally.


“West Virginia is where I was inspired,”said Blake, who was born and still lives in Philadelphia.”I was a classical music major in creative arts. I was introduced to the jazz violin at WVU , and it changed my life.”


Outside the classroom, Blake experienced some of the defining moments in American history.


“It was the late 1960s, and the country was in transition,”he recalled.”President Kennedy and his brother had been assassinated, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was also, and there were brewing issues of the Vietnam War and civil rights. I will tell you that what I learned there has really shaped me in a number of ways.”


Blake was active in student life, and many projects became his passion. He was among the first leaders of the Black Unity Organization, a student-based group that deals with issues facing black students.


“I cant wait to interact with some of the students there today,”he added.”I can see some of the fruits of the labor that stem from our work in the 1960s.”


When Blake was in school there were about 40 black students on campus; now that number is close to 1,000.”It just boggles my mind,”he said.


The goal of reunions such as Black Alumni Weekend is to bring more diversity into the WVU Alumni Association, said Steve Douglas, the organizations chief executive officer.


“We know that there is work to be done in this area, and the Alumni Association is rolling up its sleeves,”Douglas said.


Douglas said he is especially gratified that the event continues to bring people back to campus who have not visited in a while.


“They are always amazed at the transformation that has occurred here,”he said.”Plus, they see friends and faculty that they have lost touch with, and it is a tremendous occasion.”


In addition to the Blake performance, the weekend will include special receptions, a tailgate, and a tribute to Horace and Geraldine Belmear. The Belmears worked to recruit black students from across the country to attend WVU from the 1970s through the 1990s. Both provided support to those students by serving as their”surrogate grandparents”once on campus.


For more information on these and other WVU Alumni Association activities, call 304-293-4731 or visit the Web site athttp://www.wvu.edu/~alumni/.