John Joseph "Jack" Salley

June 12, 1949 - December 17, 2020

John J. Salley “Jack”, 71 of Tallahassee, Florida passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020 at home surrounded by family. He was born June 12th, 1949, in Fall River Massachusetts, the son of the late Miriam and John F. Salley. Jack graduated from Boston’s world renowned Berklee College of Music in 1972 with a Bachelor of Music/Music Education dual degree. While attending Berklee, he studied trumpet with Lennie Johnson (lead with Quincy Jones, Count Basie) and John Coffey (Boston Symphony), and was honored with the opportunity to attend exclusive advanced symphonic conducting classes with Maestro Jeronimus Kaeinskas (Prague Conservatory of Music, {Czechoslovakia}), and former conductor of the Lithuania Philharmonic Orchestra. After graduating from Berklee he landed the touring trumpet/conductor position with The Platters (Herb Reed) where he stayed for over 2 years. The next few years were with the Roy Raydin Theatrical Productions Orchestra out of New York, doing national traveling shows backing up many of the top headline Silver Screen, Television and Vegas Acts/Entertainers of the era, including; Milton Berle (“Mr. Television”), Donald O’Conner, Eddie Fisher, Sherman Hemsley, Danny & the Juniors, The Drifters, Dean Martin’s Gold Diggers, and Eddie Mecka. This gave “The Bus” and “hit and run one nighters” a whole new meaning, however, it was the greatest “on the job education” from the working elite of the industry. Jack moved from Boston to Miami in the late 70’s, with Miami offering other opportunities in much better year-round weather. Late 70’s through the 80’s was enjoyed with numerous engagements, events and positions including, conducting the National Arthritis Telethon (Donald O’Connor Headline Host), Show Band Leader/Contractor Carnival Cruise Lines, Sonny & Cher (Florida Shows), staff Trumpet at The Americana/Sheraton Bal Harbor for Barry Ashton & Miller/Reich Production Shows, Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus, Celia Crus, Nelson Ned, Professional Consultant & Teacher Dillard School of Performing Arts, playing Co-Contractor Fountainebleau Hilton’s “Stompin at LaRond”, and became a member of Meeting Professionals Int. and the Orlando Convention Bureau. In 1990 he formally started his own entertainment/music contracting company, JACK SALLEY ORCHESTRAS & SHOWS. The company’s main focus was the Corporate Convention Industry, with its specialty being Ceremonial Awards Banquets. A partial client list includes; Fla. Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Security Traders Association, Fla. Medical Association, National Coffee Association, Orange Bowl Presidents Ball, Tupperware, Cadillac, B.M.W., Epson, Imagination LTD. (UK), Creative Meeting Services (L.A., Bet Martin), New Jersey & Maryland Bankers Association, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians & OB/GYS, The Las Vegas Visitors & Convention Authority. Various acts/shows either performed/played, conducted, contracted and or produced for many of these events by Jack include; The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Four Preps (combined with the lead vocalists from the Association & The Diamonds), The Letterman, The 5th Dimension, Neil Sedaka, Bobby Rydell, A Whole New World Orchestra (Imagination/Disney). Jack also built a longstanding teaching and mentoring career in his spare time for students across the South Florida region where he taught trumpet lessons privately over the span of his 30+ year professional career. He had a joy for sharing his passion and knowledge with kids starting them at an early age, usually seeing them off to college in their musical journeys. His heart was even more dedicated to his wife, Annie and Daughter Charlotte to which he tirelessly stayed devoted to through his career and over his lifetime. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Anne Salley (Annie) of Tallahassee; daughter Charlotte Ann Salley of Tallahassee; cousins Colleen Buckley and Maureen Reposa of Attleboro Massachusetts. A service will be held on Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Bevis Funeral Home. The service will be available to view live online at https://www.bevisfh.com. To watch, click on the word Obituaries at the top of the homepage, then click on the name of your loved one, and then the green Photos and Videos tab. Staff members will be available to answer questions or help with technical issues at (850) 385-2193. Susie Mozolic of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (www.bevisfh.com 850-385-2193).