Author Visits Freestone Museum to Research Family History of Jazz Musician

Dr. Robert Pallitto, Professor of Political Science at Seton Hall University of South Orange, New Jersey, visited the Freestone County Historical Museum last week.

Museum Curator, Patricia Pratt, assisted in his research into the early years of Fairfield native, Kenny Dorham, one of America’s great Jazz trumpeters and composers.

“I have already gotten so much valuable information, and I’ve only been here an hour, writting furiously!” said Dr. Pallitto.

Having come from a musical family, Pallitto said he was drawn to the way Dorham played the trumpet because it was so different.

Although still in the early phase of book writing, Dr. Pallitto shared his working title: ‘Whistle Stop: An American Journey’ which is inspired by Kenny Dorham’s 1961 album of the same name.