We honor the memory of jazz legend Clifford Brown. Clifford was a trumpeter, whose life tragically ended early one summer morning in 1956. It was the result of a car accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which also claimed the life of promising young pianist Richie Powell.

At 25, Clifford Brown had already left an indelible mark on jazz. He was poised to take his place among the premier jazz trumpeters of his time (names like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie come to mind). This man's legacy lives on and we are proud to acknowledge Clifford Brown as one of Wilmington, Delaware's most influential and prodigious talents.

At the festival, it has been commonplace to hear artists perform some of Clifford's work or to hear the classic "I Remember Clifford" by Benny Golson, originally penned as a remembrance of his friend. The DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is our tribute to this great man and a way to keep his memory alive.

2008 marks the twentieth year of a multi-day jazz festival in diwntown Wilmington, and since its inception in 1989 we have worked hard to bring world-class musicians to Wilmington in the month of June. Check out the festival timeline to see who has made the trip to Wilmington, Delaware.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Clifford's birth (he was born on October 30, 1930), the State of Delaware will be creating an historic landmark in Wilmington during this year's festival.