Play on Jazz Man. Play on.

Today my heart was broken as I learned of the passing of one of my son’s former band directors. James’ jazz band instructor, like all of his band directors, poured into my son’s life in a way that let me know that, for him, teaching was not just a profession. It was a calling.

Unlike most of his other directors, Mr. Jeff Huddleston, touched more than one of my children directly. My daughter, Courtney, also took a class from Mr. Hudd, as they called him.

The true measure of a person is the legacy they leave behind. This is more than a saying. Someone who just gets up to go to work every day won’t likely touch as many people as a person who feels that it was his or her calling to end up impacting the lives of kids. We pour energy and give time to those things which are important to us. Mr. Hudd poured life and a love of music into his students. Thankfully, while he was alive many of his students expressed their love and appreciation for Mr. Hudd. The briefest glance in his direction would let you see that he knew that his kids loved him and that, in return, he loved them.

Newspaper stories were written about Mr. Hudd and the opportunities he provided for his music students at Overton High School. People were brought together through his love of music. Music was so much a part of his life that even when he wasn’t teaching music, he was playing gigs with his band. He exemplified true musicianship.

I believe people enter your life for one of two reasons: they either have a lesson to teach you or they are part of your blessing. Mr. Hudd brought both of these things into our life. The lesson is this: Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life. He personified this quote. He exuded passion and enthusiasm every day. And those who saw him never got the sense that he had to drag himself in to work. And, the blessing can be found in the love and lessons he poured into both of my children. As a single parent, it is a blessing to witness a man who has so much knowledge and passion for music willingly offer that part of himself to your children. The opportunities he provided James and Courtney (and countless others) are priceless. And a man like Mr. Hudd is a once-in-a-lifetime deal.

Here’s a little something that came to me as I watched my daughter try to digest the news that Mr. Hudd had passed away:

Thread a music note through my soul

I’m the jazz man, don’t you know

Don’t bring me no angel wings

All I need are my music notes, so

I can play the music of my soul

for eternity.

Play on, Mr. Hudd. Play on.