- Born
- Birth nameTerence Oliver Blanchard
- A world renowned trumpeter/composer/band leader and Blue Note recording artist, Terence Blanchard is the most prolific jazz musician to ever compose for motion pictures. Blanchard was born and raised in New Orleans where he studied with the Marsalis brothers at the famed New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. In 1980, he won a scholarship to Rutgers University and immediately began performing in the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. Two years later, he succeeded Wynton Marsalis in the legendary Jazz Messengers before forming his own influential groups. Blanchard originally began performing on Spike Lee's soundtracks, including "Mo Better Blues" in which he ghosted the trumpet for Denzel Washington. Blanchard lives in New Orleans with his wife, Robin, and his four children.
- IMDb mini biography by: A. Magro
- SpouseRobin Burgess(1996 - present) (4 children)
- ParentsJoseph Oliver BlanchardWilhelmina Blanchard
- As composer, Blanchard has collaborated with director Spike Lee for over three decades, beginning with School Daze (1988).
- Attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.
- Performed trumpet for the Denzel Washington character in Mo' Better Blues (1990) and for the Val Kilmer character in The Salton Sea (2002).
- Along with Awadagin Pratt, Blanchard performed the piano for the Samuel L. Jackson character in "The Caveman's Valentine" (2000).
- [on 'Champion' his jazz opera about gay boxer Emile Griffith] I was just compelled by the whole notion of a person who could be that accomplished and not really share the moment of winning the championship with somebody that he loved. It speaks volumes of where we are as a society and how we need to really check ourselves, especially those of us who call ourselves compassionate human beings. It is a compelling story and hopefully we'll start to engage in a more in-depth conversation about being universally tolerant in this country.
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