Jothan McKinley Callins

Jothan McKinley Callins (1942-2005), a native of the Birmingham suburb Ensley, was a notable jazz trumpeter, bassist, bandleader, composer, scholar, and educator. Both a product and a champion of Birmingham’s homegrown jazz tradition, Callins devoted much of his energy to preserving and perpetuating his city’s musical legacy.

Jothan Callins is pictured here holding a trumpet. Behind him are several other jazz instruments.
Alabama Department of Archives and History. Donated by Alabama Media Group. Photo by Neil Brake, Birmingham News.
Jothan Callins is pictured here holding a trumpet. Behind him are several other jazz instruments.