High School Jazz Band and The Tornado News Team Present, The Pickle King

This collaborative project grew out of a desire to celebrate one of Greenlawn’s most important figures: Samuel Balton. Born into slavery in 1838, he escaped three times to freedom for himself and his family. After fighting in a Massachusetts regiment, his family moved to Greenlawn in 1873. He became a pickle farmer and used his earnings to buy property in the area. He developed what is now Smith Street and Gaines Street, and his historic home is located behind the high school at 30 Taylor Avenue. To commemorate him and to celebrate Greenlawn’s rich history, Dan Bilawsky commissioned composer Jeff Lederer to create an entirely original piece based on Balton’s life. We hope you enjoy this wonderful look into the history of Greenlawn and the music that is tied to it.

Jack Wilkens edited all of the documentary pieces below which were filmed in numerous locations from the Balton house and other historical sites on a walking tour, to the HS auditorium for a jam session/workshop with composer Jeff Lederer, to the Harborfields Public Library for a visit with the Greenlawn Historical Society.

Want to learn more about the music and the history? Check out these “Deep Dives,” one from the Jeff Lederer workshop on 11/29/23, and the other from our Greenlawn Historical Society field trip to the Harborfields Public Library on 12/12/23.

Individual Song Pieces from Workshop Night

Check out 5 songs from the winter concert performed during the workshop. Also, look at a multicamera edit of the song Pickle King performed at the library on 12/12/23.