Booker T. Scruggs II
"Blow like the Wind"
Education
Booker T. Scruggs II, a well-known and respected educator, musician, television personality, philanthropist, and arts advocate, was born in Chattanooga on October 2, 1942. He was the only child of the late Booker and Mabel Scruggs and grew up on the west side in College Hill Courts and the Riverside Drive neighborhoods. In 2013, Booker T., as he was lovingly and respectfully called by family and friends, returned to the family home on Riverside Drive where he lived until his death.
Booker T’s education began at East Fifth Street Elementary and Junior High School. He attended and graduated from Howard High School in the historic and celebrated class of 1960. Howard’s Class of 1960 was the only high school class in the country to stage a lunch counter sit-in to protest the injustice of segregation. PBS created and aired a video documenting and celebrating the actions of Booker T. and his classmates. Being among a family of educators and community advocates, he continued to pursue college where he received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Clark College, now known as Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Giving Back
After graduating from college, he returned to Chattanooga to give back to his community by investing his time and resources into the lives of the youth in the city. He had a God-given talent for music which he joyously used in displaying his spiritual gifts of service, encouragement, giving and leadership. In addition to Chattanooga’s youth, his work impacted many children from afar, and his music soothed the souls of those who experienced the beautiful sounds emitted from his clarinet and saxophone. Due to his quiet, genuine and generous spirit of love of children and his hometown of Chattanooga, most of his contributions, by his own design, went unknown and unrecognized.
Booker T.’s professional career served many students and colleagues at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) where he served as adjunct professor in the Sociology Department for more than 40 years. In addition to his contributions in the Sociology Department, he served as the director of the Upward Bound Program at UTC for 36 years. Upward Bound is a federally funded educational program that provides fundamental support to students in their preparation for college. In the Chattanooga community, Booker T. Scruggs II and Upward Bound were synonymous.
Booker Scruggs Ensemble performing at Blue Orleans in Chattanooga
Musical Career
As clarinetist/saxophonist, Booker produced four albums of gospel and inspirational music: "My Tribute" (in memory of his father), "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled" (in memory of his grandmother), “In The Spirit," and “Harmonies of Heaven” (inspired by Charles “Mr. Chuck” Scruggs). Additionally, in 2014, he produced a Christmas album, “Let Heaven and Earth Rejoice.” Booker was a celebrated jazz musician and the creator and clarinetist of The MaxTiam Trio and The Booker T. Scruggs Ensemble, which provided gospel, jazz, and classic standards for numerous local and out-of-town events.
In 2005, Booker T. produced The MaxTiam Trio's CD, "A Salute to The Duke," a collection of favorite songs written by Duke Ellington. “A Salute to The Duke” generated more than $9,000 for scholarships to deserving students throughout the southeastern region of the United States. For this initiative, he was recognized as an "Unsung Hero" by the Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (SAEOPP), a regional educational organization.
Booker Scruggs performing "Just a Little Talk With Jesus"
The year of 2006 brought international exposure to Booker’s world of music when he played for the conference of the United Methodist Church in Vienna, Austria. Booker travelled extensively during the last 20 years of his life with Lillie Wills, whom he affectionately referred to as “The Lady In His Life.” Their travels included Vienna, Paris, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Caribbean, Bermuda, across the continental United States and Hawaii. These exhilarating experiences brought immense joy to his life.
Rarely do you find someone as happy sharing their time and God given talents as Booker T. Scruggs II. He made a valiant effort to honor every request made of him, whether there was compensation or not. He played at “hootenannies” held at local Hardees and McDonalds in the surrounding rural areas, numerous churches, weddings, baptisms, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and elementary school graduations. Whether playing solo, with his Ensemble, the Spectrum Band, the Clarinet Choir or saxophonist with Chattanooga Gospel Orchestra, he thoroughly enjoyed performing.