We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Fundi Legohn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Fundi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My most meaningful project was working as Performing Arts Director at Oxnard High School. I started teaching as a music educator in Los Angeles Unified Schools in 1980 and taught music at Bethune and Carver Jr High Schools and Jefferson High School. I had successful programs which led to many of my students becoming successful, thinking individuals and able contributors to society. In 1992, I transitioned to Oxnard High School, teaching music and video productions. I retired from Oxnard High in 2019 and have left a “legacy” of work and benefit to students, staff, community and my own five children; who all were in the band during their high school years. For eighteen years as band director at OHS, I was able to teach my students how to travel and perform, with my different groups, in Hawaii, Mexico, the Bahamas and Canada on various Spring Trip excursions. We were musical Ambassadors to our city and it left lasting impressions on my students, families and community; as I see former students/parents and we laugh and relive memories frequently. Very few of my students became professional musicians, but the experience of learning, playing, competing, performing and understanding what the language of music can do helped to shape and change many of their lives! I’m very proud of that! Also, there was never an incident that was very problematic or challenged the ability to have the next trip.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I began playing professionally at 17-18 years old playing trumpet. After high school at Hamilton High in LA, I began my college education and have earned a B.A. in Music Education from Cal State LA and Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California. Performing on horn and percussion, I have been a regular musician in the LA area, performing with the Pan African Peoples Arkestra since 1979 and currently conduct the group. Fundi Sounds Productions has been a business of mine since the 80’s; which books gigs with my various music groups, provide private music lesson, video production, etc. Unique aspects of my performances include percussion, vocal and Jazz horn. As an educator, I provide classes/workshops/public and motivational speaking as well has mentoring. I’m most proud of the hard work over decades of honing my skills and being confident in knowing who I am and why I’m here. You my google, FB or Instagram me and find my work, as well as at artoflegohn.com.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A story that comes to mind is when I attended one of my first auditions playing horn and I bombed! A great trumpet player that was in the band made a commit that just shrunk my ego and sent me home embarased and disappointed in myself. And I’ve shared this story with students of mine that want to do well in the music field. I decided that I will Never let that happen to me again and vowed to always be prepared, ready and able if I am stepping out there. Please understand, the horn is one of the most difficult instruments to play and has not been a popular timbre/sound in commercial and or Jazz music. Since I’m one that has enjoyed challenges, remember I was a high school teacher for 39 years, so the horn was another of my accepted challenges. I now perform with small to large groups, as well solo with pride.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal and mission now along my Path, is to help in the continued success, promotion of and performance of the Pan African Peoples Arkestra and continue to maintain this “institution” in Los Angeles that Horace Tapscott created and left for us Jazz Cats to have a place to grow and develop their musical skills, as well having a band that you can compose for and perform in. The Ark, as we are known as, has recently released our 60th Anniversary double LP and I would like to see our band perform around the world and continue to bring healing music our audiences! This is our 62 year of continued performances.

Contact Info:

• Website: artoflegohn.com, panafrikanpeoplesarkestra.com, lacpapa.com
• Instagram: fundilegohn
• Facebook: Fundi Legohn
• Linkedin: Fundi Legohn