KENNETH MA

Staff Writer

ESCONDIDO -- Local music students lost a friend, a mentor and an inspiration this week.

Milton M. "Dick" Harvey Jr., 73, the man who had been teaching jazz to students for 18 years, died at his home Tuesday from colon cancer.

"He was more of a friend than a teacher," said Isaac Zamora, an 18-year-old senior at Escondido High School. After a year of private lessons, Zamora said Harvey helped him evolve from a good tenor saxophone and clarinet player into a great one.

Born in Santa Barbara in 1928, Harvey spent a lifetime playing jazz throughout the country before settling in Escondido.

Harvey, who played the tenor and alto saxophone, clarinet, flute and valve trombone, began his musical journey in the fourth grade by playing in his first quartet. He went on to form a big band jazz group known as Dick Harvey and His Men of Note, which in 1946, competed in a national dance band contest at Carnegie Hall in New York City during his senior year at Grossmont High School.

After graduation, Harvey and other band members joined the Air Force and played for servicemen around the world. Following his discharge, Harvey attended San Diego State University where he earned a degree in music and English.

During his career, Harvey played with famous musicians such as Duke Ellington.

Harvey and his family moved to Escondido in 1956, where he landed a job as a band director at Lincoln and Central schools. He eventually became a band director at Juniper and Felicita schools before teaching music at Del Dios and Grant middle schools. In 1970, Harvey began a 13-year stint as a music teacher at Escondido High School.

In 1983, Harvey left Escondido High to give private lessons and to direct the jazz ensemble at Palomar College.

Family and friends say Harvey's life revolved around playing music and sharing his artistic passion with others.

"He really loved working with people who wanted to learn," said his daughter Nicolette Abernathy, 49, of Austin, Texas. "His ability to inspire students will always be remembered."

Charlie McGhee, a friend of Harvey's who is a music teacher at San Marcos Middle School, said he was liked and respected by his students, although he demanded a lot from them.

Some of Harvey's lessons included teaching students to read music, to produce a good musical range from an instrument and to understand what notes to use while playing jazz, McGhee said.

Zamora, who received weekly lessons, said Harvey was a constant motivating force who pushed him to perform his best.

As a testament to Harvey's influence, some of his students have gone on to become music teachers and professional musicians.

In addition to Abernathy, Harvey is survived by his wife, Alice, daughter Leah, son Ken, foster daughters Susan Sacker and Cathy Johannsen and foster son Scott Sacker.

A memorial service will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Howard Brubeck Theatre at Palomar College. In lieu of flowers, monetary contributions are being accepted to support music programs at Palomar College, Escondido High and the Elizabeth Hospice.

Contact staff writer Kenneth Ma at (760) 740-3524 or kma@nctimes.com.

5/31/01