Duck Jennings

Duck Jennings, 1995. Texas Music Museum Archives
Duck Jennings, 1995. Texas Music Museum Archives

Donald Joe Jennings, better known as Duck Jennings, was born January 29, 1938 in Austin, TX. Under his grandmother’s supervision, Duck began playing piano, but when he expressed interest in the trumpet; his grandmother sold the piano and bought him his first trumpet.

Duck studied under Mr. E.L. George at Anderson High School where he became experienced in playing in a group. Early in his career, Duck experimented with different musical styles when he played with Tim Torres out of San Antonio.

However, Duck Jennings was always a staple in the Austin music scene playing with such bands as Blues Boy Hubbard and the Jets at Charlie’s Playhouse and The Daylighters with Whip Caldwell, George Underwood, and Jerry Butler to name a few. 

More recently, Duck played in Austin with the Eastside Kings. He passed away September 2, 2020.