Photo Courtesy of SC Recording Arts and Technology
By Gamaliel Carreno Arango
Southwestern College Recording Arts and Technology program director Professor James “Jammin’ J” Henry died April 16 of cancer. Diagnosed last year, he had continued teaching while receiving treatment until March 13, when SWC was closed due to the novel coronavirus.
Henry was born and raised in New York, and later lived in Mexico City. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in journalism, then worked in New York and Los Angeles as a recording engineer in the music industry. He collaborated with legendary artists like Stevie Wonder and Prince, and was part of a team nominated for a Grammy for work on an album by South African superstar Miriam Makeba.
In 2000 he joined the faculty at SWC and led the creation of the college’s state-of-the-art recording studio. Dr. Sharon Taylor, the former dean of the School of Arts and Communication, said she remembered accompanying Henry to meetings with the architects drawing up designs for the studio. She said Henry laid out his idea of what the recording studio should look like. Taylor said she got a kick out of seeing Henry modifying the architect’s plans.
“The architects kept redoing J’s plan,” she said. “And J would redo their plan.”
Former communications department chair Linda Hensley said Henry was essential to the creation of the studio.
“We have that studio because of J Henry,” she said. “He worked really hard to get that studio.”
Dr. Rebecca Wolniewicz, the current chair, said Henry led the effort to modernize the Recording Arts and Technology major.
“Anyone wanting to experience the quality of his work just needs to step inside the studio,” she said.
Henry was part of a successful faculty effort in 2005 to prevent the split up of the School of Arts and Communication. Henry, Hensley and journalism professor Dr. Max Branscomb recorded a song called “Arts and Com Rap” that celebrated the success and uniqueness of SWC’s most visible school. It was played on a boombox at a governing board meeting, Hensley said, and most of the audience of about 200 stood up to dance to Henry’s infectious beats.
“A lot of people really liked it in the audience,” Hensley said. “And the board did, too.”
Professor Mark Sisson said Henry was a dedicated educator with high standards. He said he admired Henry because he cared a great deal about his students.
“He would do anything for his students as long it was good for them and that it ultimately made them better audio engineers and better people,” he said.
Taylor said Henry was a genuine and passionate educator.
“He was 101 percent dedicated to what he was doing,” she said.
Henry is survived by his daughter, Jaelyn, and son, Jamal, both of Chula Vista. Memorial services have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
