Sir Julius Aperlus Augustus Jackson Haywood

Julius Aperlus Augustus Jackson was born on April 18, 1924, in Marshall, Texas. He was the 16th child of Elijah and Annie Jackson. Julius began his education at Park Elementary School, graduated from Pemberton High School, and for a while studied music at Bishop College. Though his family struggled for mere existence and Julius often went hungry, he studied hard to try to attain his dream of becoming a teacher of history and geography.

Julius displayed an early interest in music as a child employee of the T. H. Keoun Music and Furniture Company in Marshall. He began playing piano for Sunday School and later for the junior and senior choirs at the Bethesda Baptist Church. He organized a chorus at Pemberton High School.

At the age of 17, Julius undertook his first formal study of music under Raymond Morris, a noted New England composer, who advised him to study music exclusively. Julius came to the attention of Hilman and Willa Haywood of Los Angeles, California. They persuaded his parents to let them adopt him and provide an education for him. He then became known as Jules Jackson Haywood. He enrolled in the University of Southern California, College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. In 1946 he earned a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in piano, the first African American to attain that degree at the university. He completed a four-year course in two and a half years. At the same time, he was serving as director of music at St. Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. In 1948 he earned the Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California.

After his adoption by the Haywoods, Jules remained in close contact with his biological family. His older sister, Hattie Lillian Jackson Scott and he maintained a prodigious correspondence until her death on February 19, 1994. His older brother, Jewel Jackson, presented him with a painting while Jules was visiting him in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1956. Jules treasured that gift always.

After receiving his master’s degree, Jules went immediately to Europe, where he studied three years at the Ecole Normale and Conservatoire in Paris earning an artist’s diploma. While

studying in Paris, he had the rare honor of being on the staff of the American Church in Paris. He appeared with the Conservatory Orchestra in 1950 after making his European debut in Florence, Italy, in November 1949. After several successful performances in Italy, he was knighted Cavaliere di Merito by the Imperial Order of the Emperor Constantine at the palace of the Marquis of Tuscany for musical services rendered in Italy. Thus he was to be titled “Sir Jules.”

After Sir Jules returned from Europe, this young concert pianist performed recitals in several cities that included the works of Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, Debussy, Haydn, and others. His performances were in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Marshall, and Dallas. From these recitals and his connection with a former classmate at the University of Southern California, Dr. Hamilton T. Boswell, Sir Jules became the Minister of Music at Jones Methodist Church in 1951. At Jones he organized the Sanctuary Choir, which had rich musical promise. The first year they presented Stainer’s The Crucifixion for Easter sunrise service and the regular morning service.

Aside from his duties at Jones, he organized his own “Studio Choir,” which was made up of members from varied races, religions, and walks of life. This choir became the resident choir of the International Music Hall. The idea of the International Music Hall was conceived by Sir Jules and made possible through the financial assistance of his parents and Mrs. Elizabeth Hanna Seward. The International Hall opened on June 25, 1961 to a packed audience. Greetings were given by the Honorable George Christopher, Mayor of San Francisco. The purpose of the hall was to provide an intimate space for concerts, recitals, lectures, and drama.

In 1956 through his connection with a prominent soprano soloist, Mrs. Charlie Mae Haynes, wife of the Rev. F. D. Haynes Sr., pastor of Third Baptist Church, Sir Jules became Third Baptist Church’s Director of Music and later served as Minister of Music for over 32 years. These are the most noteworthy of his many accomplishments:

• Prepared a 1,000-voice choir to sing at the National Baptist Convention when they met in San Francisco in 1959

• Presented performances of classical choral works (The Messiah, Elijah, and The Creation) at Christmas and Easter accompanied by members of the San Francisco Symphony for the entire Bay Area community to enjoy

• Headed the committee to purchase the “great organ,” which he helped to design

• Merged the three adult choirs of Third Baptist into the Cathedral Choir

• Recruited Jerry White to serve as organist

• Added Professor Charles Hudspeth to the musical staff as pianist

• Prepared and conducted the Cathedral Choir to perform on Mount Davidson for Easter Sunrise Services

• Headed a drive to raise funds to maintain our present organ in perpetuity

• Created a living musical history of the church by producing five CDs of Third’s choral works titled “A Half Century of Choral Singing” and CDs of his own piano works

• Served as Minister of Music under three successive pastors

• Was appointed Minister of Music Emeritus after his retirement

• Mentored subsequent Ministers of Music, most prominently Jim Davis who created a concert series in his name. Mr. Davis went on to become Minister of Music at Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City

• Collaborated with Sir Jules Haywood Concert Series committee in creating a timeline of his musical journey for a Black History month concert

Outside of his church responsibilities, Sir Jules expanded his contributions to the wider community as his fame as a choral director and arranger reached outside of church circles. Here are some of those achievements:

• Trained and directed choirs for the San Francisco Opera Association

• Trained a choir for the 1984 San Francisco Republican National Convention

• Prepared his Studio Choir to become the nucleus of the International Choir with the encouragement of then Mayor George Christopher, San Francisco Conductor Joseph Krips, and San Francisco Opera’s Kurt Adler and Matt Feruggio

• Prepared the International Choir to perform with Arthur Fiedler and the San Francisco “Pops” concerts

• Prepared the International Choir to perform in several performances with the San Francisco Opera

Sir Jules received the great support of all three pastors under whom he served. Each of them believed in a varied music program incorporating classical, hymns, spirituals, and gospel music. In 2002 on the occasion of Third Baptist’s 150th anniversary, Pastor Amos C. Brown called him out of retirement to organize, prepare, and conduct the anniversary concert. Nearly 100 singers came from around the globe to be re-united with him and to sing in this concert.

Sir Jules leaves a great legacy of service to the community, the church, the arts, his friends and family. We celebrate a life dedicated to the production of good sacred music—a life well lived!