Dr. Gregg Akkerman is a writer/performer/educator born in the southern California desert to a mother with the good sense to provide her son the same birthday as Duke Ellington. He worked many years as a pianist/vocalist throughout the Southwest before earning a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from San Diego State University and a Doctorate of Arts in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Northern Colorado. His recent book, "The Last Balladeer: The Johnny Hartman Story," was published in 2012. Akkerman is also the editor of "The Listener's Companion" book series from Scarecrow Press and authors the "Jazz on the 90th Floor" column for AllAboutJazz.com.
Akkerman served as associate professor of music at the University of South Carolina Upstate for 9 years and is the founder of the Rocker Music Academy (rockermusicacademy.com). Now living in San Diego, California, he still performs on a regular basis and specializes in music of the Great American Songbook.