San Antonio jazz history · Early 1970s
Mark Hess and the Happy Jazz Band
A young San Antonio musician became an essential part of the band that carried traditional jazz from the River Walk across America.
Mark Hess began performing professionally at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in 1968. While still in his teens, he joined Jim Cullum’s group, then known as the Happy Jazz Band.
Mark performed on piano and trombone and became Jim Cullum’s trusted musical and operational partner. He played full time with the band for approximately five years and toured extensively.
Mark then made the deliberate decision to reduce touring and focus on his family. It was not a farewell to music: he remained close to Cullum, continued performing with him periodically into the 1990s and stayed active in San Antonio music.
The relationship began a lifelong musical friendship and connected Mark to one of San Antonio’s most important traditional-jazz stories.
