Formally the Director of Bands and the coordinator of Music and Music Education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dr. John R. Lamkin II, received his Bachelor’s Degree from South Carolina State University, his Master’s Degree from Morgan State University, and his PhD from The University of Maryland at College Park. All his academic degrees are in Music Education. A native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dr. Lamkin taught in the public school systems in South Carolina and Baltimore Maryland, before joining the faculty at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Dr. Lamkin also served on the faculty of Sojourner Douglass College. Not only is Dr. Lamkin a professional educator, he is a professional trumpet player who is equally adept in the genres of jazz, classical and sacred music.

Dr. Lamkin’s performance credits include performances with Eubie Blake, Stephanie Mills, Maurice Hynes, Frank Foster, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Cyrus Chestnut, Keter Betts, Ralph Peterson, Harvey Mason, the Manhattans, the Dells, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, the Baltimore City Big Band under the direction of Eugene Walker, the Hank Levy Legacy Band, the Whit Williams Big Band, the Dale Corn Big Band, the African American Jazz Caucus Big Band, the Washington Jazz Battalion, and the Peabody Jazz Ensemble. Locally Dr. Lamkin has performed with several Baltimore Luminaries including Mickey Fields, Johnny Polite, Jimmy Wells, Carlos Johnson, Ethel Innis, and Ruby Glover. Dr. Lamkin also has performed with his own jazz and jazz/rock groups in many night clubs in the Baltimore and Washington area, as well as for many private parties and weddings.

Dr. Lamkin received the “2014 Jazz Heroes Award” from the Jazz Journalist Association for having a significant impact on jazz music in the Baltimore community, and in 2018 he received the “Giants Among Us Award” from Quincy Phillips and Brian Davis for “Significant Contributions to the Music Landscape in Baltimore, MD. Also in 2018, he was selected for inclusion on the Maryland State Arts Council’s (MSAC) Performing Artists Touring Roster. He retired from UMES in 2014 and in 2016 he was conferred “Professor Emeritus” for outstanding service to UMES.

In 1984, Dr. Lamkin recorded his first album, titled “Hot.” In 2018 he released his second recording titled “Transitions,” and in March 2024 he released his recording titled “Movin’.”

Currently Dr. Lamkin teaches private trumpet lessons at Bill’s Music House and the Maryland Music Academy. He also is a trumpet and French horn coach at Maree Farring elementary/middle school. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he leads and performs with his traditional post hard-bop group he calls the “Favorites Jazz Quintet” and with his “Sacred Jazz Quintet.