[2] Originally known as The Great American Jazz Piano Competition, five finalists compete for cash prizes and a chance to perform on the festival's main stage.

He and aide Mike Tolbert founded the Jazz festival and envisioned it as an event that would help the struggling fishing village of Mayport.

The Mayport Naval Base was uncomfortable with such a big crowd on their border, so the event moved to the newly opened Metropolitan Park in 1982.

Costs began to rise faster than sponsorship money, so the show in 1995 included a $5 admission to help cover the shortfall.

It was a sunny weekend and nearly 60,000 people attended, but the festival's profits were half a million dollars short of its expenses.

Saturday and Sunday music was limited to Metropolitan Park whereas, in 2007, concerts were also held at the Florida and Ritz theaters.