Biography

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Jesse R. McGuire, Sr., B.Th., M.Div., D.Min. 

Winner, 2009 NATAS EMMY Award

Author, International Recording Artist, Actor, Doctor of Ministry

 

 

     Dr. Jesse Robert McGuire was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He began playing the trumpet at age nine, and continued through high school. 

 

     While attending Willow Run High School, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Jesse won many local, regional, and national music awards, and in June of 1976, he served as trumpeter and vocalist in the statewide tour of "The Sounds of 76," a production of the celebration of our nation's bicentennial, originating at the Interlochen Arts Academy, in northern Michigan. 

 

     Only 120 students were selected from 6,000 applicants, and a full week of statewide auditions, and of those 120 students, Jesse McGuire was the only African American male.

 

     At age fifteen, during his sophomore year in high school, Jesse was offered a position in the "Isaac Hayes Movement" from Grammy-Award winning soul singer Isaac Hayes. During his junior year in high school, Jesse was selected "All American" and was inducted into "Who's Who Among Music Students in American High Schools." 

 

     This, and other awards are still on display at Willow Run High School. After graduating with honors, Jesse was offered various music scholarships to attend noted institutions, such as Grand Valley State College, and Eastern Michigan University, to continue his studies in music.

     

     Choosing instead to attend Washtenaw College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jesse studied under renowned Jazz master, Dr. Morris J. Lawrence, Jr., who served as Professor of Music at Washtenaw College, and the University Of Michigan School Of Music. 

 

     While under the guidance of Dr. Lawrence, Jesse was featured at two of the largest collegiate Jazz festivals in the country, the first being the Governor's State Jazz Festival (Chicago, IL), where Jesse won top honors, receiving the "Best Trumpet Award." 

 

     Later that evening Jesse performed with Jazz greats Bunky Green, and Ernie Wilkins. One year later, Jesse performed at the Notre Dame University Jazz Festival (South Bend, IN), where he received top honors as Outstanding Soloist, “Unpretentious Trumpet Award" and he was later invited to perform with the adjudicators of the event, Philly Joe Jones, Buddy DeFranco, Nat Adderly, Ron Carter, and Joe Sample. Both awards are still on display at Washtenaw Community College.

 

     Jesse was later featured as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, in October of 1989, as an alumnus with the Washtenaw College Jazz Orchestra. While attending Washtenaw College, Jesse was one of the original founding members of the Afromusicology Society, an educational organization that conducted lectures, and performed live demonstrations of the history of Afro-American music, both nationally, and internationally. After attending Washtenaw College, Jesse was accepted into Eastern Michigan University, as a pre-law major, but later declined the offer to attend, to pursue a career in Gospel music.

 

     Jesse has performed for three Presidents of The United States of America. On April 30, 2002, Jesse performed the National Anthem at the largest Democratic fundraiser in the history of the state of Arizona, where President Bill Clinton stood five feet away, and was in absolute awe of his stirring rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. 

 

     In October 2002, Jesse played his stirring version of the National Anthem for President George W. Bush at a Republican fundraiser for Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon. Jesse was featured a soloist during a performance for the President Ronald Reagan, in May of 1987, during a campaign stop for the incumbent Wayne County Executive, and Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, William Lucas. Lucas was campaigning to become the first elected African American governor (Michigan) in U.S. history, and President Ronald Reagan was assisting in the campaign. 

 

     Most recently, Dr. McGuire was featured along with former Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, at the 20thAnnual Western Riverside Council of Governments, In Riverside, California.

     An extensive background in Gospel music and Jazz, afforded Jesse the privilege of performing, touring and/or recording with many world renowned bands, including, Wynton Marsalis, The Tower of Power, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, That Katinas, Henry Kapono, comedians Michael Finney and Tony Silva, Esteban, Arturo Sandoval, Pat Boone, James Brown, Andrae Crouch, Billy Preston, Sam (Soul Man) Moore, Sister Sledge, The Winans, Jessy Dixon, Sammy Hagar, Jeffery Osborne, Vickie Winans, Tim Bowman, The Clark Sisters, The Dells, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Mitchell, and with Phil Driscoll, in addition to serving as opening concert performances most recently for James Taylor, Hootie and The Blowfish, Elton John, and Seal. However, it has been a longtime dream of Dr. McGuire to open a Rolling Stones concert with his soulful rendition of The National Anthem! Jesse is also a member of The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).

 

     He has authored, and self-published several books, including an autobiography, two trumpeter's guides, and two fiction novels, several self-help Christian books, and a book of Inspirational poetry. Dr. McGuire's recent book entitled, "The SISSI Principles" (Sales, Investments, Salaries, Services, & Inheritances) is shaking up both the religious and business community, receiving both critical acclaim and scathing criticism for his insightful, but highly controversial look into exactly how personal wealth is amassed in both the sacred and secular world. Dr. McGuire’s latest literary accomplishment, “Raising Doctors on a Patient’s Salary,” is Dr. McGuire’s best literary work, to date.

 

     As a young solo performer, Jesse's music was heard in five of the largest Gospel musicals in the world, including, The National C.O.G.I.C. Convention in Memphis, Tennessee, Chicago Fest in Chicago, Illinois, The Riverfront Festival in Detroit, Michigan, Jesus Fest in Tacoma Washington, and the Greenbelt Festival in London, England.

 

     From 1991 – 2001, over five and a half million people per year were witness to his amazing rendition of the National Anthem. Jesse has been heard at professional sporting events and various functions all across the United States of America. His most notable performances were at the 2001 World Series, for which, he received a World Series Championship Ring from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Championship Parade, 2018, where there were over four million people who lined the parade route. 

 

     After which, Jesse was the subject of questions and answers on both Hollywood Squares and Jeopardy TV game shows, in addition to an appearance on the TV shows, "Entertainment Tonight," and “Inside Edition.” Jesse also performed the National Anthem at five Arena Bowl (Arena Football League, 1995, 1997, 2013, 2015, and 2017) Championships, and was awarded three world championship rings, for each win. Dr. McGuire also performed the National Anthem at the 2000 Daytona 500, 1993 NBA Finals, and numerous anthem performances for the NFL, MLB, Arena Bowl, NHL, MLS, and the NCAA. On September 23, 2001, Jesse also paid a moving patriotic tribute to those who were lost, by performing Amazing Grace at Sun Devil Stadium (Tempe, AZ) for the Arizona Cardinals, for which he received the Game Ball. Additionally, he made history when he performed God Bless America at Ground Zero, on October 20, 2001. The great pile of rubble once known as the World Trade Center was still on fire during his performance.

 

     Jesse was also the featured anthem performer for the 1995 IBM/OS2 Fiesta Bowl, the 1997 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, and the 2014 Vizio Fiesta Bowl, in Tempe, Arizona, in addition to performing the anthem to start the 2017 Cactus Bowl, at Chase Field, in Phoenix, Arizona.  Most recently, Jesse made a guest appearance on the hit TV show "Extreme Makeover, Home Addition" performing the National Anthem as a guest of show host Ty Pennington. During this performance Jesse played the National Anthem prior to the total demolition and rebuilding of a home for a young girl with cancer. 

 

     Dr. McGuire is also the 2005 recipient of the "Voices Take Flight Medal" for his commitment to join the fight against ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Dr. McGuire is also a recipient of the 2008 Schow-Donnelly Award.

 

From his humble beginnings as a nine year old nervously playing his first trumpet solo in church, Jesse overcame the reading disorder "Dyslexia" to attain the position of "Lead trumpet" in the world's most prestigious Jazz big band, "The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra" in New York City. Multi Grammy winner, and Pulitzer Prize winner Wynton Marsalis, was the conductor, and Artistic Director. Jesse received international acclaim for his lead trumpet, and solo performances during his two-year tour with LCJO.

 

     Jesse has since released three Christian music CD’s entitled, “It Took A Miracle,” “Glory To His Name, and “Hymns.” He has also recorded a collection of patriotic songs, featuring the "live" rendition of The Star Spangled Banner from World Series, 2001. Dr. McGuire’s latest recording entitled, PowerTrump: “Twice As Good, For Half As Much,” is a collection of original contemporary Jazz instrumental songs, released on PowerTrump Records.  

 

     Jesse is a 1999 inductee into the Willow Run High School Hall of Fame. Most recently, Jesse has also served as "Lead Trumpet" in the soul band, Tower of Power, receiving critical acclaim for his lead work, and soloing prowess on their live recording, “Soul Vaccination, Live!”  Jesse is also an accomplished author and actor, with several television commercials, several published books, and one feature movie to his credit, in addition to one public service announcement for which he won a 2009 NATAS EMMY Award, for “On Camera Talent – Performer/Narrator.” 

 

     Dr. McGuire is also the 2010 recipient of the Copper Sword Award, presented by The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society, and he is an honorary lifetime member of Shriners International.

 

     Dr. Jesse McGuire has toured extensively throughout the United States, and his international travels have taken him to world cities such as, Taipei China, Moscow Russia, Stockholm Sweden, Montreaux Switzerland, Paris France, Windsor and Toronto Ontario Canada, Vienna Austria, Milan Italy, Torino Italy, Istanbul Turkey, Kongsberg Norway, Vitoria Spain, Vienne France, London England, Copenhagen Denmark, Amsterdam Holland, Mexico City Mexico, Munich, Frankfurt and Karlsruhe Germany, Antibes France, Pori and Rovanemi Finland, Tijuana and Ensenada Mexico, Oslo Norway, Prague Czech Republic, Moscow Russia, Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo Japan, Ocho Rios Jamaica, Cozumel & Ensenada Mexico, Georgetown Grand Cayman, Labadie Haiti, Sidney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Cairns (Great Barrier Reef), Australia, and Belo Horizonte Minas Gerias, Brazil.

 

     Dr. McGuire holds an earned Bachelor of Theology (Summa Cum Laude), in addition to having earned his Master of Divinity (Summa Cum Laude), and his Doctor of Ministry (Summa Cum Laude) degrees from Freedom Bible College and Seminary.

 

     Dr. Jesse McGuire has a list of accomplishments that is much too long to mention, but which is impressive to say the least. A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, Jesse McGuire is the Founder and President of PowerTrump, Inc.