Vintage Voices 2026 "The Doctor Who Delivered a Jazz Legend"
ALTON — A century after Dr. George Samuels delivered Miles Davis, Alton’s first black physician is the focus of a Vintage Voices portrayal connecting the city’s medical history with the beginnings of a jazz legend.
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Jared Hennings portrayed Samuels in “The Doctor Who Delivered a Jazz Legend,” an installment of the annual historical reenactment program featured Oct. 22, 2026. Vintage Voices brings Alton’s past to life through local actors who portray deceased residents at their gravesites, sharing their experiences and local history.
Dr. Samuels became Alton’s first black physician in 1910 and had his own office. He served as a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps during World War I, then returned to Alton and continued his medical practice.
On May 26, 1926, Samuels delivered Davis, who would become one of jazz history's greatest trumpeters. The portrayal recounts Samuels’ life and Davis’ Alton beginnings, marking 100 years since the musician’s birth.
Davis moved to East St. Louis when he was 1 year old. His father gave him a trumpet at age 13. In 1944, Davis enrolled at the Juilliard School of Music while also playing in jazz clubs in the evenings.
Samuels’ family also had a place in Alton’s healthcare history: his son became the city’s first black pharmacist.
The Vintage Voices program marked its 25th anniversary season. It collaborates with the Hayner Library on historical research packets used to help tell the stories of notable Alton residents. Through those portrayals, the program shares the lives, challenges and contributions of people from the city’s past.
