Biography

​Emmett Goods is a Pittsburgh native who comes from a very rich
musical background. He is an alumnus of the Pittsburgh High School
for the Creative and Performing Arts where under the tutelage of
legendary drummer Roger Humphries he began to flourish as a young
artist. After a short stint at the Berklee College of Music, it was under
the direction of the legendary trombonist Steve Davis that Emmett
earned a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from the Hartt School of
Music. He earned his Masters of Music degree, also in Jazz studies,
from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts in
Trombone Performance at West Virginia University.

As a performer, Emmett has shared the stage with a wide variety of
artists crossing over multiple genres. In the jazz arena he has
performed with Dr. Billy Taylor, Eddie Harris, Louie Bellson, Avery
Sharpe, Wycliffe Gordon, and Roger Humphries among others. In the
area of pop music he has performed with the Four Tops, Aretha
Franklin, and Gladys Knight. Latin music is a specialty and as such he
has performed with the likes of Ismael Miranda, Kevin Caballo,
Domingo Quinnones, Tony Vega and Yomo Torro. In addition Emmett
has also played with orchestras and chamber ensembles in the
classical arena. Emmett also leads his own jazz groups.

Emmett has recorded with artists such as Jennifer Holliday, The Song
is You (2014, Shanicie). Kevin Lemons & Higher Calling, Destined for
Greatness (2009). Mausiki Scales & the Common Ground Collective,
The Water Brought Us, (2008). Donnie McClurkin, Demo (2007).
These just highlight some of the great studio work Emmett has done,
not to mention TV appearances with such artists as gospel artist Byron
Cage and salsa singer Charlie Cruz. Most recently he can be heard on
The Latin Heartbeat’s 2021 recording, El Camino.

As an educator Emmett began his successful teaching career as a
private instructor teaching trombone and piano in the greater
Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA area where he taught low brass and
piano. After completing his undergraduate work he added classroom
teaching and tutoring for the East Hartford Public Schools, the Carver
School for the arts in Atlanta, GA and at Miller Magnet School for the
Arts in Macon, GA. From 2009-2011 Emmett was the Assistant
Director of Bands and Brass Instructor at Benedict College in
Columbia, SC. He has served as the assistant band director at the

Urban Pathways Charter School 6-12 and the music teacher at the
Urban Pathways K-5 school, holding these positions for 4 years. He
was an adjunct professor at Goodwin College from 2014-2017 and
served as a visiting professor at Springfield College for the academic
year 2016-2017. Currently he is an assistant professor of music and
director of jazz studies at the University of Rhode Island.

Emmett’s trombone teachers include Prof. Jay Ashby, Murray Crewe,
Dr. Thomas Gibson, Calvin “Carl” Jackson, Dr. Keith Jackson, Prof.
Matty Shiner, and Mr. Harry Stephens.