Charles Morgan, Assistant Professor of Music, is Music Coordinator and Director of Bands and Brass at Joliet Junior College. He was born and raised in New Lenox, Illinois. Charles studied trombone with Jerry E. Lewis, Edward Kleinhammer, and Mark Fisher. He received his Associate of Arts degree from Joliet Junior College in 1990 and his Bachelor of Music emphasis in education from Northern Illinois University in 1993.

He was Director of Bands at Glenwood School for Boys in Glenwood, Illinois; Laraway School in Joliet, Illinois; and Shabbona Middle School in Morris Illinois. In 1998 he was hired as the Jazz Band Director at Joliet Junior College. He received his Masters of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in 2003. In 2004, he was selected for the bands and brass position at Joliet Junior College.

His teaching duties at Joliet Junior College include applied brass, music fundamentals, and conducting. He conducts the 80 member JJC Community Band and the JJC Jazz Band. Charles has served as and adjudicator throughout the state at many junior high and senior high school music festivals.

As a performer, he has played with many famous artists including, Tito Puente, Tom Scott, Marvin Stamm, Denis DiBlasio, Pete Christlieb, Clark Terry, and Jim Pugh while he was a member of the Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble. Professionally he has shared the stage with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, The Grass Roots, Tommy James and the Shondells, Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits, and The High Society Orchestra. He currently plays with The Buckinghams, and has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC Concerts at Noon, recorded a special for PBS "60's Pop Rock Reunion", released on DVD and CD by Time Life and performed at the 55th Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C. He can also be heard on their recordings “Yesterday, Today”, “Live and Well”, “Standing Room Only”, and “Reaching Back”.

As an arranger/composer Charles has several Jazz Ensemble charts to his name and recently collaborated as the horn arranger for The Buckinghams’ recent recording “Reaching Back” and their upcoming Christmas album.

Charles plays Getzen trombones and is honored to be a Getzen Clinician. He resides in Minooka with his wife Kristin and ten year old daughter Jenna.