Don Chisholm 1934–2025
This obituary is adapted from Linda’s essay “Don Chisholm, Ann Arbor Jazz Hero,” published on the WEMU website ten years ago, April 24, 2015.
Don Chisholm, who passed away March 21 at age 91, was one of the original board members of the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association, providing assistance with artistic expenses including hospitality when Ron Brooks, owner of the Bird of Paradise Jazz Club, founded the association in 1987. Chisholm provided transportation for visiting musicians to and from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and lodgings in a one-bedroom-two bath apartment with fully stocked kitchen, within walking distance from the Bird of Paradise Jazz Club.
Jazz greats such as Ray Brown, Shirley Horn, Chucho Valdes, Cedar Walton, Ernestine Anderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Diana Krall and Toots Thielemans were at ease conducting Ann Arbor workshops, concerts and club dates. They knew their comfortable and elegant lodgings were covered at a quietly assumed cost to Chisholm which must have reached into the tens of thousands.
Besides remaining in the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association, Chisholm was a major donor to the Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor's primary venue for intimate concerts. His “Friends of Jazz” group continues to sustain Ann Arbor as a viable destination for touring bands and jazz clinicians. He also supported University of Michigan music students, assuring that they can practice and hone their craft.
Don Chisholm was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1934. He attended the University of Michigan and received his BA in 1955 followed by his MBA in 1956. A stint in the Army followed graduation from U-M along with marriage. Don and his bride Betts relocated to Toledo, Ohio, where he was a successful corporate market analyst often consulting in New York City. Yet, he missed Ann Arbor’s intellectual and artistic community — and its easy access to first rate golf courses. He and Betts returned to the city of his alma mater where he joined the Hobbs-Schmidt Real Estate firm.
Two years later he formed Ann Arbor Associates, a firm that developed attractive and practical buildings for Ann Arbor’s booming business and residential needs. Bechtel Tower, Hidden Valley Apartments, Wolverine Tower, Waterworks Plaza, The Burlington Office Buildings, Park Place for Business, The Stonebridge Golf Course and Residences and Sloan Plaza are among Don Chisholm’s many development accomplishments. Sloan Plaza may be dearest to Don’s heart as it is named for his mother, Margaret Sloan, a gifted concert pianist and music teacher. When musicians stay in Chisholm’s Sloan Plaza apartment they practice on Margaret’s 1928 Steinway.
Over the years Chisholm served on the Ann Arbor Hospice Board, U-M Music School Advisory Board, the Michigan Theatre and the Ann Arbor Summer Festival Advisory Board. His philanthropy extended to all of these organizations, but his main focus of charitable giving was the U-M School of Music and the Kerrytown Concert House. Since 1987, the Chisholm Jazz Scholarship and The Chisholm Musical Theater Scholarship Have supported U-M students with partial tuition awards. He added support for jazz department master classes including the 2014–2015 Don Chisholm Jazz Master Class Series.
The Don Chisholm Friends of Jazz at KCH made it possible for Ann Arbor music lovers to enjoy Jackie Ryan, Tamir Hendelman, Jeff Hamilton, Terry Lower, Gwilym Simcock, The JaLaLa Trio, Mr. B, Peter Bernstein, Randy Napoleon, James Dapogny and many others in the elegant and intimate Kerrytown Concert House.
Personal Reflections on Don Chisholm
As I personally am moved by Don Chisholm's passing, and am now seeing his smile and hearing his infectious and unique laugh, a few thoughts here might be good to share:
His work as a developer in the community and his passion for its musical and cultural life were always intersecting. Don Chisholm was a Renaissance man.
As he worked to expand development of housing and office buildings across Main into the State Street area, the design of his own office buildings and housing communities (Stonebridge) were lauded for their design and construction quality as notably his Briarwood area Atrium Building was indeed graced with an open atrium which featured a lovely grand piano. Many of us remember being there for performances and celebrations as he invited both visiting and area artists to his place of work. That atrium seems sacred now.
Also, after working tirelessly with the city to get approval for Sloan Plaza (at State and Huron), which ironically was considered a bit large at the time, he created a beautifully furnished one-bedroom apartment (including his mother Margaret Sloan’s grand piano, of course) on the third floor (Suite 307) next to his office. Regularly used for visiting artist accommodations and special gatherings, UMS, the Bird of Paradise, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Kerrytown Concert House and others were privileged to offer their visiting artists accommodations there. The only payment he required was that the guests sign the guest book. I remember NYC pianist Eric Comstock being shocked at the amazing “who’s who” of the classical and jazz world that guest book represented. Van Cliburn used the suite to prepare for his last concert in Hill Auditorium! I am wondering where that book is now…it tells quite a story.
Don had long-standing and deep friendships with many of the jazz artists he knew. Every time the great bassist Ray Brown came to town, Don and he could be found on the golf course (Don’s development at Stonebridge, of course) when not on stage. He was also very connected to the jazz musicians in our community - always ready to support their music.
He was one of the founders of the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association and lent his name to the Don Chisholm Friends of Jazz at Kerrytown Concert House group, all the while, raising funds for events and individual area artists’ projects.
Don was a long time board member of Kerrytown Concert House, brought on board by his development friend and collaborator Joe O’Neal (owner of Kerrytown Shops and the champion of my idea to create Kerrytown Concert House). Don was a real artistic advisor and would often be the person to call his jazz artist friends with an invitation to play at KCH. I remember one summer afternoon, Don walked into the House with a young, not-yet-so-famous, Diana Krall. His wife Betts had brought Diana in to surprise him on his birthday, so Don wanted to introduce Diana to KCH for possible future collaboration. Don put KCH on the map in the jazz world. His support brought in the likes of Bill Charlap, Freddie Cole, Cedar Walton, Eric Comstock, Blossom Dearie, Dave Frishberg, Kenny Barron, and so many more.
Aside from helping to purchase the notable Hamburg Steinway for KCH, Don provided much needed support for its mission. Several years ago, his facilities person came to the office and said she was tasked with choosing more comfortable chairs for KCH, as Don said people needed more cushioned seating! So, yes, Don lives in the House, and every time I stack a chair or see people take their seats, I think of Don and hear his laughter.
A Renaissance man indeed!