Wynton Marsalis is just as excited to meet Mister Rogers as Fred is to hear his music. Marsalis is a young musician who has already achieved fame. Mister Rogers asks Marsalis for advice for young children who want to learn to play the trumpet. Marsalis talks about how difficult it was for him to practice when he was a young child, but his piano-playing father was a great influence on him. He demonstrates the trumpet by playing happy and sad tunes. Mister Rogers’ television musicians then join in on the fun. They play “It’s You I Like” followed by some blues.
Mister Rogers enjoys hearing each instrument perform a solo, and mentions that the blues they were playing was all improvisation. He says it is a way for musicians to talk to each other. A few years later, in 1990, Fred invited the entire Marsalis family to the Neighborhood.
Fred Rogers composed all of the music for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He studied music composition at Rollins College and continued to write for the rest of his life. For Fred, the piano represented more than work; it was therapy and a means for him to play and explore.
Johnny Costa provided the piano music for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He was the music director until his death in 1996. He and Fred were great friends and bonded over their music practice.
The Fred Rogers Institute Archivist is available for requests and inquiries from students and researchers.
