calsfoundation@cals.org
October 14, 1959
Jazz pianist Alphonso “Phonnie” Trent died of a heart attack in Fort Smith (Sebastian County). Trent was a renowned jazz pianist and band leader who led the Alphonso Trent Orchestra, a group of young African-American musicians who toured the country, made several recordings, and had a lengthy engagement at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas.