After graduating from Douglass High School, David Burton (b. 1949) went on to study at Baltimore City Community College, Morgan State University and Towson State University. Burton joined the faculty at Douglass High School in 1985 as Director of Bands. He is the organizer and leader of the Douglass Jazz Combo. In the interview, Russell Frisby and Burton discuss jazz, growing up in Baltimore, Douglass High, and the state of music education.

Marion T. Smith was a music educator who taught at Douglass High School in Baltimore. She began teaching at Douglass in about 1950 under the guidance of Georgeanna Chester. Smith taught many students who would go on to have a career in music, such as the singers Veronica Tyler, Junetta Jones, and Daniel Comegys. After teaching at Douglass for 18 years, Smith continued her career as a music teacher at Roland Park.