North Florida Music Hall of Fame

Originally from Atlanta, winner of 1993 Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville. For 12 years he was a professor of jazz studies at UNF. In 1999, he recorded and performed with fellow UNF alumnus Marcus Printup on Blue Note Records. Disappointed with the declining state of the jazz market in Jacksonville, Bales returned to Atlanta in 2004, where he teaches at Georgia State. Also see Printup, Marcus.