Neil Larsen

      Neil Larsen is a well-known musical composer, arranger, keyboard player, and musical director. He is a multi-instrumentalist and has professionally performed on the keyboard, organ, pedal steel guitar, electric guitar, trumpet, mandolin, accordion, flute, alto horn and flugelhorn. As a 14-year old student at Riverview, Neil received a Leonard Bernstein scholarship to the Stan Kenton Clinics in Bloomington, Indiana. He was the youngest of several hundred students to receive this scholarship.

       Neil graduated from Riverview High School in 1966. He joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to a special services unit to perform for U.S. soldiers during the Viet Nam War. Following his discharge, he moved to New York City and subsequently to Los Angeles. During his 50+ career, he has performed globally in the United States, Japan, Europe, South America, Africa, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Canada. He has performed on the TV shows Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, and Boston Public as well as hundreds of live concerts with many musicians and actors such as Tom Selleck, William Shatner, Robert Downey, Jr., Chubby Checker, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole, Will Smith, Gregg Allman, Cher, George Harrison, Kenny Loggins, Rick Springfield, B.B. King, Miles Davis, and Leonard Cohen. 

     Neil has six solo albums, played on over 200 albums, and toured and composed for several top R & B, jazz, blues, and pop performers. His title track on the album, High Gear, was nominated for the 1980 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. He toured world-wide with Leonard Cohen in 300+ shows for over six years.  When Neil is not performing professionally, he volunteers his time and talents wo aspiring young musicians in the Los Angeles area.

pictured here with RHS Distinguished Hall of Fame Board members (left to right) Kathy Chamberlain, Pam Houfek and Jo Ivey

Jan Davis

Class of 1966 graduate Jan Davis spent only her senior year at Riverview, but the school made quite an impression. It’s where Davis developed an interest in pursuing art as a career. That career as an art teacher lasted 43 years, all of them at Riverview High School! Davis graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and later earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at USF.

Davis is an accomplished artist in drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, printmaking, jewelry, commercial art, and leather craft. During her teaching career, Davis shared her passion for art with thousands of students. She was an art instructor for grades 9 through 12, Art Department Chairperson, Curriculum Coordinator, National Art Honor Society Sponsor, Peer Teacher, and Yearbook Advisor.

Davis’ impact can also be found in the community. She sponsored student artists to paint murals for the Fruitville Public Library, co-wrote “From Stars to Starfish” planetarium show, which is seen by thousands of elementary school students each year, and was one of the founding member instructors of the International Baccalaureate program at Riverview.

During her four decades of teaching, Davis received many awards and honors. Those include Sarasota County Teacher of the Year for secondary schools, Senior Choice Award A+ Teacher, USF Distinguished Alumni Award, Florida Scholastic Press Association Silver Key, National Art Education Association Program Standards Award, and the Edge of Excellence Award among many more. Davis’ artwork and photography have also won numerous awards and have been exhibited in galleries.