Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame
Founded1988
FounderSenator Maxine Horner, Co-Founder
Senator Penny Williams, Co-Founder
Type501(c)(3) Nonprofit organization
Location
Websiteokjazz.org
Headquarters of the Hall of Fame, the Tulsa Union Depot

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization that honors jazz, blues and gospel musicians in the state of Oklahoma. Housed in the former Tulsa Union Depot, which it now calls the Jazz Depot,[1] the Hall of Fame is a music venue that hosts regular jazz performances. It is also a museum, displaying photographs, biographical information, artifacts, and memorabilia from musicians such as Chet Baker, Earl Bostic, Don Cherry, Charlie Christian, Tommy Crook, Pat Kelley, Barney Kessel and Jimmy Rushing.[2]

Overview

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame holds an annual induction ceremony to recognize the meaningful contributions of individuals and groups in jazz, blues, and gospel music. The Hall of Fame originally inducted its members every June,[3] but the annual induction is now held in November.[4] To date, the Hall of Fame has inducted more than 100 musicians and groups.[5] Music instructor Zelia N. Breaux was the first inductee into the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame also established the Jay McShann Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 to honor musicians who enriched Oklahoma's music during their lifetimes. Recipients of this award include Jay McShann, John Hendricks, Lou Donaldson, Dave Brubeck, Marilyn Maye, Ramsey Lewis, Nat King Cole, George Duke, Billy Taylor, Eddie Palmieri, Bob Wills, and Lalo Schifrin.

In 1991, guitarist Barney Kessel made a speech about improvised music at the Hall of Fame; this was his last recorded public appearance before a stroke forced him to retire in May 1992.[6] Singer Joe Lee Wilson also made his last public performance at his 2010 induction into the Hall of Fame.[7]

History

The Tulsa Union Depot remained empty for nearly twenty years before being renovated and re-purposed for public use.

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame was established by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1988, with legislation authored by State Senators Maxine Horner and Penny Williams. The Hall of Fame was one of several organizations created in the North Tulsa “renaissance” dedicated to reconstructing the city's historic Greenwood district after the Tulsa Race Riot.[8] The organization was originally housed in the Greenwood Cultural Center, and co-sponsored a yearly celebration of Oklahoman black music tradition called “Juneteenth on Greenwood.”[9]

In 2004, Tulsa County’s Vision 2025 project allocated $4 million to purchase and renovate the Tulsa Union Depot for use by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.[10] Work on the building was completed and the building officially opened on June 19, 2007.[11]

In November, 2020, The Tulsa County Industrial Authority (TCIA) filed a lawsuit to terminate the building lease with the Jazz Hall and to recover $8,474 in past-due taxes and utilities.[12] The suit alleged that the Jazz Hall was so far behind in its utility payments that electricity to the building was turned off on October 19th.[12] In January 2021 the Jazz Hall declared bankruptcy.[12] On June 10, 2021, the bankruptcy court approved a $200,000 sale of the Jazz Hall, along with transfer of the lease of the Depot, to a new non-profit entity, The Jazz Foundation LLC, being a firm established by local businessman James Moore.[13] The bid included a pledge of $1 million for deferred maintenance and other improvements, along with $1 million available for operating expenses and to satisfy future obligations under the lease with TCIA.[13] Stated future Jazz Hall plans call for continued celebration of jazz and gospel artists in Oklahoma, expanding to host music festivals and live TV events, and creating a rooftop restaurant.[13]

By July 2022, renovations had begun on the facility, with an expected reopening in early 2023 under branding as simply the Jazz Depot.[14] The Jazz Foundation funded $2 million in renovation updates for the second-floor Grand Entrance Hall, Exhibit Promenade and Performance Hall.[14]

List of inductees

NameInstrumentYear inducted
Marvin AshStrings2013
Andrea BakerVocal, Education2005
Chet BakerTrumpet, Vocal1991
Helen BaylorVocal2000
Samuel Aaron BellBass1992
Wayne BennettGuitar, Vocal2001
Joseph BiasVocal2006
Elvin BishopGuitar, Vocal1998
Earl BosticSaxophone1993
Zelia N. BreauxEducation1989
David AmramF Horn2011
Ruth BrownVocal1992
Albert BrumleyVocal2013
Glenn BurleighPiano2001
Charles BurtonGuitar, Vocal2001
Barbara BurtonVocal2001
Don ByasSaxophone1997
J.J. CaleGuitar2013
Debbie CampbellVocal2006
Don CherryTrumpet2011
Charlie ChristianGuitar1989
Willie Earl ClarkSaxophone, Education2002
Tommy CrookGuitar2004
Pam Van Dyke CrosbyVocal2008
Joey CrutcherPiano1991
Jesse Ed DavisGuitar2002
Elmer L. DavisVocal1993
Rae DegeerClarinet, Alto Saxophone2014
Al DennieEducation1990
George DenniePianist2012
Ernestine DillardVocal1998
Clarence DixonVocal1998
Thomas A. DorseyPiano1994
Ken DowningSaxophone1999
Duke EllingtonPiano1992
Dorothy EllisVocal2011
Ralph EllisonMusician2014
George FaisonDance1998
Ernie Fields Jr.Saxophone1996
Ernie Fields Sr.Trombone1989
Fisk Jubilee SingersVocal2012
Ella FitzgeraldVocal1997
Artt FrankDrums2010
Lowell FulsonGuitar, Vocal1989
Chuck GardnerPiano2013
Dizzy GillespieTrumpet1993
Earl GrantPiano, Vocal2013
Sonny GrayPiano, Education2001
Wardell GrayTenor Saxophone2014
Jimmy HawkinsVocal2004
John David HenryGuitar2001
Conrad HerwigTrombone2007
Billy HuntTrumpet1996
Mahalia JacksonVocal1995
Pat KelleyGuitar2003
Barney KesselGuitar1991
Kenneth KilgoreVocal1992
Joe LigginsPiano1992
Jimmy LigginsGuitar1993
Clarence LoveSaxophone1990
Madeline Manning-MimsVocal2005
Frank MantoothPiano2004
Junior MarkhamHarmonica2006
Tony MathewsGuitar1997
Bill MaxwellDrums2008
Cecil McBeeBass1991
Matthew McClartyVocal1997
Howard McGheeTrumpet2003
Robbie Mack McLerranBass2014
Jay McShannPiano1989
Roy MiltonVocal, Drums1991
D.C. MinnerGuitar, Vocal1999
Leona MitchellVocal2007
Melvin MooreTrumpet1996
Patricia MoorePiano1999
Ace Moreland Jr.Guitar, Harmonica, Vocal2007
Sunny MurrayDrums2012
Jimmy NolenGuitar1996
Carlton PearsonVocal2002
Jim PepperSaxophone2011
Oscar PettifordBass, Cello1995
Sara Jordan PowellVocal2003
Cortes RexVocal2014
Johnny RogersGuitar1995
Annie RossVocal2014
Ray D. RoweVocal2008
Marshal RoyalSaxophone1995
Washington RuckerDrums1998
James RushingVocal, Piano1990
Pee Wee RussellClarinet2011
Donald RyanPiano, Education2006
Jessie Mae Renfro SappVocal1989
Rudy ScottPiano, Harmonica2011
Lynn SeatonBass, Education2006
Shadow Lake EightBand2013
Lee ShawPiano1993
Leslie SheffieldPiano2003
Hal SingerSaxophone1996
C.C. SkinnerVocal1990
David SkinnerGuitar2005
Maurice SpearsTrombone, Education2004
Louie SpearsBass, Education2004
Kay StarrVocal2000
Ted TaylorVocal2000
Flash TerryGuitar, Vocal1994
Oklahoma City Blue DevilsBig Band1990
Walter "Foots" ThomasSaxophone1996
Wayman TisdaleBass2009
Glenn R. TownsendGuitar2004
David T. WalkerGuitar1999
Hart A. WandFiddle2012
Maxine WeldonVocal1999
Lee WileyVocal2000
Floyd WileyOrgan1994
Stephen WileyDrums2009
Steve WilkersonSaxophone, Education2005
Claude WilliamsViolin1989
Wallis WillisVocal2010
Joe Lee WilsonVocal2010
Terry WoodsonTrombone, Education2010
Joe William WrightDrums2012

See also

References

  1. "Facility Rental". Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  2. Danilov, Victor J. ‘’Hall of Fame Museums: A Reference Guide.’’ Greenwood, 1997, p.180
  3. Johnson, Hannibal B. ‘’Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District.’’ Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum, 1998, p.130
  4. BRANDY MCDONNELL. "David Amram will receive Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame's Lifetime Achievement Award". News OK. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  5. "Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame". Okjazz.org. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  6. Yanow, Scott. ‘’Jazz On Film: The Complete Story of the Musicians and Music Onscreen.’’ Backbeat, 2004, p.22
  7. "Obituaries". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  8. "H-Net Reviews". H-net.org. March 2002. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  9. State Arts Council of Oklahoma. ‘’Juneteenth on Greenwood: A Celebration of Oklahoma’s Black Music Traditions.’’ State Arts Council of Oklahoma, 1989, p.2
  10. "Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on May 3, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  11. "Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 "Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame files for bankruptcy; eviction, lawsuit on hold". Kevin Canfield, Tulsa World, January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 "Bankruptcy court OKs Jazz Hall sale to Tulsan's firm: 'The only game in town'". Tulsa World, June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Jazz Depot renovations draw on art deco heritage". James D. Watts Jr., Tulsa World, July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
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