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Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame

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Coordinates: 36°09′24″N 95°59′26″W / 36.15667°N 95.99056°W / 36.15667; -95.99056
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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

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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

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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

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Name Instrument Year inducted
Marvin Ash Strings 2013
Andrea Baker Vocal, Education 2005
Chet Baker Trumpet, Vocal 1991
Helen Baylor Vocal 2000
Samuel Aaron Bell Bass 1992
Wayne Bennett Guitar, Vocal 2001
Joseph Bias Vocal 2006
Elvin Bishop Guitar, Vocal 1998
Earl Bostic Saxophone 1993
Zelia N. Breaux Education 1989
David Amram F Horn 2011
Ruth Brown Vocal 1992
Albert Brumley Vocal 2013
Glenn Burleigh Piano 2001
Charles Burton Guitar, Vocal 2001
Barbara Burton Vocal 2001
Don Byas Saxophone 1997
J.J. Cale Guitar 2013
Debbie Campbell Vocal 2006
Don Cherry Trumpet 2011
Charlie Christian Guitar 1989
Willie Earl Clark Saxophone, Education 2002
Tommy Crook Guitar 2004
Pam Van Dyke Crosby Vocal 2008
Joey Crutcher Piano 1991
Jesse Ed Davis Guitar 2002
Elmer L. Davis Vocal 1993
Rae Degeer Clarinet, Alto Saxophone 2014
Al Dennie Education 1990
George Dennie Pianist 2012
Ernestine Dillard Vocal 1998
Clarence Dixon Vocal 1998
Thomas A. Dorsey Piano 1994
Ken Downing Saxophone 1999
Duke Ellington Piano 1992
Dorothy Ellis Vocal 2011
Ralph Ellison Musician 2014
George Faison Dance 1998
Ernie Fields Jr. Saxophone 1996
Ernie Fields Sr. Trombone 1989
Fisk Jubilee Singers Vocal 2012
Ella Fitzgerald Vocal 1997
Artt Frank Drums 2010
Lowell Fulson Guitar, Vocal 1989
Chuck Gardner Piano 2013
Dizzy Gillespie Trumpet 1993
Earl Grant Piano, Vocal 2013
Sonny Gray Piano, Education 2001
Wardell Gray Tenor Saxophone 2014
Jimmy Hawkins Vocal 2004
John David Henry Guitar 2001
Conrad Herwig Trombone 2007
Billy Hunt Trumpet 1996
Mahalia Jackson Vocal 1995
Pat Kelley Guitar 2003
Barney Kessel Guitar 1991
Kenneth Kilgore Vocal 1992
Joe Liggins Piano 1992
Jimmy Liggins Guitar 1993
Clarence Love Saxophone 1990
Madeline Manning-Mims Vocal 2005
Frank Mantooth Piano 2004
Junior Markham Harmonica 2006
Tony Mathews Guitar 1997
Bill Maxwell Drums 2008
Cecil McBee Bass 1991
Matthew McClarty Vocal 1997
Howard McGhee Trumpet 2003
Robbie Mack McLerran Bass 2014
Jay McShann Piano 1989
Roy Milton Vocal, Drums 1991
D.C. Minner Guitar, Vocal 1999
Leona Mitchell Vocal 2007
Melvin Moore Trumpet 1996
Patricia Moore Piano 1999
Ace Moreland Jr. Guitar, Harmonica, Vocal 2007
Sunny Murray Drums 2012
Jimmy Nolen Guitar 1996
Carlton Pearson Vocal 2002
Jim Pepper Saxophone 2011
Oscar Pettiford Bass, Cello 1995
Sara Jordan Powell Vocal 2003
Cortes Rex Vocal 2014
Johnny Rogers Guitar 1995
Annie Ross Vocal 2014
Ray D. Rowe Vocal 2008
Marshal Royal Saxophone 1995
Washington Rucker Drums 1998
James Rushing Vocal, Piano 1990
Pee Wee Russell Clarinet 2011
Donald Ryan Piano, Education 2006
Jessie Mae Renfro Sapp Vocal 1989
Rudy Scott Piano, Harmonica 2011
Lynn Seaton Bass, Education 2006
Shadow Lake Eight Band 2013
Lee Shaw Piano 1993
Leslie Sheffield Piano 2003
Hal Singer Saxophone 1996
C.C. Skinner Vocal 1990
David Skinner Guitar 2005
Maurice Spears Trombone, Education 2004
Louie Spears Bass, Education 2004
Kay Starr Vocal 2000
Ted Taylor Vocal 2000
Flash Terry Guitar, Vocal 1994
Oklahoma City Blue Devils Big Band 1990
Walter "Foots" Thomas Saxophone 1996
Wayman Tisdale Bass 2009
Glenn R. Townsend Guitar 2004
David T. Walker Guitar 1999
Hart A. Wand Fiddle 2012
Maxine Weldon Vocal 1999
Lee Wiley Vocal 2000
Floyd Wiley Organ 1994
Stephen Wiley Drums 2009
Steve Wilkerson Saxophone, Education 2005
Claude Williams Violin 1989
Wallis Willis Vocal 2010
Joe Lee Wilson Vocal 2010
Terry Woodson Trombone, Education 2010
Joe William Wright Drums 2012

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b c "Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame files for bankruptcy; eviction, lawsuit on hold". Kevin Canfield, Tulsa World, January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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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36°09′24″N 95°59′26″W / 36.15667°N 95.99056°W / 36.15667; -95.99056

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