Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame

American nonprofit organization

Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame

Founded| 1988
Founder| Senator Maxine Horner, Co-Founder
Senator Penny Williams, Co-Founder
Type| 501(c)(3) Nonprofit organization
Location|

* 5 S Boston
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103

Website| okjazz.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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* Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
* List of music museums

## 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 May 7, 2016.
5. ^ "Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame". Okjazz.org. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
6. ^ Yanow, Scott. ‘’Jazz On Film: The Complete Story of the Musicians and Music Onscreen.’’ Backbeat, 2004, p.22
7. ^ "Obituaries". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
8. ^ "H-Net Reviews". H-net.org. March 2002. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
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.

## External links

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* [1] Facebook page

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