Hall Of Fame

String/Stride Player October 4, 1914 – August 21, 1974 Marvin Ash was a superior string/stride player who brought his own sound and enthusiasm to

Vocalist/Educator/Band Leader/Composer 2005 Inductee Andrea Baker was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelors’s in Music Education.

Trumpeter, Vocalist December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988 Although born on December 23, 1929, in Yale, Oklahoma, jazz musician Chet Baker moved with

Gospel Vocalist January 8, 1953 — Baylor was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Los Angeles, where she first performed as a secular

Bassist April 24, 1922 – July 28, 2003 If Aaron Bell never gained the level of acclaim appropriate to his impressive résumé, he never

Blues Vocalist December 13, 1931 – November 28, 1992 Wayne Bennett was born in Sulphur, Oklahoma, and died in Orleans Louisiana. He worked with

Gospel Vocalist / Music Minister While in high school, Bias met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; he later sang a solo at King’s funeral.

Blues Guitarist / Vocalist October 21, 1942 — Elvin Bishop is a blues and rock and roll musician. Bishop was born in Glendale, California,

Big Band The Oklahoma City Blue Devils began ca. 1923-24 in Kansas City as Billy King’s Road Show, a traveling vaudeville troupe. While trombonist

Alto Saxophonist April 25, 1913 – October 28, 1965 Earl Bostic, best known as an alto saxophonist, composer and arranger, but also an accomplished

Educator February 6, 1880 – October 31, 1956 Our very first inductee into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of FameZelia Breaux, a renowned musician and

R&B Vocalist January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006 Born Ruth Alston Weston in Portsmouth, Virginia, she attended I. C. Norcom High School, a

Gospel Composer and Vocalist Oct. 29, 1905- Nov. 15, 1977 Albert Edward Brumley was a gospel music giant, a composer and singer best known

Gospel Pianist / Arranger / Conductor July 5, 1949 – December 7, 2007 Glenn Edward Burleigh was the first of three children born to

Guitarist / Vocalist The Burton Band is an entertainment fixture in Oklahoma City and one of the premiere bands in the State of Oklahoma.

Tenor Saxophonist Carlos Wesley “Don” Byas was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1912 Both of Byas’s parents were musical: his mother played the piano

Blues Guitarist / Vocalist / Songwriter John Weldon Cale December 5, 1938 – July 26, 2013 John Weldon Cale, known as JJ Cale or

Vocalist / Composer November 28, 1950 – February 2001 Born Deborah Ruth Vorhies on November 28, 1950 in Forth Worth, Texas, Debbie received her

Trumpeter (November 18, 1936 – October 19, 1995) He was an innovative African-American jazz trumpeter whose career began with a long association with saxophonist

Guitarist Charles Henry “Charlie” Christian (July 29, 1916 – March 2, 1942) was an American swing and jazz guitarist Christian was an important early

Saxophonist / Band Leader / Educator August 26, 1951 – June 28, 2010 Willie Earl Clark was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a

Guitarist February 16, 1944 – Present An Oklahoma native, Tommy Crook began his musical career at the age of four, when his father Buck

Vocalist A native Oklahoman, Pam began her career singing jazz in New York City, where she sang in a band that included pianist Duke

Gospel Choir Director, Pianist December 11, 1947 — Tulsan Joey Hobart Crutcher has a long career in music despite the fact that his music

Blues Guitarist September 21, 1944 – June 22, 1988 2002 Blues Inductee Jesse Ed Davis was born in Norman, Oklahoma on September 21, 1944

Gospel For most of his life, Elmer L. Davis, Sr. pursued a dual career as a director of sacred music for his church, Paradise

Alto Saxophone / Clarinet Oklahoma sax-man and clarinet player Rae DeGeer was inducted into the Jazz category of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame

Band Leader Sep. 27, 1903 – Apr. 22, 1995 Alfred Stanley Dennie was born in Wellston, Oklahoma, on September 27, 1903. He was one

Jazz Pianist Inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2012, George L. Dennie was best known as a Tulsa jazz pianist and

Gospel Vocalist Ernestine Dillard, from Bixby, is perhaps best remembered for her April 23, 1995 performance, when she electrified 11,000 mourners and a national

R&B Vocalist Clarence Dixon, who lived in Tulsa most of his life, anchored the famous Ernie Fields Band for decades as its drummer. Dixon

Gospel Pianist July 1, 1899 – January 23, 1993 During the early 1930s, Thomas Dorsey created gospel music — the African American religious music

Arranger / Band Leader 1927 – 1983 Ken Downing was a lifelong Tulsa resident with a national reputation as a bandleader, composer, arranger and

Band Leader / Pianist April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974 Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an

Blues Vocalist Dorothy “Miss Blues” Ellis was not only musically accomplished, but academically — having earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the University

Musician / Novelist Ralph Waldo Ellison (March 1, 1914 – April 16, 1994) Ralph Ellison was inducted into the Jazz category of the Oklahoma

Jazz Dance / Choreographer December 21, 1945 — Faison was born in Washington, D.C. where he studied dance with the Jones-Haywood Capitol Ballet and

Band Leader / Saxophonist Ernie Fields Jr. is the son of the bandleader and promoter Ernie Fields Sr. Ernie Jr. grew up in the

Trombonist / Band Leader August 26, 1905 – May 11, 1997 Ernie Fields was an African American trombonist, pianist, arranger and bandleader. After graduating

Vocalists Inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2012, the Fisk Jubilee Singers are vocal artists and students at Fisk University in

Vocalist April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996 Born in Newport News, Virginia in 1917, Ella Fitzgerald, “The First Lady of Song” is one

Drummer Artt Frank Bop drummer/composer/lyricist, is best known for his long-term association with trumpeter immortal Chet Baker, with whom he worked for well over

Vocalist, Guitarist, Songwriter March 31, 1921 – March 7, 1999 Born on March 31, 1921, in Tulsa to parents of Choctaw and African American

Pianist, Producer Charles V. “Chuck” Gardner, originally from Iowa, has been a force on the Oklahoma jazz scene since 1992, when he began producing

Trumpeter / Band Leader October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993 Dizzy Gillespie was one of the principal developers of bop in the early

Pianist, Organizer, Vocalist Earl Grant (January 20, 1931 — June 10, 1970) was an American pianist, organist, and vocalist popular in the 1950s and

Pianist / Band Leader / Educator Musician, educator, nightclub owner, jazz promoter and community stalwart, Gray played keyboard for major entertainers such as Sammy

Tenor Saxophone Wardell Gray (February 13, 1921 – May 25, 1955) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist who straddled the swing and bebop periods.

Blues Band Leader Born in Beggs, Oklahoma, Jimmy “Cry Cry” Hawkins had plans of becoming a football star. After an injury and several operations,

Non-performing artist April 4, 1944 — August 10, 2004 Born in Tulsa, Johnny David Henry grew up in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. In 1959, John founded

Trombonist/Band Leader/Recording Artist/Educator Conrad Herwig is a jazz trombonist from New York City. Herwig is an alumnus of University of North Texas College of

Trumpet 1935 — Billy Hunt was born in Grove, Oklahoma, in 1935. Hunt graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a major in music.

Gospel Vocalist Born as Mahala Jackson and nicknamed “Halie”, Jackson grew up in the Black Pearl section of the Carrollton neighborhood of Uptown New

Guitarist Tulsan guitarist Pat Kelley, now residing in Los Angeles, has toured more than thirty countries and worked more than 2,000 sessions as a

Guitarist October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004 Barney Kessel became a guitarist by accident. In 1935, he was selling newspapers on a street

Gospel Choir January 26, 1947 – April 14, 2011 Kenneth E. Kilgore, Minister of Music of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City,

Guitarist October 14, 1922 — July 18, 1983 Jimmy Liggins, the younger brother of fellow Jazz Hall inductee Joe Liggins, was born in Newby,

R&B Pianist July 9, 1915 – July 26, 1987 Joe Liggins was an R&B, jazz, and blues pianist who was the frontman in the

Saxophonist/Band Leader January 25, 1908 – January 18, 1998 Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Clarence Love moved with his family to Kansas City in 1912. 

Gospel Vocalist January 11, 1948 — Madeline Manning Mims is an author, international speaker, and contemporary gospel recording artist. Her capability as an outstanding

Arranger/Pianist/Band Leader April 11, 1947 — January 30, 2004 Born in Tulsa, Frank Mantooth was a pianist, composer, arranger, clinician, and educator who resided

Blues Harmonica James “Junior” Markham grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and developed an interest in music from listening to blues radio, hearing records of

Guitarist November 1941 — Anthony “Tony” Mathews, Oklahoma-born blues guitarist and vocalist, has recorded and toured with Ray Charles, Little Richard, Billy Preston, and

Drummer/Producer/Composer/Arranger Bill Maxwell was born in Oklahoma City, but now lives in Los Angeles, California. Maxwell started playing drums professionally at the age of

Bassist/Band Leader/Educator May 19, 1935 — Cecil McBee, world-acclaimed Bassist, was born and raised in Tulsa,Oklahoma. His musical career began at high school, where he

Gospel Vocalist March 16, 1932 — October 24, 1999 Matthew McClarty played music for over 60 years, dedicating the last 35-40 to gospel music

Trumpeter March 6, 1918 – July 17, 1987 Howard McGhee was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in Detroit, Michigan. During his career, he

Blues Bassist/Vocalist Oklahoma bluesman, bassist, vocalist and songwriter Robbie Mack McLerran is keeping the Blues alive, inducted into the Blues category of the Oklahoma

Pianist/Band Leader January 12, 1916 – December 7, 2006 Jay McShann was a Grammy Award-nominated blues, mainstream jazz, and swing bandleader, pianist, and singer.

Drummer/Vocalist July 31, 1907 – September 18, 1983 Milton’s grandmother was a Chickasaw. He was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and grew up on an

Guitarist/Bassist/Vocalist January 28, 1935 – May 6, 2008 Blues singer and guitarist D. C. Minner was born on January 28, 1935. Prior to leaving

Opera and Gospel Artist October 13, 1949 — Opera singer Leona Mitchell was born in Enid, Oklahoma, to Rev. Hulon and Pearl Olive Leatherman

Trumpeter Melvin Moore, originally from Tulsa and now a New Yorker \, wanted to be a singer since he was eight years old. He

Gospel & Jazz Pianist/Band Leader Pianist and vocalist Pat Moore first became involved with sacred music at nine years old, when she became one

Guitarist/Harmonica/Vocalist/Recording Artist November 18, 1952 — February 3, 2003 Ace Moreland was born in Miami, Oklahoma, in 1952. He was part Cherokee. A guitar

Drummer Born September 21st, 1936 Inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2012, James Marcellus “Sunny” Murray was one of the early

Blues Guitarist April 3, 1934 – December 18, 1983 Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jimmy “Chank” Nolen took up the guitar at the age

Gospel Vocalist March 19, 1953 — Carlton D’Metrius Pearson is a minister and singer. Pearson attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, where he was

Jazz Saxophonist June 18, 1941 — February 10, 1992 As a pioneer of fusion jazz, Jim Pepper is credited with combining elements of jazz

Bassist/Cellist Pettiford was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma; his mother was Choctaw and his father was half Cherokee and half African American. He grew up

Gospel Vocalist Sara Jordan Powell, a fourth-generation member of the Church of God in Christ, Inc., serves as the International Executive Director of Fine

Gospel Vocalist Reverend Cortes Rex was inducted into the Gospel category of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2014. Rex was raised in

Blues Guitarist Blues guitarist Johnny George Rogers was born in Tulsa, to a family of noted musicians. His parents, Roger F. Sr., and Lucy

Vocalist The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is honored to present Annie Ross with the Jay McShann Lifetime Achievement Award. Ross is one of the early practitioners

Vocalist/Band Leader/Songwriter February 8, 1936 — Born in Haskell, Oklahoma, Ray D. Rowe moved to Tulsa at age nine.  While in high school at Booker

Alto Saxophonist May 12, 1912 – May 5, 1995 Marshall Royal was an American clarinetist and alto saxophonist best known for his work with

Drummer March 5, 1937 — 1998 Inductee Washington Irving Rucker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 5th, 1937 and attended local schools through

Vocalist, Pianist August 26, 1901 – June 8, 1972 Jimmy Rushing was born into a family with musical talent and accomplishments. His father, Nherhu Keith Rochester,

Clarinetist Charles Ellsworth “Pee Wee” Russell grew up in Muskogee learning to play the violin, piano, drums before deciding that the clarinet would be

Pianist/Educator/Band Leader/Arranger A commanding and dynamic pianist, Donald Ryan has been called “a music kaleidoscope, sparkling at everything he plays.” This “everything” encompasses the

Gospel Vocalist 1935-2015 October 3, 1921 – 1996 Evangelist Jessie Mae Renfro Sapp was born to Nesiah and Jessie Hayes, in 1921 in Waxahachie,

Harmonica/Piano/Keyboard 1935-2015 Rudy Scott was a self-taught harmonica, piano and keyboard player born in Waco, Texas. After performing with the Ernie Fields Band for

Bassist/Band Leader/Educator Lynn Seaton has had a stellar career as a jazz bassist. Born in Oklahoma in 1957, he started playing the bass at

Dance Band The Shadow Lake Eight is a legendary dance band that came out of the Oklahoma State University campus at Stillwater in 1958,

Pianist/Composer Lee Shaw studied classical music from the age of five and continued without interruption – even during the summers – until she had

Band Leader Leslie Sheffield Sr., jazz pianist, composer and arranger, was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on June 11, 1910. He taught himself to play

Saxophonist Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Harold (“Hal”) Singer studied violin as a child but, as a teenager, switched to clarinet and then tenor saxophone,

Gospel Vocalist Claude Columbus Skinner was born in Clarkesville, Tennessee. In his early teens, he began his commitment to religious music. By 1920 he

Blues Guitarist/Band Leader David Skinner, born in Henrietta, Texas, began singing on stage at the young age of eight years old. His mother and

Trombonist/Educator/Band Leader Maurice Spears has played an integral role in the music business for more than four decades. Among his many accolades, his peers

Bassist/Educator/Band Leader March 9, 1935 — Bassist Louie Spears, a native of Oklahoma City, was born into a family of music aficionados. Louie became interested

Vocalist July 21, 1922 — Kay Starr was born Katherine Laverne Starks on a reservation in Dougherty, Oklahoma. Her father, Harry, was a full-blooded

Blues Vocalist February 16, 1934 – October 2, 1987 Born Austin Taylor in Okmulgee in 1934, blues inductee Ted Taylor got his musical start

Jazz Clark Terry was born in St. Louis, Missouri on December 14th, 1920. He attended Vashon High School there and began his professional career

Saxophonist February 10, 1907 – August 26, 1981 Born in Muskogee, Walter ‘Foots’ Thomas began his musical career in college, playing saxophone with local

Bass Guitarist June 9, 1964 – May 15, 2009 Wayman Lawrence Tisdale was an American professional basketball player in the NBA and a smooth

Blues Guitarist June 17, 1948 — Glenn R. Townsend, born in Sulphur, Oklahoma, moved to Tulsa at the age of four. His music career

Guitarist David T. Walker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1941 and grew up in the Watts section of Los Angeles. Inspired by his

Accordionist Julia, born July 8, 1922, in Honea Path, South Carolina, moved to Tulsa with her family, where her father began his infamous barbeque

Fiddler/Bandleader/Blues March 3, 1887 – August 9, 1960 Inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2012, Hart A. Wand was an American

Jazz/Blues Vocalist Native Oklahoman Maxine Weldon was reared in Bakersfield, California, where she developed an early liking for country music but heeded her parents

Vocalist October 9, 1908 — December 11, 1975 Wiley was born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. While still in her early teens, she left home

Gospel Organist April 1939 – March 1993 Floyd Wiley was a native Tulsan who taught music, voice and elementary education at Beggs and Tulsa

Stephen L. Wiley is recognized as the first artist to have recorded a full-length Christian rap album. Wiley was born and grew up in

Saxophonist/Educator/Band Leader/Composer Steve Wilkerson began his professional career at age 11, in Ramona, Oklahoma, when he joined his father’s dance band. He attended the

Jazz Violinist February 22, 1908 – April 26, 2004 Claude “Fiddler” Williams was born on February 22, 1908 in Muskogee, Oklahoma and by the

Composer Uncle Wallace Willis (sometimes Wallis Willis) was a Choctaw freedman living in the Indian Territory. He is credited with composing several Negro spirituals.

Vocalist December 22, 1935 — July 17, 2011 Joe Lee Wilson was born on December 22, 1935 in Bristow, Oklahoma, and grew up on

Educator and Trombonist Terry Woodson is a native Tulsan who spent a number of years as a music teacher and performer in Tulsa before moving to

Arranger and Drummer Inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2012, arranger and drummer Joe Wright has worked in all mediums of