JAM: December 2003/January 2004 Issue: Saluting The Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz

SALUTING THE ELDER STATESMEN OF KANSAS CITY JAZZ

For the Past 20 Years KC Jazz and Blues Notables Have Been Honored for a Lifetime of Contributions to a Proud Musical Heritage

Pearl Thuston-Brown circa 1960

Since September of 1983, the Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz -- an incorporated entity of the Mutual Musicians Foundation -- has honored "musicians and music industry professionals for their contributions to performing and promoting the Kansas City style of jazz." Drummer and current Elder Statesmen president Sam Johnson, Jr. was in on the beginnings of this not-for-profit organization, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.

"After the Kansas City Jazz Festival in '83, several of us from the Mutual Musicians Foundation along with Eddie Baker from the Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation began to assess the needs of the senior music community. The Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz, Inc. was then developed."

Over the years there have been several induction ceremonies (see table), and beginning in 1999 the Frank Smith Spirit of Kansas City Jazz Award was established in honor of the late pianist. "The Frank Smith Award is given to recognized musicians and industry supporters for noteworthy accomplishments that have positively impacted Kansas City's jazz and blues community," Johnson says. "We also sponsor neighborhood and community outreach programs that team high school music students with mentoring senior musicians."

And there is the Elder Statesmen Big Band that appears in concert, club and festival settings around the Midwest. Its membership is a "who's who" of the KC jazz scene, past and present.

To become eligible for induction as an Elder Statesman (or Stateswoman) of Kansas City Jazz, a candidate must be at least 60 years old (although exceptions have been made), have identifiable ties to KC's jazz and blues scene, and have a minimum of 30 years in the music business. It can be a crowning achievement to a lengthy and productive career, as pianist/singer and charter member Pearl Thuston-Brown will attest.

"Yes, it was something real special for me," Pearl says. "Music has been a great part of my life -- I first joined the union in 1951 -- so I felt very much at home with everyone when I was inducted in 1983."

Julie Turner & Tommy Ruskin

So, here's to another 20 years for this important organization that honors those who've done so much for Kansas City's rich jazz and blues heritage.
And an FYI for the new year:

The 2004 induction ceremony is being planned for next August in order to coincide with Count Basie's 100th birthday. Stay tuned to these pages for news and updates as the event approaches.

-- Mike Metheny

________________________

The Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz,
1983-present

1983 INDUCTEES
Bernard "Step-Buddy" Anderson
LaVerne Barker
William "Count" Basie
Franz Bruce
Paul Cuminsky
Leon "Hurley" Dennis
Lawrence Denton
Elbert "Coots" Dye
Curtyse Foster
Sherman "Jack" Gibson
L.C. "Speedy" Huggins
Arthur "Art" Jackson, Sr.
Samuel Johnson, Sr.
Ben Kynard
Marcellus M. Lee, Sr.
Samuel "Baby" Lovett
Orville "Piggie" Minor
Milton Morris
Frank Patterson, Jr.
Elmer Price
Glenn R. Richart
Earl Robinson
Adolph Roulette, Jr.
Janie Scates
Roy Searcy
Brice "Bobby" Stafford
"Jumpin' Joe" Joseph Thomas
Pearl Thuston-Brown
Oliver Todd
Herman "Happy Day" Walder
Booker T. Washington
Claude "Fiddler" Williams
Ernest "Ernie" Williams
Junior "J.R." Williams
Ike Whitt

Frank Smith

1988 INDUCTEES
Milton "Milt" Abel
Ahmad Alaadeen
Herman Bell
Marsha C. Bland
Sandra "Sandy" Brown
Alfred Carter
Rufus J. Crawford
John Dellinger
Marshall DeMuynck
Rudolph "Rudy" Dennis
Cameron Gentry
Eugene "Jeep" Griddine
J. Henry Hoard
William Hodges
Robert "Bobby" Hopkins
Harry Jones
Wallace Jones
Ruel Joyce
Lorenzo Manley
Arthur Jefferson
Eddie "Teapot" McClellan
Frank Miller
Lennah Mitchell
John Mosley
Robert "Bob" Ousley
Fiermon Prymus
Wayne Ruppenthal
Verlin "Flip" Stephenson
Oscar "Lucky" Wesley
David Dahoud Williams
Alvin Zanders

1991 INDUCTEES
Samuel Alexander
L.B. Jackie Anderson
Dr. Charmaine Asher-Wiley
Edward "Eddie" Baker
Queen Bey
Edwin "Ed" Billings
Leon Brady, Sr.
Gene Carter
Dr. William "Bill" Clark
Jesse Cole
Carol Comer
William "Bill" Crain
Oscar "Fats" Dennis
Donald Dixon
William Drybread
Pete Eye
Emmett "Moon" Finney
Paul Gunther
Luqman Hamza
Kathryn Harvey
Provine "Little" Hatch
Carroll Jenkins
Carmell Jones
Clarence "Sonny" Kenner
Simon "Cy" Ledgin
Carnell Lyons
Rudy Massingale
James "Jay" McShann
Peter "Pete" McShann
Oscar Charles Minor
Arthur Mitchell
Zella M. Moten-Hunter
Dr. Chauncy Moten
Alfred "Al" Pearson
Godfrey Powell
Perry Reed
Professor Willie Rice (posthumous)
William Reisler
Richard Ross
George Salisbury
Ben Roberts
Robert Simes
Frank Smith, Sr.
Orestie Tucker
Annetta "Cotton Candy" Washington
Calvin Whitmore, Jr.
Dr. Richard "Dick" Wright

1999 INDUCTEES
Dr. Ronnell Bright
Everett Brown
Ronald Brown
Robert Clark
Everett Dodd
Carl Fusaro
David Gambrell
Professor Joseph Hall
Bonnie Ann Harris
Grace "Amazing Grace" Harris
Fred Hicks
William "Bill" Hodge
John Layton
Russell "Russ" Long
Rev. Samuel "Sam" Mann
David McCubbin
Jack McHenry
Irene McLaurian
Harvey "Poppa Duke" Moore
Monroe "Monny" Nash
Lonnie Newton
Geneva Price
Ruth Rhoden
Harold Rucker
Tom N. "Tommy" Ruskin
Myra R. Taylor
Sellie Truitt
Julie Turner
William "Bill" Wilhm

1999 FRANK SMITH AWARDS
Milton "Milt" Abel
Ahmad Alaadeen
Queen Bey
Marsha Clair Bland
Lucile Bluford
Pamela Calvin
Marcie Cecil
Dr. William "Bill" Clark
Joanne Collins
John "Henry" Hoard
Richard "Dickie" Hunter
Arthur "Art" Jackson
Raymond "Cowboy" Jones
Rhonda Chriss Lokeman
James "Jay" McShann
Elmer Price
Fiermon Primus
Ben Roberts (posthumous)
Frank Smith (posthumous)
Donna Stewart
Dr. Rowena Stewart
Oliver Todd
Claude "Fiddler" Williams
Alvin Zanders

2000 INDUCTEES
Vincent J. "Vince" Bilardo
Dr. Leslie E. Becker
Marlin Cooper
Donald "Big Don" Cox
Everette DeVan
Warren Durrett
John Elliott
"Groovy" Grant Hopkins
Mamie C. Hughes
Chris King
Doreen Maronde
Donald Parson
Diane "Mama" Ray
Michael "White Hat Mike" Ross
Ruth G. Shechter
James "Jim" Smith
Rev. Nelson "Fuzzy" Thompson
Richard "Rich" VanSant
Robert Watson, Sr.
Lawrence Wright

2000 FRANK SMITH AWARDS
Thomas Alexios
Edward B. Baker
Vincent J. "Vince" Bilardo
Dr. Leslie E. Becker
Edwin J. Billings (posthumous)
Leon A. Brady
Marlin Cooper
Everette DeVan
Warren Durrett
John Elliott
Sylvester Holmes
"Groovy" Grant Hopkins
GKC Housing Information Center
Mamie C. Hughes
Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors
Clarence "Sonny" Kenner
Chris King
Patricia Jacobs-McDonald
Doreen Maronde
Marrs Music
Marrs Learning Center
Samuel Murrell
Robert L. "Bob" Ousley
Frank Patterson
Alfred J. Pearson
Fiermon Prymus (posthumous)
Diane "Mama" Ray
Professor Willie Rice (posthumous)
Michael "White Hat Mike" Ross
Ruth G. Shechter
Jill E. Shemwell
James "Jim" Smith
Megan Thomas
Rev. Nelson "Fuzzy" Thompson
Orestie "Rusty" Tucker
Richard "Rich" VanSant
Robert Watson, Sr.
Oscar P. "Lucky" Wesley
Calvin Whitmore, Jr.

2002 INDUCTEES
Richard "Dick" Albrecht
Edward B. "Eddie" Baker
LaVerne Barker
Richard "Dick" Berkley
Lee Edward Brown
Ginney Coleman
Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
Rudolph "Rudy" Dennis
Warren R. Durrett
Claude Ford
James "Gat" Gadson
Thomas Harold Gadson (posthumous)
Thomas "Tutty" Gadson
Elvis "Sonny" Gibson
Curtis Harris
Kelsey "K.C. Kelsey" Hill
Laura R. Hockaday
Dr. John Leisenring
Kenneth "Kenny" Lewis
Alex "King Alex" Littlejohn
Archie E. "Arch" Martin
Patricia L. "Pat Wilson" Maxwell
Congresswoman Karen McCarthy
Stephen "Steve" Miller
Earlene Owens
Ober D. Payne
Russell Robertson
Linda Shell
Frank Trumbauer (posthumous)
William F. Trumbauer, Sr. (posthumous)
Harry W. Trotman
Rev. James W. Wilkins
State Rep. Yvonne Wilson

2003 INDUCTEES
Harold Ashby
Priscilla Bowman (posthumous)
Bob Branstetter
Alice Jenkins
Edith Kirk
Marilyn Maye
Paul Smith
Teddy Stewart (posthumous)
Bernice Todd
Jay McShann (Elder Statesman of the Year)

Note: Jazz and blues support organizations such as the Elder Statesmen are in constant need of financial sustenance. For more information call either 816 392-3236 or 913 342-4233, email samanpam@earthlink.net, or send your tax-deductible contributions to:

ELDER STATESMEN OF KANSAS CITY JAZZ, INC.
1130 Westport Road
Kansas City, MO 64111