2020 OK Blues Hall of Fame Inductees

Boz Scaggs is a Grammy-winning, chart-topping blues, jazz, and R&B singer/songwriter and performer. He served as guitarist and occasional lead singer with the Steve Miller Band in the 1960s, and in the ’70s gained fame with several solo Top 20 hit singles in the United States, including the hits “Lido Shuffle” and “Lowdown” from the critically acclaimed multi-platinum proto-disco breakthrough album Silk Degrees (1976), which peaked at number two in the Top 200.

Scaggs’ earthy tenor ranges wide across virtually any material he chooses to sing. His laid-back delivery belies his intense focus and passion. His recordings run the gamut from earthy blues and R&B dates to pop standards to jazz and rock, cut with some of the finest musicians in the business. While he records infrequently, when he does it’s an event. More recent recordings — including 1997′s Come on Home, 2013′s Memphis, 2015′s A Fool to Care, and 2018′s Out of the Blues  — all reflect his lifelong obsession with R&B, soul, and blues that originally captured his attention as a high-school student and budding musician in Plano, Texas. In addition, his live appearances, particularly with the all-star Dukes of September touring group that included Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen , have underscored that assertion.

Born William Royce Scaggs in Ohio on June 8, 1944, he was raised in Oklahoma and Texas, and while attending prep school in Dallas met guitarist Steve Miller . Scaggs joined Miller ’s group the Marksmen as a vocalist in 1959, and the pair later attended the University of Wisconsin together, where they played in blues bands like the Ardells and the Fabulous Knight Trains. Scaggs returned to Dallas alone in 1963, fronting an R&B unit dubbed the Wigs; after relocating to England, the group promptly disbanded, and two of its members — John Andrews and Bob Arthur — soon formed Mother Earth . Scaggs remained in Europe, singing on street corners. He also recorded a failed solo acoustic LP for Polydor in Sweden entitled Boz (as “William R. Scaggs”), before returning to the U.S. two years later.

Upon settling in San Francisco, he reunited with Miller, joining the fledgling Steve Miller Band; after recording two acclaimed albums with the group, Children of the Future and Sailor in 1968, Scaggs exited to mount a solo career. With the aid of Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner, Scaggs next secured a contract with Atlantic. Sporting a cameo from Duane Allman , 1968′s soulful Boz Scaggs failed to find an audience despite winning critical favor, and the track “Loan Me a Dime” later became the subject of a court battle when bluesman Fenton Robinson sued (successfully) for composer credit. After signing to Columbia, Scaggs teamed with producer Glyn Johns to record 1971′s Moments, a skillful blend of rock and R&B which, like its predecessor, failed to make much of an impression on the charts. Scaggs remained a critics’ darling over the course of LPs like 1972′s My Time and 1974′s Slow Dancer, but he did not achieve a commercial breakthrough until 1976′s Silk Degrees, which reached number two on the album charts while spawning the Top Three single “Lowdown,” as well as the smash “Lido Shuffle.”

Released in 1977, Down Two Then Left was also a success, and 1980′s Middle Man reached the Top Ten on the strength of the singles “Breakdown Dead Ahead” and “Jo Jo.” However, Scaggs spent much of the ’80s in retirement, owning and operating the San Francisco nightclub Slim’s and limiting his performances primarily to the club’s annual black-tie New Year’s Eve concerts. Finally, he resurfaced in 1988 with the album Other Roads, followed three years later by a tour with Donald Fagen ’s Rock and Soul Revue. The solo effort Some Change appeared in 1994, with Come on Home and My Time: The Anthology (1969-1997) both released in 1997. The newly energized Scaggs spent the next few years consistently releasing new material, including Fade into Light , Dig , and a collection of standards called But Beautiful . An expanded reissue of Silk Degrees and Runnin’ Blue (a recording of a 1974 performance) appeared in 2007, and Speak Low saw him reinterpreting a number of jazz standards in 2008. Scaggs toured as a member of the Dukes of September in 2012; the group’s other principals included Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen.

Scaggs emerged from his recorded silence in March of 2013 with the Steve Jordan-produced Memphis, a collection of original and cover tunes. Recorded at Willie Mitchell ’s Royal Studio in the city, the album was meant to reflect the heritage of the Southern soul tradition in the 21st century. In 2014, Scaggs — with Jordan again as his producer — booked four days at Nashville’s famed Blackbird Studio with a core band from Memphis. They enlisted top-flight Music City session players as well as guests Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams to supplement the sessions. A Fool to Care, released by 429 in 2015, showcased covers of classic soul, NOLA R&B, rock & roll, country covers, and new material. After successful tours of the U.S., Europe, and Japan — both solo and with the Dukes of September — Scaggs returned to the studio to complete his “roots trilogy” begun on Memphis and A Fool to Care, that expressed his lifelong love of great blues and R&B.

He’d been mining the music throughout his career but began paying homages in earnest with the aforementioned covers set Come on Home. He recorded the material of iconic soul-blues singers such as Bobby “Blue” Bland, Jimmy Reed, and Magic Sam, as well as delivering an unexpected reading of Neil Young ’s “On the Beach,” and included original compositions by songwriter Jack Walroth. For the occasion, Scaggs produced the set, and assembled a star-studded studio band that included guitarists Doyle Bramhall II , Ray Parker, Jr., and Charlie Sexton, bassist Willie Weeks, drummer Jim Keltner, keyboardist Jim Cox  and Walroth on harmonica. Scaggs played guitar and bass. Preceded by the May issue of the single “Rock and Stick,” the album Out of the Blues was released in July of 2018. It hit number one on the blues charts and spent more than six months in the Top Ten. ~ Jason Ankeny

Tulsa; drums; in addition to playing with J.J. Cale and being called “Eric Clapton’s Best Drummer” he played with Freddie King, Bob Seeger, Albert Collins many more and has helped Dr. Bob Blackburn of the OHS create exhibits at OK POP; the Museum being built in Tulsa up near the Cains Ballroom.. Jamie was a very sweet and giving man, beloved by many of his fellow musicians.

Tulsa; drummer lots of jazz, but also Blues…toured with Bob Seeger and many more…will be inducted and also in the OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER category with his recording studio across from the Church Street Studio (think Leon Russell) to help create a MUSIC ALLEY in Tulsa. Works with youth as well.

Tulsa drums… totally in demand, he does the job so well ..works often with OBHOF inductee Leon Rollerson

“I’ve been chunkin’ away at guitar since I was 8. I’m old enough now to know better but I still do it anyway. I’ve been in some great bands and filled in with clunkers. Been told I have ‘big ears’. Not much I can’t play but some I won’t. Consider myself lucky right now to play with some of the best musicians I’ve ever played with in my life (Yea! Tulsa!). Besides that, they’re just cool to be around. RIAA Modern Studio Techniques in 1983; recording and live sound adept; Halsey Institute of Music and Entertainment Business in 2000; Jim Halsey Company employee since 2002. Produced a handful of CDs, nothing major, but pretty damn good anyway. Three albums on a deserted island: Todd Rundgren’s ‘Healing’, CSN first album, any one of the first six Steely Dan albums, in no particular order. Can converse somewhat learnedly but opinionatedly on just what the “Tulsa Sound” is. Love what Tulsa brings to the plate musically from Roy Clark to Janet Rutland to Steve Pryor to Hanson.”

Tulsa area, Mike has the BIG BAND; Education Award… he brings the largest group of musicians….(well, really, it is between him and his band-leading friend OBHOF Inductee Jim Davis of Checotah High School.) Big Mike sings the blues, styling his vocal arrangements to fit the big band era of the tune, some 30 musicians playing together….. wonderful!

vocals, OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER created a DVD Documentary, called “Celebrating Deep Deuce, ‘The Lady’ Second Street” This DVD chronicles the transition of the Charlie Christian Jazz Festival from Venues to the street..the work and commitment and people it took to get the Festival outdoors on Deep Deuce – demolishing a broken building, for one thing…It is a great story!

Oklahoma City-born musician lived the first part of his childhood in Kansas City, Mo.

Taylor started drums at age 11, with his stepfather, Ashley Monroe Taylor Jr. Bandleader and bass player, would take13-year-old Taylor, along for his first club gig. So whenever the band took a break, he would have to sit outside until break was over. By the time he was 14, he’d be performing in the legendary Deep Deuce District. At 16, taking leadership for popular High School band, Bold Underground, eventually becoming an opening act for their favorite group, Kool & The Gang. Desiring more, Taylor would migrate into funk, soul, and Gospel bands.

Uptown Syndicate: First recording opportunity. Uptown/You’re a Woman would be released on Fat City Records, and Taylor found himself touring the renowned Chittin Circuit. Manager, Pete Tyler, from Stax Records, knew all the stops to sustain major airplay. Uptown would release another single featuring Taylor, on a partial lead verse. Just Be Yourself/Bloaded, again would take them to the road in support of the new release, and received major airplay. The group would open for The Impressions, Rufus and Chaka Khan, The Ohio Players, and many more. Touring Kansas City, Mo. Uptown would hook up with Bloodstone rivals, The Talisman; singing group, arranging and recording their single in Oklahoma City. Shady Side of Town/Running From the Devil, would be released and showcased in Kansas City, and the record was a huge regional success.

Jokers Y-ilde: This popular group would gain the favor of RCA Records executives. Also would open for Frankie Beverly and Maze, S.O.S., Rodger and Zapp, Kool & The Gang, just to name a few. This would be Taylor’s first songwriting/producer experience. Nothing But A Party/Very Special Love, would be released and would rival mainstream artist. The industry would change and the group would disband. In 2009, Uptown Syndicate, and Jokers Y-ilde would be inducted into The Oklahoma Historical Society Funk and Soul Exhibition and book, Another Hot Oklahoma Nights, A Rock and Roll Story.

After Five Jazz: After 5: Considered the young lions… After 5 Jazz, would become talk of the touring circuit, opening world-class artist like, Midnight Star, Barney Kessel, George Benson, Alex Bugnon, Nancy Wilson, Little Milton, Freddy Jackson, LaLah Hathaway, just to name a few. Producer Taylor, would fly to New York with Executive producer, Steven D. Jones to sign a distribution deal with Warlock Records, for Jones Chez Nous Record label. The CD release of Expressions, would go worldwide. Featured on major jazz stations, in rotation with the top names in the business. BET’s Jazz Central, Art Good’s, Jazz Trax, Jazz Times Magazine, etc. While in studio working on next project, group would disband.

Garrett “Big G” Jacobson: “Blues, Soul, Sensation” Year, 2000…Taylor get called to fill in for Garrett’s drummer who didn’t show for the gig… and has been working with every since! Recorded two CD’s, Soul Buffett. And “Live” In Person. Won The 2002 Oklahoma Blues Society Blues Competition, to compete in the IBC, International Blues Competition in Memphis, TN. Played BB Kings. Bricktown Blues Festivals, Dusk ‘Till Dawn Blues Festival, Rentiesville, Ok. Arcadia Blues Festivals, Acadia, Ok. Medicine Park Blues Festival, Medicine Park, Ok. 2013 Chicago Blues Festival, Rosa’s Lounge, Chicago, Ill, Kingston Mines, Chicago, Blu Fonk Blues Movement “The Big Blues Show” I, II, III, Oklahoma City, Ok. Belle Isle Brewery Blues Festival 2019, Okc, and the UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond, Ok. Home base.

Mothers Day 2004: Debut Walter Taylor III & The BisquitHead Allstars 2005 Charlie Christian Battle of Band. International Music Festival, 2006 Charlie Christian Festival, 2007 Charlie Christian International Music Festival, The Walter Taylor Band, and Jam Session

Walter Taylor III/TaylorMadeJazz: Debut 2009 Charlie Christian Music Festival. In 2010 Taylor would return to Deep Deuce to talk owners of The Sage Lounge, about bringing jazz back to the Deuce. They agreed. On April 30, 2010, Walter Taylor III/TaylorMadeJazz kicked off the first of many Saturday night sessions. Which led to the first, and last Deep Deuce Festival, put on by the residence and business owners

Deep Deuce and Beyond: Written by Historian/Educator, Anita Arnold features Taylor, and many of his photos and groups he’s worked with over the years. In 20010, “The Doctor” became a recipient of the prestigious Charlie Christian Award for his work in Jazz.

Taylor connected with Musician and Playwright, Tyrone Stanley and became percussionist for his many projects. Wings of Harmony toured New York City, and other cities for his award winning Wings of Harmony choir. Touring Musical, Soul On Fire, would showcase to a sold out, The Kennedy Center. Featuring Stanley, singer Shirley Murdock, and cast. With, “The Doctor” operating from the Pit.

Blu Fonk Movement; Is one of Taylors many efforts to revitalize blues in Oklahoma City and beyond. Not as much of a band as it is a movement, Blu Fonk is the umbrella label Taylor applies to the multiple projects. “We’re just trying to start a movement here that hasn’t been started, because in our community, the blues no longer exists, he said.

Blu Fonk was born in 2014 as an entrant into the International Blues Challenge music competition. Taylor’s band included members “Sir” James Walker Sr. (guitar and lead vocals), Larry Banks (saxophone), Danny White (harmonica and vocals) and Vernon King (bass). They advanced into the finals in Memphis; Tennessee He has gathered musicians to compete every year since. “I don’t go in there to win; I go in to play the best that we can play,” he said. “If we win, we’ll take it.”

Beyond competition, Taylor also organizes showcases around the city, and is Musical Director for Dallas, Tx, based, I.A.F. International Artist Festivals. I’ve been blessed to back up recording artist, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Dr. Wayne Goins, Joe Settlemires, Hank Marr, Little Joe Blue, Barbra Mason, Little Jonnie Taylor, Tremaine Hawkins, Tim Minor, T.J. Hooker, and many others.

But my biggest support came from the late Sir James Walker Sr. and Miss Blues, Dorothy Ellis. She was with me when we started the movement… and I was with her when the Angels took her home. Miss Blues endorsed and encouraged some of the top up and coming musicians to play along side their seasoned colleagues. “The Big Blues Show,” is a culmination of the music from the community, normally during the Thanksgiving weekend, when we all give thanks. Bringing blues back to a true respectability is an important mission to him because he recognizes it as the groundwork of a larger culture and the countless genres that sprang from “I saw how personal it was, how spiritual it was…,” he said. “When you get deep into the authentic blues, that’s where you really see it happen. Remember… The Blues is Still…. ALRIGHT!

Tim Mitchell Biography: If ever apply the phrase “He can’t help himself, it’s in his blood”, it would have to be when describing Tim Mitchell.

In 1955, in the little town of Enid, Oklahoma, Thelma gave birth to Timothy Lee Mitchell. It did not take his mother long to realize that the family talent had continued to pass along. She began teaching Tim guitar when he was just three years old and by the time he was fourteen, he was already performing with local bands in clubs throughout the state. Tim’s mother came from a family of 15, most all of whom were musicians. His grandfather, Hulon Mitchell, played virtually any instrument he wanted. His grandmother–“Mother Pearl” as she was called–was a gifted piano player and teacher. His aunt, a famous opera singer who has performed with Pavarotti himself.

With fifteen talented children to support, Tim’s grandparents formed a group called “The Famous Musical Mitchells” and they really were famous in the Midwest, producing and performing mostly gospel music across the land. One of these children, steeped in the musical traditions of the day, was Thelma Mitchell. Thelma was the group’s keyboard player and performed double duty as an upright bass player as well. Blessed with a terrific singing voice as well, she truly had music in her blood.

Just like his grandfather, Tim played keyboards, bass guitar and sang. Tim continued this musical education throughout the late 60’s and on into the 70’s, before moving to Philadelphia and forming his own group, a Funk/R&B band called “Sound Check.” They soon became one of the hottest bands in the area, enjoying a great run for a number of years before Tim once again felt the urge to grow and expand his horizons.

Tim was invited to join and play bass for the famous, “Stylistics” on their world tour and even wrote two songs for them, producing and recording one on their 1985 hit release, “A Special Style.”

Tim went on to join the famous, “Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes” which again took him around the world in ‘86 and ’87. He even had the rare privilege of touring with The Man himself, Mr. James Brown. Oh, what a year that was! However, the growth and wealth of experiences did not stop there. Tim was invited to join the “The Drifters” a stint lasting for six years. This period saw Tim really pushing forward his vocal talents, in addition to his skills with guitar, bass and keyboards and he remained with them, singing and performing all of their many hits, until 1999. It was finally beginning to settle in that it was time to put all of his musical education into something else. During his time with the Drifters, Tim had met and fell in love with, Mallorca, Spain. But it was not just the island Tim fell in love, he also fell in love with a popular singer he had met named Sharon (originally from Brooklyn, NY).Sharon soon became his wife and singing partner, travelling and performing together throughout Europe.

Tim met the famed Spanish rock guitarist, Warner Brothers (Spanish Division) recording artist, Javier Vargas and was invited to join Javier’s band, “The Vargas Blues Band.” Javier has played with some of the greats in the blues and rock world, including Carlos Santana, Buddy Guy and even Prince. Tim has written numerous songs for the Vargas Blues Band and has recorded six of these songs, five on a previous CD release and one on his newest CD, due out in March of 2008. When not on stage or in the studio with Vargas, Tim performs his own material with his band, “The Tim Mitchell Band.” This band affords Tim the opportunity to fully explore his talents with singing and song writing; and applying his vast musical education in new and ever expanding ways. Tim wants to take his band and their music on the road, doing both US and European tours. Singer, songwriter, musician (guitar, bass, keyboards, drums), producer and talent extraordinaire, Tim’s broad background with blues, funk, gospel, R&B and soul, bring a unique and yet familiar sound to his music, one that audiences around the world have enjoyed.

You may remember we inducted Poochie a few years back. She sings and brings a party when she comes…the consummate guitarist behind her was her brother Slick Willie Lawson! High School math teacher.

Drums, Tahlequah …15 years with Miss ‘Mama’ Blues ..Dorothy Ellis. Power drummer!

Tammy Ridgeway, is also known in the music industry as Bam Bam and Funkydrummer. She was born September 1, 1959 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was raised in a musical family.

Her love for the drums began early in life as she played in band throughout elementary, middle school and high school. Tammy played her first professional gig at the age of thirteen.

After high school, she experienced life changing events that interrupted her music career, such as: marriage, giving birth to two beautiful daughters and ACL reconstructive surgery on her knee. Tammy is now proudly the grandmother of seven grandsons and she also enjoys cooking; especially for her grandsons.

In 1995, Tammy purchased a drum kit and returned to playing music in Tulsa at local jams. While at the Dusk Til Dawn Festival in 1996, Bam Bam met World renown, “Miss Blues,” Dorothy Ellis and soon became the bands official drummer.

In 1999, Bam Bam played with the band that won Tulsa’s Best Unsigned Blues Band contest. She add to her musical schedule when she also began playing for The Blue Notes band.

Throughout the following years they played at many different music festivals like Dusk til Dawn, Cherokee Casino, venues, events and gatherings. Bam Bam also set in with other projects during this time such as: Selby Minner band and Pat Moss Juke Joint Preacher.

The year 2009 brought joy and sorrow. Joy when her musical talent awarded her as a recipient of the Woody Guthrie Award with Miss Blues and band and then sorrow when her beloved husband of 29 years passed away.

After almost losing her life to a major heart attack in 2013, Bam Bam went on a two-year hiatus to rebuild and rehabilitate her health and her life.

Bam Bam made a come-back in 2015 and played at the Rentiesville Juke Joint Jams and Dusk til Dawn Festival.

She attended the Legends of Blues Cruise Sea of Cortez and played with many of the Legends onboard in 2018.

She jammed with Watermelon Slim at the 2019 Dusk til Dawn Festival.

She revisited the Legends of Blues Cruise Caribbean 2020 where she had the time of her life as she jammed with many of the Legends onboard.

Tammy is now humbled and honored to become an Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame member and continue to play the Blues, spread the love and live the music!

Muskogee OBHOF Inductee Lem Sheppard asked me to include Lawrence Wright as he led the ‘top blues band in Kansas City ‘ for many years.

Lawrence Wright stands behind a keyboard, looking straight at the photographer, and lays his left hand over his heart as he holds a plaque high with his right hand at the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival.

The plaque reads in part: Kansas City Blues Society in recognition of forty years . . . present to Lawrence Wright the lifetime achievement award.

In the late 1950s, Dwight Eisenhower was president, the Cold War was just beginning and a young Elvis Presley was still earning his title as the King of rock ‘n’ roll. At that same time, an 18-year-old Oklahoma man named Lawrence Wright was getting his start in the music business. Now, 57 years later, the young man has solidified himself as a celebrated blues musician.

Lawrence Wright and his band The Outlets will play Saturday night at the Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14th St. The show begins at 9:30 p.m. Cost is $6.

Wright began his career playing keyboards for The Starlighters, which then featured a young Albert Collins. After years on the road, Wright and the rest of The Starlighters were all but retired. That was until The Starlighters held a 1994 reunion show in Kansas City. By then Collins was a bona fide blues legend, but refused to play unless Wright was on stage with him.

“Albert (Collins) is the one who brought him out of retirement,” said Mark Eakin, bass player for The Outlets, Wright’s current backup band. “I was starting my own band, and I was asked to join The Starlighters,” he said. “I did one gig, and it was a total fiasco. Afterwords, I asked Lawrence if he wanted to join my band. The rest is history.”

That nine-year history includes playing 150 to 200 dates a year, sometimes with such notables as Chuck Berry. “(Wright is) pretty much the John Mayall of Kansas City,” Eakin said. “Most of the top acts have played with Lawrence.”

Muskogee, Wichita KS Tony Mathews (OBHOF Inductee) asked me to induct Willie Wright…

“he was so good to me when I was just a kid from the country going up to Muskogee. The Wright brothers played a lot of music in Muskogee in the Churches and that is where Tony met them. Tony reported “had a three piece vocal group and Willie took me under his wing and taught me things on the guitar and I just want to thank him. He has played music all his life and in church the last 30 years, He is still alive.”

Well I started asking questions and found out they were brothers – Lawrence was one of the three!

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER

Scott Booker, founder ACM@UCO in OKC; Education

Working to build a Music Mecca in OKC he has created a new age school which has graduated ten years of students. Music business, Contracts, Recording and Sound Engineering, Guitar and Band Development as well as Singing and Performance.

This is not traditional music instruction which often leaves out guitar and certainly does not teach the business side of the music…( I mean oboe and French horn and how to read jazz improvisations…oh no!) The Academy of Contemporary Music is in Bricktown right by the canal and Mojo’s Blues Club.

Stanley Griggs (Sir Stan), was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma August 11, 1939 and raised in Kansas City Missouri. Graduate of R.T. Coles High School in Kansas City where he studied music majoring in voice, bass guitar and professional drums. Sir Stan played for many years while attending school for the reserved course.

Stan practiced music for many years before moving to the Los Angeles area where he organized and became the band leader for the “Counts of Rhythm and Blues Band”.

Stan became famous for his previous recordings on the Magnum label. He has been entertaining in the L.A. area for over 20 years and across the country for more than 30 years.

“Sir Stan” has appeared with some of the great blues artists all over the world, including John Lee Hooker, Rufus Thomas, Ike and Tina Turner, Jimmy McCracklin, Johnnie Taylor, Etta James, Little Milton, Little Richard, Sugar Pie Suzana, Johnnie Guitar Watson, James Gadson, John Hammond, and many more.

Currently he performs regularly with his band “The Counts Rhythm and Blues Band – featuring Ms. Jackie Jackson” in Los Angles and on national tours. He’s working in the recording studio on a new CD and is looking for a new label.

Memphis, OKC, B.L.A.C. and organizer of the Charlie Christian Festival, also active with the Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame as a Board Member.

I graduated from a high school in 1957 that successfully prepared all students for being high achievers in any career field they chose to enter. Years later, I returned to find the school struggling, left behind with students who were being left behind. The band had no uniforms or instruments and the school had unfairly earned a reputation as low-performing, whose parents, teachers and students did not care.

It was then that I joined the Black Liberated Arts Center, Inc. to bring the arts, arts education, history and heritage to a community that has been deprived of the best in education, arts and a rich history mostly forgotten for the past 40 years.

The work that I have undertaken as Executive Director has been accomplished through writing books about the rich history of African-Americans in Oklahoma City, providing professional development training for classroom teachers, raising money for music instruments, bringing in renowned national educators such as Geoffrey Canada to speak and engaging local motivational speakers such as Mama Durant to engage and encourage parents and community to support children who are mostly overlooked.

I encouraged a teacher in the Oklahoma City Public Schools to apply with my organization to become a partner in education with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. We were selected and chose a very low-performing elementary school of students that had every kind of problem imaginable.

In a matter of four years, it became a “top ten” school in the school district where it has remained for the last 15 years consistently. The school is nationally recognized and a model school for arts integration where teachers use arts to teach every subject in the curriculum.

I have also been able to bring attention to and build a music festival around a forgotten guitar music prodigy, Charlie Christian, who died at the age of 25. He is now an international icon who is a member of every major music hall of fame in the world, including Jazz at Lincoln Center with college courses named after him, and available on the internet in every major country. All of this was initiated by the work of this nonprofit organization.

There are many ways to make contributions to your community that may lead to a wider impact. I had no idea that the work that I so passionately pursued in giving back to my community would yield such phenomenal results that others would model. My only thought was helping my hometown get up from the bottom of the list in education and become known for positive things, instead of negative statistics.

Older workers may still be able to write, tell meaningful stories and provide wisdom from difficult personal experiences that may be inspirational and motivational to generations of people.

Please be patient – this bio will be coming as soon as possible.