Junior and Little Joe at Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame welcomes blues virtuosos Junior Markham and Little Joe McLerran to the Jazz Depot stage in a concert for every blues lover.

Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee James “Junior” Markham grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and developed an interest in music from listening to blues radio, hearing records of Roy Orbison, and experiencing Elvis Presley perform live at the Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion in 1956. Markham landed his first record deal in Los Angeles with Capital Records, later performing with Leon Russell, J.J. Cale, Carl Radle, and Ace Moreland; he recorded with Jimmy Reed, Albert King, Buddy Holly’s Crickets, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Jerry Lee Lewis, A.C. Reed, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Rolling Stones Pianist Bobby Keyes. Regarded as a blues institution, Markham is known for pulling the best out of anyone who plays with him....

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The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame welcomes blues virtuosos Junior Markham and Little Joe McLerran to the Jazz Depot stage in a concert for every blues lover.

Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee James “Junior” Markham grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and developed an interest in music from listening to blues radio, hearing records of Roy Orbison, and experiencing Elvis Presley perform live at the Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion in 1956. Markham landed his first record deal in Los Angeles with Capital Records, later performing with Leon Russell, J.J. Cale, Carl Radle, and Ace Moreland; he recorded with Jimmy Reed, Albert King, Buddy Holly’s Crickets, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Jerry Lee Lewis, A.C. Reed, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Rolling Stones Pianist Bobby Keyes. Regarded as a blues institution, Markham is known for pulling the best out of anyone who plays with him.

Little Joe McLerran has been playing the guitar and singing his piedmont blues since he was eight years old, winning his first International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2009 at age 25. Since winning the IBC title, Little Joe has played festivals, concerts and clubs, touring the United States and abroad. As part of The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad—hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Education and Cultural Affairs Bureaus—Little Joe and his band embarked on a month-long tour around the Persian Gulf. As the first Americans to ever play a public concert in Riyadh, Little Joe and his band played the blues for the capitol city of Saudi Arabia. Little Joes has toured on four continents, adding South America to his list as the musical ambassador to Paraguay.

To enjoy the jazz, call Bettie Downing at (918) 281-8609 and purchase your tickets. General Admission tickets are only $10.00, or $20.00 for Reserved Table Seating.

The event is a part of the Jazz Hall’s Fall Concert Series.

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural and educational organization, with a mission to inspire creativity and improve the quality of life for all Oklahomans through preservation, education, and performance of jazz, our uniquely American art form.

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