Jay “Hootie” McShann Jazz Pianist Who Helped Create Kansas City’s Sound
July 15, 2008
Jay McShann, born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on January 12, 1916, was a veteran pianist closely identified with the Kansas City sound of jazz and blues. He relocated to Kansas City in 1936 and organized his first big band by 1939, the Jay McShann Orchestra. He was rediscovered in 1969 and began touring regionally and nationally. As an elder statesman of jazz, McShann maintained a vibrant career for more than 70 years. He died on December 7, 2006.
Jay “Hootie” McShann played with fellow pianist and bandleader Count Basie who together established what came to be known as the Kansas City sound: blues rooted jazz driven by swinging horns laid over a powerful but relaxed rhythmic pulse.
One of the piano men he heard and would be influenced by was Earl “Fatha” Hines whose live broadcasts from Chicago’s Grand Terrace Hotel he would listen to. By 15, he was working with saxophonist Don Byas and other groups across the Southwest.
While traveling to Omaha in 1936, his bus stopped for two hours in Kansas City. McShann walked into a club, heard the music and never left. Within two days, he found work. He absorbed the energetic, blues-drenched style of Pete Johnson and other boogie-woogie masters, and in a city filled with now legendary musicians McShann established himself as a leading pianist and bandleader.
In 1937, he heard saxophonist Charlie Parker playing in a way that he had never heard. Charlie was 17 years old at the time.
Traveling to New York’s Savoy Ballroom in February of 1942 they did a stellar performance that was broadcast live, gaining them a huge audience in the process. Just as they seemed poised to take its place among the Swing era’s elite, WWII and the Petrillo Recording Ban put an end to the group’s rise to the top. As all commercial recording was to come to a halt in August of 1942 the Jay McShann big band made its last recordings on July 2nd. McShann himself was drafted in 1943 and served in the Army during part of World War II. After being discharged he settled in Los Angeles, where he started working with singer Jimmy Witherspoon. Between 1945 and 1950 they found success with a string of R&B flavored recordings like “Money’s Getting’ Cheaper”, “Shipyard Woman Blues”, and the huge hit in ’49 “Ain’t Nobody’s Business”. Sometime in 1950, McShann returned to Kansas City, where he owned a trash-hauling business and limousine service for a few years. Although out of the limelight he never strayed far from music. In December of 1957 he teamed once again with Witherspoon on a date for RCA Victor, after which he spent many years in relative obscurity.
His career picked up momentum once again following a successful European tour in 1969, and for the rest of his life Jay McShann either working solo or leading ensembles of various sizes, handling the vocals himself, performed and recorded frequently, both in the United States and overseas.There was a constant period of production that went from the ’70’s ’80’s ’90’s and amazingly into this century. His records sold very well, and he garnered fame and fortune with a new market of younger listeners.
In 1996 he teamed up with guitarist/producer Duke Robillard for “Hootie’s Jumpin’ Blues” following this with another great record in 1999, “Still Jumpin’ the Blues”, featuring Robillard and Maria Muldaur. They are both on the Stony Plain label.
He appears in “The Last of the Blue Devils,” a 1980 film about Kansas City jazz. He was featured in a documentary about his life in 1978 and his 2003 recording, “Goin’ to Kansas City,” was nominated for a Grammy Award. He appeared in Ken Burns’s 10-part jazz series in 2000 and in a 2003 documentary on the blues directed by Clint Eastwood.
Jay McShann will always be identified with that swinging Kansas City jump blues sound he helped to define. He was fortunate in having had the health, fortitude, and longevity to have enjoyed the benefits reaped after a life long dedication to music. Jay McShann died Dec. 7, 2006 in Kansas City at the age of 90.
Jay “Hootie” McShann left a mark in Kansas City as a memorable pianist and formed the Kansas City jazz and blues sound.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Aquila’s Leo Morton is Appointed UMKC Interim Chancellor, Kansas City, Missouri
July 15, 2008
Leo Morton will serve as interim UMKC chancellor starting August 1, 2008. He is currently chairman of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Board of Trustees.
Gary Forsee, president of the University of Missouri system announced the appointment Monday. MOrton replaces Guy Bailey, named July 2 as president of Texas Tech University.
Morton is the former vice president and chief administrative officer for Aquila Inc. Morton said he was honored by the appointment. He pledged to invole faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends in “important discussions that will shape the future of UMKC.”
Morton will not be a candidate for the permanent position.
UMKC Provost Gail Hackett will continue to run the university on a day-to-day basis.
“Leo will continue to advance the vision and mission of UMKC, building upon the solid foundation that has already been laid,” Forsee said in the release.
Morton graduated from Tuskegee University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and received a master’s degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Morton has held leadership positions at AT&T Microelectronics, AT&T Bell Laboratories, General Motors Corporation, Rust Engineering Co. and Corning Incorporated, a glass company.
Leo Mortons biography is very lengthy in his successful appointments at large corporations. UMKC has appointed a top person in Leo Morton as he serves as the Interim Chancellor for the University.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Soledad O’Brien and Hill Harper to be Honored at Alpha Phi Alpha’s 102nd Anniversary Convention in Kansas City, MO
July 14, 2008
Soledad O’Brien and Hill Harper to be Honored at Alpha Phi Alpha’s 102nd Anniversary Convention in Kansas City, MO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2008
CONTACT:
Monica Wood | MWPR, Inc.
mwood@mwprinc.com
704-430-6300
Kia Green | MWPR, Inc.
443-691-6764
ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. HIGHLIGHTS ACTIVISM, COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING COMMUNITY AT 102ND ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION IN KANSAS CITY, MO
CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, Actor Hill Harper and “The Apprentice” Winner, Dr. Randal Pinkett Among Convention Participants and Award Recipients
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Baltimore, MD (BlackNews.com) - For more than 100 years, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has been committed to serving communities — and it is during its largest yearly gathering where members from across the nation converge upon a city to make a difference. The nation’s first and largest African-American intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity will host its 102nd Anniversary Convention from July 17 - 21, 2008 in Kansas City, MO, and will feature several major community service initiatives focusing on national and local issues.
The convention, “Developing Leaders for Service and Advocacy,” will also have workshops, business sessions and appearances by some of today’s recognized individuals and elected officials, including Soledad O’Brien, Hill Harper, Dr. Randal Pinkett, and Honorary Convention Chair and Alpha Brother Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO).
More than 5,000 participants are expected to attend the convention, hosted at the Kansas City Convention Center and Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The convention is expected to generate from $2-3 million, with 15,000 people passing through the venues.
“This year’s convention is certainly going to be an experience in history in terms of the bold political, social and economic initiatives we will be conducting in Kansas City,” said the fraternity’s 32nd General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. “In keeping with the tradition of the fraternity, Alpha will leave a positive mark on Kansas City, as we have been doing for the rest of the nation for more than a century.”
The five-day convention will kick-off with a Housing Development Mini-Conference on July 17th. The conference will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, and will focus on community and housing development. Kim Kendrick, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will deliver the keynote address.
With the 2008 Presidential election quickly approaching, the fraternity is hosting their “Voteless People is a Hopeless People” Town Hall Forum on Saturday, July 19th. The forum will discuss a variety of political issues, to include: voter education, voter registration and basic civic participation. Baltimore TV newscaster and Alpha Brother Vic Carter will serve as the forum’s moderator. Panelists will include: Alpha Brother Kevin Powell, and representatives from National Coalition of Black Civic Participation, Democratic Political Party, Republican Political Party, and Author Keli Goff.
Dr. Randal Pinkett, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of BCT Partners will headline the Public Program on Sunday, July 20. Pinkett, a fraternity brother, is widely recognized as the first African-American winner of NBC’s The Apprentice (Season 4). The entrepreneur and speaker will discuss entrepreneurial opportunities, while also commenting on civic and social justice work that is needed in today’s society.
Also, during the Public Program the fraternity will honor Soledad O’Brien with the Alpha Award of Honor, the highest recognition for a non-member, for her tremendous work with media coverage of issues affecting the African-American community. O’Brien is a senior correspondent for CNN and has received numerous journalism awards. Alpha Phi Alpha will also hold a special screening at the convention of the highly anticipated CNN documentary “Black in America,” hosted by O’Brien.
Scholar, Actor and Author Hill Harper will also receive the Alpha Award of Honor. Harper wrote two bestselling books: Letters to a Young Brother, and most recently Letters to a Young Sister. Harper’s books served as motivation to young people for making good life decisions. He also starred in CSI: NY, and is appearing in the movie Mama, I Want to Sing! this Fall.
Brother Dr. Joseph Heyward and Brother Dr. Sylvester Shannon will receive the Alpha Award of Merit, the highest recognition for an Alpha Brother. These brothers have served the fraternity in various official capacities for several decades.
Nearly 20 Kansas City high school students will receive recognition from the fraternity at the Public Program for outstanding academic achievement and community participation.
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) will serve as the keynote speaker during the Life Membership Luncheon on Monday, July 21st. Cleaver is a second-term Congressman in the House of Representatives, and sits on the Financial Services Committee and the Select Committee on Global Warming.
Also, on July 21st, the fraternity will host their Project Alpha initiative (Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Seminar) at a local school. Project Alpha, sponsored by the fraternity and the March of Dimes, is a youth-oriented initiative focused on safe-sex education and responsibility. The brothers will also perform several renovations to the school at the conclusion of the event.
Other festivities, including the College Life to Corporate Life Career Fair and annual Belford V Lawson Oratorical Contest addressing the important question, “Is the N-word Really Buried?” will take place on Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th. The oratorical competition will showcase finalists from the regions as they compete for the national title. Individual recognition for the academic and service achievements of various chapters, including the Brother and Chapter of the Year Awards and the Alpha Spirit Awards, will be presented at the Black and Gold Banquet on Monday, July 21st.
Under the leadership of Matthews, over the past 4 years, the fraternity has strengthened its presence in the communities they represent through their implementing their various community efforts as well as supporting and partnering with others. These efforts include supporting State Farm’s and Dr. Ian Smith’s 50 Million Pound Weight Loss Challenge. Alpha Phi Alpha was the first national Black Greek letter organization to sign on as a Challenge Champion. As a Challenge Champion, Alpha’s commitment and support is highly recognized for improving the good health of and generating good will across, the entire community.
Matthews shares, “Alpha Phi Alpha is making history as we unite to ‘give up the pounds, not the fight.’ I encourage you to register for the Challenge at 50millionpounds.com or visit the exhibit at our convention in Kansas City.”
As General President, he called for 10,000 Alpha Brothers to become mentors, to assist in fund-raising efforts, to serve on local BBBS Agency Boards of Directors. He has served for three years as a member of the BBBS African-American Task Force and has been instrumental in creating new partnerships and alliances for BBBS.
This life-long commitment will be recognized by Judy Vrendenburgh, President/CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She will make a special presentation to Matthews, for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the efforts to provide one-to-one mentoring services to the youth of America.
“During my tenure, I strived to continue in the tradition of which we were founded, to elevate the conversation, mentality and consciousness of our Alpha Brothers. We need to continue to spark intellectual discourse and be intentional in our efforts to create, commit and contribute to the positive well-being of the communities in which we represent,” Matthews reflected.
Founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights, through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, Retired Senator Edward Brooke and Cornel West. Others include members of the 110th Congress including: Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO), Charles B. Rangel (NY), Danny K. Davis (IL), Chaka Fattah (PA), Al Green (TX), Gregory Meeks (NY), David Scott (GA), Robert C. Scott (VA). The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.
To learn more visit www.apa1906.net
Popularity: 15% [?]
Kansas City Nightlife for Endless Entertainment
July 14, 2008
Kansas City’s nightlife is full of fun, excitement and endless entertainment. There are many review sites online but the best way to experience it is to just jump right in and enjoy.
In Kansas City, the fun does not stop when the sun goes down. And the options are nearly endless. Stop at one of the city’s popular watering holes in Westport or see what is happening in the new Power and Light District. Listen to jazz at clubs throughout the city. Tickle your funny bone at a local comedy club, or head to the area’s casinos gaming excitement.
The Nightlife in Kansas City Begins and Ends with Jazz As A Major Source for Entertainment
Live jazz can be found at clubs like the Blue Room, Jardine’s Restaurant and jazz Club (4536 Main St., 816.561.6480) or the Phoenix Piano Bar and Grill (302 W 8th St, 816.472.0001). On weekends, the Mutual Musicians Foundation, near 18th and Vine gets started after midnight for fierce late-night jam sessions. For a complte list of jazz venues and nightly performances, you can contact the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors at 913.967.6767 or www.jazzkc.org.
Behind the restored 1912 facade of the Gem Theater (1615 E 18th St., 816.474.8463) is a modern 500 seat performing arts cetner, complete with state-of-the-art technology and equipment. In addition to the annual “Jammin’ at the Gem” jazz masters’ concert series, the theater hosts many community events and theatre productions.
Enjoy hilarious comedy at the Majestic Improv Comedy Club (816.587.4500). The world famous Improv Comedy Clubs have been the career launching pad for dozens of familiar faces on television and film. The Majestic is located at Zona Rosa in Kansas City’s Northland on the northwest corner of Interstate 29 and Barry Rd.
Or, try your luck at one of Kansas City’s four casinos: Ameristar Hotel Casino (3200 N. Ameristar Dr., 816.414.7000), the Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa (777 NW Argosy Pkwy., Riverside, MO, 800.270.7711), Harrah’s Casino & Hotel (One Riverboat Dr., N. Kansas City, MO, 816.472.7777), or the Isle of Capri Casino (1800 E Front St., 816.855.7777).
Experience it all in Kansas City! Discover a rich mix of live performances at one-of-a-kind clubs, exciting casinos, outrageious comedy clubs, outdoor performances at Starlight Theatre, live theater, opera and symphonic concerts. Once you enjoy the Kansas City nightlife, you will want to enjoy the entertainment time and time again.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Lincoln University Steppin in the Cafe - A Fraternity Step Show Tradition
July 14, 2008
Lincoln University has a main area called the cafe. And the stepping tradition has always been that the fraternities will stroll into the cafe. The crowd of students gather and circle around the fraternity steppers and watch the free show. The crowd will scream, the girls will squeal and the fellas will bark. The performances are intimate and full of energy.
Check out a few of the videos of the Lincoln University Cafe.
Beta Chapter Que’s Part One Steppin in the Lincoln University Cafe
Beta Chapter Que’s Part Three Steppin the Lincoln University Cafe
Alpha Phi Alpha Steppin in the Lincoln University Cafe, Jefferson City, Missouri
Popularity: 13% [?]
Lincoln University (Lincoln Institute) Built and Paid For By the Money of Former Slaves
July 14, 2008
Lincoln University has a rich story. At the close of the Civil War, soldiers and officers of the 62nd United States Colored Infantry, stationed at Fort McIntosh, Texas, but composed primarily of Missourians, took steps to establish an educational institution in Jefferson City, Missouri, which they named Lincoln Institute.
They were compelled to do this because many of them had never received education as slaves. So when they got into the military, many had learned to write their names for the first time. If you can imagine how slavery was a way to keep you dumb and uninformed. And even in that environment, there were Black men and women who were conscious enough to know that they should escape their slave masters to join the military so that they could gain freedom.
Sadly, some of the conscious black men and women were killed in the Civil War. They gave their lives so that others, the ones too afraid to see a better future, could be free. But the ones who made it, knew that after the war, they should have a plan and they knew that education must be included into that plan.
The following stipulations were set for the school:
1. The institution shall be designed for the special benefit of the freed African-Americans; 2. It shall be located in the state of Missouri; 3. Its fundamental idea shall be to combine study and labor. Members of the 62nd Colored Infantry contributed $5,000; this was supplemented by approximately $1,400, given by the 65th Colored Infantry.
They knew that they could not setup the school themselves. Imagine being black and rolling back into Missouri triumphant. The southern empathizers would be quick to kill you. So they entrusted one white man who toured with them with the money and the quest to find land to build this school.
This goes to show you that we have to work together to make a better way.
On January 14, 1866, Lincoln Institute was formally established under an organization committee.
By June of the same year, it incorporated and the committee became a Board of Trustees. Richard Baxter Foster, a former first lieutenant in the 62nd Infantry, was named first principal of Lincoln Institute. On September 17, 1866, the school opened its doors to the first class in an old frame building in Jefferson City. In 1869, Lincoln Institute moved to the present campus, and in 1870 it began to receive aid from the state of Missouri for teacher training. College-level work was added to the curriculum in 1877, and passage of the Normal School Law permitted Lincoln graduates to teach for life in Missouri without further examination. Lincoln Institute formally became a state institution in 1879 with the deeding of the property to the state.
Under the second Morrill Act of 1890, Lincoln became a land grant institution, and the following year industrial and agricultural courses were added to the curriculum. In 1921, the Missouri Legislature passed a bill introduced by Walthall M. Moore, the first black American to serve in that body, which changed the name from Lincoln Institute to Lincoln University and created a Board of Curators to govern the University. The North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools accredited the high school division in 1925, the teacher-training program in 1926, and the four-year college of arts and sciences in 1934.
Graduate instruction was begun in the summer session of 1940, with majors in education and history and minors in English, history, and sociology. A School of Journalism was established in February 1942. Twelve years later, the United States Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, and Lincoln University responded by opening its doors to all applicably meeting its entrance criteria.
Today, Lincoln University serves a diverse student clientèle, both residential and non-residential, engages in a variety of research projects, and offers numerous public service programs in addition to providing an array of academic programs.
Lincoln University is a historical school and monumental feat for the former slaves, Civil War heroes and men whose names, they learned to write for the first time, but names we will never know.
Popularity: 6% [?]
