The Wiley Collegians, a nine-piece jazz band from Wiley College, will join the all-star lineup at the Birthplace of Boogie Woogie Heritage Festival, April 13 at the Marshall Visual Art Center.
In the 1930’s, 40’s and into the 60’s, the Collegians were a nationally celebrated college jazz band. Many graduates toured and recorded with big bands of the era. Bebop trumpeter Kenny Dorham, a Wiley Collegian of the early 40’s, went on to play in the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie. He performed and recorded with jazz giants Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins. Collegian drummer Ray Porter backed Charlie Parker on some of Parker’s most famous recordings. Members of the Ray Porter Big Band included Eric Dolphy and a young Chet Baker.
The 2013 Collegians are “reviving the spirit and the talent of the Collegians of lore,” said Band Director Mack Guice.
Festival producers Jack and Nancy Canson said they are honored to have the Collegians on the ticket.
“I believe our audience and our international stars will be wowed by these young talents,” Ms. Canson said.
The festival stars include Germany’s world-renowned pianist Axel Zwingenberger, and vocalist Lila Ammons, the granddaughter of boogie woogie legend Albert Ammons. Mississippi’s “Little Boogaloo” Eden Brent, a three-time Blues Music Award Winner, will perform at the festival, along with avante garde Boogie Woogie pianist Dr. John Tennison, Texas Blues King Bobbie Oliver, Boogie & Blues pianist Christian Dozzler, the Ryan Allgood Dancers, and Marshall’s own Jive Jumpers, who will debut their cover of “She Likes to Boogie Woogie Real Low”, by Texas Blues pioneer Frankie Lee Sims, a Marshall musician who attended Wiley College before serving in the Marines during WWII.
Marshall’s musical heritage, as chronicled in the research of John Tennison, dates back to the 1870′s, when boogie woogie piano emerged in the piney woods of East Texas, in close proximity to the T&P Depot headquartered in Marshall. Lead Belly, Floyd Dixon, Frankie Lee Sims and Dave Alexander (aka Omar Sharriff) were some of the greats who hailed from the Marshall area.
“This is Marshall’s first international music festival, and we’ve had our first international ticket sales,” said Ms. Canson, citing a fan from France who purchased tickets to the concert online.
Proceeds from the concert will help fund a headstone at the gravesite of Marshall’s “Boogie Woogie Man”, the late Omar Sharriff.
Tickets are available at 903-217-7486, at MVAC and at www.boogiewoogiemarshall.com
The festival weekend includes free entertainment and activities all day in connection with Marshall Main Street Second Saturday, the Faux Paws Boogie Woogie Dog Walk, the Words & Voices 10th Anniversary, and live music in all the downtown clubs. On Friday night, the Marshall Regional Arts Council (903-935-4484) and ETBU present the ETBU Jazz Band at MVAC (903-935-4414).
For hotel and lodging information see www.VisitMarshallTexas.org

Besides his worldwide fame as a solo performer, Zwingenberger is also well known to fans as the “A” in Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts “ABC&D of Boogie Woogie” band. In July,2012, Miss Ammons joined Watts and the band to play a one week engagement in New York City that included a performance at Lincoln Center.

A native of the Greenville, Mississippi area, Eden Brent grew up listening to and learning from some of the great Delta blues players of legend and developed a unique piano and vocal style that has been described as both gutsy and masterful. Her 16 year apprenticeship with the late Delta Boogie Woogie great Boogaloo Ames was the subject of a PBS documentary. Eden Brent is a three time Blues Music Award winner and the 2010 Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year recipient.

Special guests John Tennison, Bobbie Oliver, Christian Dozzler, The Ryan Allgood Dancers and Marshall’s own Jive Jumpers will also perform in concert at the Marshall Visual Art Center. Tickets on sale now!

Proceeds from the festival will help fund a headstone at the gravesite of the late Omar Sharriff.

In addition to the ticketed concert, enjoy daytime visits to the T&P Depot Museum and other historic sites, attend a public lecture, “The Heritage of Boogie Woogie”, by Dr. John Tennison, see a screening of the movie, “A Town Full of Music” and kick up your heels at a free swing dance lesson. Marshall Main Street celebrates Second Saturday beginning early in the morning with Dash for the Dogs and the Boogie Woogie Dog Walk, and great musicians performing all day in front of Blue Frog Grill for the 10th Anniversary of Words & Voices, presented by Grady Lee.

A fantastic Saturday in Marshall, preceded by a fantastic week – from Boogie Woogie Wednesday with Texas Blues King Bobbie Oliver, through “Meet Your Orchestra” jazz at Central Perks and the Electric Jam on Telegraph Stage Thursday, to the performance of the ETBU Jazz band Friday night, presented by ETBU and the Marshall Regional Arts Council, at the Marshall Visual Art Center. Of course, there will be great live music in our local clubs too; Charlie’s Backyard Bar, Cajun Tex and the OS2 Pub. Big, exciting musical week in the birthplace of boogie woogie.