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Thousands of Blacks migrated to West Virginia in the early 1900s to work in the coal and railroad industries, producing some of the greatest blues and jazz performers in history.
This Huntington native began playing piano at age five and studied music at top schools like Howard University and Oberlin Conservatory.In the 1920s, she became a star in New York City’s Black Broadway scene, singing with the likes of Paul Robeson...
This Bluefield native was a musician and songwriter who became famous during the 1920s Jazz Era. After graduating, he toured with his band and wrote hit songs like "Mammy o' Mine" and "Sweet Georgia Brown," which later became the Harlem Globetrott...
This Piedmont native and Storer College graduate helped shape jazz into what we know today. A child prodigy, he played many instruments and became one of the first significant jazz arrangers, laying the foundation for the big band sound.Redman wor...
Known as “Diamond Teeth Mary,” McClain was a blues and gospel singer from Huntington. At 13, she ran away from home, joined a circus, and began singing in shows across the country.In the 1940s, she got her nickname after having diamonds set in her...
This Wheeling native was one of the top jazz saxphonists of the Swing Era, often compared to Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. Inspired by Hawkins, Berry started playing the sax and in college bands at West Virginia State College (now University)....
This singer performed with some of the biggest names in jazz music. She grew up in Pennsylvania and got her start in Pittsburgh clubs. In 1941, jazz legend Louis Armstrong discovered her, and she performed with his band on Broadway.She later sang ...
This talented blues and jazz musician grew up in Itmann (Wyoming County). Born in 1924, he learned to play guitar, piano, and more by listening to radio shows and local musicians.He worked in coal mines, served in World War II, and played music ac...
This Charleston native played saxophone and clarinet with bands led by Tommy Dorsey and Les Brown. His 1959 album Voodoo is a classic in the “exotica” music style.Drasnin moved to California at age 10 and played music on the radio while still in h...
Miles grew up in Hinton and became one of America’s top jazz drummers. He started playing drums at 15 and performed in local clubs before studying music at West Virginia State College (now University).His big break came when he joined the Count Ba...
This jazz pianist and composer was born in New York. He came to West Virginia in the 1960s to study music at West Virginia State College (now University) and never left.He started out playing trumpet but switched to piano in college—and found his ...
This Logan native won America’s Got Talent in 2011, earning $1 million and a show in Las Vegas.As a teen, he lived in Detroit, where life was tough. He eventually moved back to Logan and was washing cars when he auditioned for the show. Though not...