IJF Hall Of Fame

2026 INDUCTEES

  • Pharez Whitted

    Pharez Whitted

    Trumpeter. Educator

  • Wendy Reed

    Wendy Reed

    Vocalist.

  • Kevin Anker

    Kevin Anker

    Pianist. Organist.

  • Jozell Carter

    Jozell Carter

    Drummer. Percussionist.

Search All Biographies

Discover details about the significant contributions each individual has made to the Indianapolis Jazz Scene.

THE LEGENDS

  • Wes Montgomery

    Wes Montgomery

    Jazz Guitar Legend

  • J.J. Johnson

    J.J. Johnson

    Jazz Trombonist, Composer, Arranger

  • "Slide" Hampton

    "Slide" Hampton

    Trombonist, Composer, Arranger

  • Freddie Hubbard

    Freddie Hubbard

    Jazz & Bebop Flugelhornist

THE MASTERS

  • Steve Allee

    Steve Allee

    Pianist. Composer. Educator.

  • "Killer" Ray Appleton

    Ray Appleton

    Drummer. Bandleader.

  • David Baker

    David Baker

    Trombonist. Cellist. Educator. Composer.

  • Willie Baker

    Willie Baker

    Saxophonist. Bandleader. Educator.

  • Ron Brinson

    Ron Brinson

    Drummer. Percussionist.

  • Allen "Turke" Burke

    Allen "Turke" Burke

    Vocalist. Keyboardist. Composer.

  • Mark Buselli

    Mark Buselli

    Trumpeter. Composer. Educator.

  • Royce Campbell

    Royce Campbell

    Mainstream Jazz Guitarist

  • Chuck Carter

    Chuck Carter

    Bebop / Swing Saxophonist. Clarinetist.

  • Rev. Marvin Chandler

    Rev. Marvin Chandler

    Pianist. Ministry Through Music.

  • Lawrence Clark III

    Lawrence Clark III

    Drummer. Educator.

  • Al Cobine

    Al Cobine

    Saxophonist. Composer. Bandleader.

  • Jimmy Coe

    Jimmy Coe

    Saxophonist. Bandleader. Composer.

  • Al Coleman

    Al Coleman

    Drummer. Night Club Owner.

  • Steve Corn

    Steve Corn

    Pianist. Organist. Composer.

  • Joe Deal

    Joe Deal

    Bassist.

  • Dick Dickinson

    Dick Dickinson

    Drummer. Disc Jockey.

  • Rob Dixon

    Rob Dixon

    Saxophonist. Composer. Producer. Educator. Creative Director.

  • Steve Dokken

    Steve Dokken

    Bassist.

  • Reggie DuValle Jr.

    Reggie DuValle Jr.

    Trombonist. Educator. Composer.

  • Jim Edison

    Jim Edison

    Trumpeter. Composer. Big Band Leader.

  • Ken Fary

    Jazz Pianist

  • Rudolph "Rudy" Finnell

    Rudolph "Rudy" Finnell

    Bassist. Educator.

  • Eugene Fowlkes

    Eugene Fowlkes

    Bassist. Trombonist.

  • Flo Garvin-Deakyne

    Flo Garvin-Deakyne

    Vocalist. Pianist.

  • Jack Gilfoy

    Jack Gilfoy

    Drummer. Educator.

  • Frank Glover

    Frank Glover

    Saxophonist. Clarinetist. Composer.

  • Erroll Grandy

    Erroll Grandy

    Pianist. Mentor.

  • Everett Greene

    Everett Greene

    Vocalist. Bandleader.

  • Aletra Hampton

    Aletra Hampton

    Pianist. Vocalist. Dancer.

  • Virtue Hampton

    Virtue Hampton

    Bassist. Vocalist. Dancer.

  • Carl Hines

    Carl Hines

    Pianist. Educator. Poet.

  • Hazel Johnson-Strong

    Hazel Johnson-Strong

    Jazz Vocalist

  • Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson

    Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson

    Saxophonist. Composer. Educator.

  • Mingo Jones

    Mingo Jones

    Bassist.

  • Virgil Jones

    Virgil Jones

    Trumpeter.

  • Al Kiger

    Al Kiger

    Trumpeter. Arranger.

  • Bill Lancton

    Bill Lancton

    Guitarist. Composer.

  • Cynthia Layne

    Cynthia Layne

    Jazz & Neo-Soul Vocalist.

  • Larry Leggett

    Larry Leggett

    Educator. Saxophonist. Bandleader

  • Gene Markiewicz

    Gene Markiewicz

    Drummer. Educator.

  • Jimmy McDaniels

    Jimmy McDaniels

    Pianist. Saxophonist. Educator.

  • Larry McWilliams

    Larry McWilliams

    Trumpeter. Educator.

  • Harry Miedema

    Harry Miedema

    Saxophonist. Educator. Composer

  • Buddy Montgomery

    Buddy Montgomery

    Pianist. Vibraphonist.

  • Monk Montgomery

    Monk Montgomery

    Bassist. Electric Bass Pioneer

  • Cathy Morris

    Cathy Morris

    Electric Violinist. Vocalist.

  • Mary Moss

    Mary Moss

    Vocalist. Entertainer.

  • Tom Mullinix

    Tom Mullinix

    Trumpeter. Bandleader.

  • Bill Penick

    Bill Penick

    Saxophonist.

  • Phil Ranelin

    Phil Ranelin

    Trombonist. Composer.

  • Clifford Ratliff

    Clifford Ratliff

    Trumpeter.

  • James Spaulding

    James Spaulding

    Saxophonist. Flautist.

  • Steve Weakley

    Steve Weakley

    Guitarist.

  • Kenny Phelps

    Kenny Phelps

    Drummer. Record Label Exec.

  • Melvin Rhyne

    Melvin Rhyne

    Pianist. B3 Organist

  • Larry Ridley

    Larry Ridley

    Bassist. Educator.

  • Claude Sifferlin

    Claude Sifferlin

    Pianist. Composer.

  • Noble Sissle

    Lyricist. Vocalist. Bandleader. Broadway Pioneer.

  • Frank Smith

    Frank Smith

    Bassist.

  • Frank Steans

    Frank Steans

    Guitarist. The Jazz Kitchen Manager

  • John Von Ohlen

    John Von Ohlen

    Drummer. Bandleader.

  • Brent Wallarab

    Brent Wallarab

    Composer, Trombonist.

  • Gary Walters

    Gary Walters

    Pianist. Composer.

  • Russell Webster

    Russell Webster

    Saxophonist. Composer.

  • Anderson White

    Anderson White

    Educator. Bassist. Cellist.

  • Brenda Williams

    Vocalist. Actress. Entertainer.

  • Tommy Wills

    Tommy Wills

    Saxophonist. Bandleader

  • Larry Wiseman

    Larry Wiseman

    Trumpeter. Educator.

  • Jonathan Wood

    Jonathan Wood

    Bassist.

  • David Young

    David Young

    Saxophonist.

THE AMBASSADORS

  • Ralph Adams

    Ralph Adams

    Jazz Radio Host. Promoter

  • David Allee

    David Allee

    The Jazz Kitchen Founder. Indy Jazz Fest Director.

  • David Andrichik

    David Andrichik

    Chatterbox Jazz Club Owner.

  • Russell Brown

    Russell Brown

    Crispus Attucks HS Band Director

  • Edythe Fitzhugh

    Edythe Fitzhugh

    Jazz Journalist. Promoter.

  • Laverne Newsome

    LaVerne Newsome

    Educator, Crispus Attucks HS.

  • Harry Riser

    Harry Riser

    Jazz Radio Host. Magician.

  • Duncan Schiedt

    Duncan Schiedt

    Jazz Photographer. Scholar.

  • Mark Sheldon

    Mark Sheldon

    Music Photographer. Advocate.

  • Gilbert Taylor

    Gilbert Taylor

    Educator. Historian. Presenter.

  • Frank Steans

    Frank Steans

    GM at The Jazz Kitchen. Guitarist.

  • Anderson White

    Anderson White

    Educator. Bassist.

  • Chuck Workman

    Chuck Workman

    Jazz Journalist. Jazz Radio Host. Promoter.

Thank you for visiting the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame.

Provided by the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Legacy Program, with support from: