Art Porter, Sr.: A Music Treasure

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities the Arkansas Arts Council an agency of the department of Arkansas heritage the governor's discretionary funds 1996 and Mrs. Elizabeth and Ramsey. High and Ramsey Lewis were pursuing a career in the arts music in particular. I found that believing in the 16:00 is a must practice perseverance patience and performance. To be a success in music one must stay the course of action persevere. The Polish one skill one must practice practice practice remain calm. Tolerate gulay endure difficulty or inconvenience and understand what it means to have patience and then to become comfortable playing

in front of an audience one must perform perform perform. These concepts are ages old as you will see in our program. Art Porter Sr. found value in them and they served him well. Are free to leave quarter was born into a

strong Christian household of deep moral convictions. His father Eugene Porter Sr. the skills don't miss some of the affectional baseball player who married Lilly may warrant in their hometown of Patterson Louisiana using the savings and his entrepreneurial instincts. Eugene brought his new wife to Little Rock Arkansas. He began to build a contracting business and raise a family two sons soon rich the porters lives first. Eugene junior two years later on February 8th 1934. Arthur really really made doted on her three. She was a devoted homemaker urged Eugene to look after his younger brother. The task that lovingly became a lifelong commitment. My mother called him awfully and she called me Junior. And I learned the crawling walking sharing experiences at the same time I was a little

older. So therefore I could hold his hand and help him up the steps down the steps and so forth. My all. My mother always let me know. Always hold your brother's hand because look at him he's depending on you to be there. He's not going to fall because you're standing there and this sort of started this hand-holding. Author Eugene together. I did not know that I would be following the author for a number of years that I did. Very seldom was there an instance where you would see one of us without the other part of the story together riding bicycles together playing games together. The street that we lived on was very very close to the high school it was closed to the junior college. It was close to the elementary school so we had an opportunity to see teachers and doctors and lawyers at a very very young age. There was a certain air that each one of them had and we would sometimes say we want to be like him. We're going to be like him when we grow up we've got to be like him. My father was away from home during the

day during working hours when he came home in the evening that's when we sort of brought everything to the table. Everything that was discussed everything that came up this is where we discussed it all. We even discussed school starting school with Art when he was four years old. There should be no problem. I'll be right there with him. There should be no problem. Church attendance was a valued part of the board of family routine. Lee may served in many leadership positions within the church structure. This living example of selfless service left a lasting imprint on his son. My mother would tell both of us the Lord is with you would be a praying home and we will be going to church. We started in the church a very very small. We knew our way around the church. We knew everyone there at the church. Arthur started playing piano samba. My mother had him to understand that when you play here at the church there will be no money. My mother

played piano. She played some for the church. There was never any funds involved. She said this is a service that I have hope that you develop the same type service and always share in you what you have to be others out there. When I was five my mother tenderly introduced him to the joys of being. As a pianist herself. She recognized his promising possibilities as a concert pianist and families focus turned to me. My father was one he was very very quiet. My father was reading and he expected me to do a lot of reading too. Author had his opportunity to read but often didn't have to read very long because he would always say well it's time for me to practice and when he said that everything quiet in the house and he would practice and everyone would give their attention to him. Art gave his first public concert at the age of eight. It became apparent to me that are needed a classically trained professionally accomplished teacher. The porters

engaged the newly arrived from Atlanta. Hazel xinxin a talented musician who would provide art with the proper instruction. I. Wondered it I thought it was all killed by Adam now that we know to be out on the piano. I told him my baby boy he was a bad boy. Oh yeah maybe I could check out in the NG as ever I have a baby of faith in music. I guess I just love playing God Himself. No way. Always remember. Hey hey.

Like most young musicians and athletes are complaining about the number of practice hours 5 seconds to. Playing the piano was so confining. You had to practice all the time. And other guys would be out playing. But his love of music outweighed his irritation. Practicing was part of life and it gleefully became an acceptable way of avoiding disagreeable so. I started working with my father I said well dad we need to take the author with us. My father said What do you think you can take it because the sun is so hot. He's a little small. And then the author would start playing piano allowed them to be sure that he would be home. Anything I heard on the radio. I knew exactly what notes were being played. I had perfect pitch. I could go into a music store look at a pop two and go home and play it. I take no credit for it. I just came to be able to do that and I'm very thankful.

He was an excellent pianist. All they had to do was see it once and it was photographed and he could reproduce it over and over and over again change it whenever he got ready and this was really remarkable to me. We had a community choir and in the community the kids were all come and gather around the boys and then I'd be 25 or 30 of us or author would be playing and we'd be singing gospel songs. No rock n roll no boogie woogie no blues. Rules of the house. It was soon evident that Porter was a major talent at 14. He was given his own live radio show on K L R H. We performed 30 minutes of classical and standard favorites each week Allison Presbyterian Church is still you have ignored. I believe the church is organist after completing the Hammond organ but he broke he gave his first organ recital on Easter Sunday 1940. Growing up with the reality of segregation art shows quite overcome

with vigorous education that his body is time between school sports church. He developed a strong sense of community service that eventually radiated across the state at this time. Dunbar High School was the only accredited African-American high school in Arkansas 50 percent of its graduates went on to college. Art was elected president of the student council and served as vice president of the National Honor Society. His many activities included accompany the choir and playing the piano for most school functions. Beautiful class made him appallingly famous sweetheart. Four years later is quite strict. Punctuality is perhaps the cheapest virtue which can give force to an otherwise insignificant character voted the most dignified by his senior class. He carried this natural elegance throughout his life. Art turned down a

full music scholarship to Howard University to be closer to home. His mother had developed a heart condition and severely limited activities. It was decided that art would accept a partial scholarship and pay him in college. Now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Eugene would stay in Little Rock to help with her care. In spite of the limited funding of a segregated college art absorbed an abundance of knowledge from a dedicated faculty settling into college life. Continue to expand its classical repertoire and experience new challenges author without reading a musical phenomenon in Little Rock. Before we got here but it was that means that every bad thing you know exactly what you could do. And by the way yes it was just for a half hour that he was some sort of an icon. He could

he could do anything. He was a genius. I didn't really get into jazz until college. A good friend John Puckett insisted that I learned jazz and I've been eternally grateful ever since. When I came to him any and all of his experience and training had been in classical music he had started very early. All of my training had been in the jazz field. But take a look at piano. But my main experience had been jazz. So we would exchange ideas to him helping me with classical music and then showing him different things about improvisational music. John Puckett I didn't know anything about John Faulkner either till he was a good guy. He had great jazz skills. I say this is what you like I said I'll see him next week. So I came down to Mr. pocket the next week and he was telling me how good off the wall with the Jazz and so forth. Well this is

great. So I got a new word to bring home now I got to tell my mother what jazz is in words that she can understand because it does sound like blues she's not going to like it's not like we're not going to like that either. I just hope it's something different. It's something very different you oughta hear Arthur play it. Well a couple of hours later another long line goes missing for years performing this stunning musical composition created a permanent implant in his heart a sacred space. This is in June of 1954. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in music education. And accepted a teaching position at Mississippi Valley come. To their mutual delight. Brother Eugene was also offered a teaching job at the same. Together again the brothers set up house in the road between Little Rock and Mississippi with what oh crap.

I finished high school at 16 and finished college at 20. I was teaching college at 20. I don't recommend that. By the way. I was academically ready but not the most. Ardent. From. A. Marian. Really came. From. A short time later. Eugene and art were drafted into the army. Basic training. What. I did want to go I became a teacher partly because of the deferment. I spent the first few months everything. Trying. To get out. Then one morning I decided that no matter how bad I wanted to be out I would feel better. So I thought best thing to do was to try to be here. It's a very simple deduction but some people never get there. The same basic training as another musician a bass player from Ohio Harwin Plus wasn't long before our car when Dean of your private

concerts the officers mess with Captain Brown every day at 11:00 while the other men were out in the field. Streams of bar and heard coming from the word. Separated after basic training. Porter and pleasant later reunited. Little Rock really close friends a little before. In August 1957 art became a father. The family moved to Fort Niagara Arkansas. Chaplains. Just. To add to his meager income he played piano seven nights a week at the old fort is located outside the main gate. He was such a favorite of the customers that 10 years later he was invited back to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Honorably discharged. Art returned to his home determined not to leave again. He accepted a faculty position at Horace Mann high school. He also accepted various musical. Teacher by day and performer by night. He was

constantly in motion during 1958. The senior high schools were close. So we had different responsibilities because we were on the payroll during the time so we either worked at the elementary level as substitute teachers or we had professional assignments there at the school that the principal and his team had worked out for us. Art was equally as comfortable in working in this professional setting as he was in working in the music scene. If your profession allowed such as Art porters did you moonlight and actually Samantha moonlighting to be a major part. I dance for you.

Because of this turmoil in Little Rock school. Hotsprings offered the most job opportunities for. Many well-known names being attracted to the private club scene of. Joining Ralph Porter and Reggie Cravens. Artists. Several. He would go to hotsprings that's one of the places where I could not go because of the broad color lines but he would come home and tell me exactly who was there. The songs we played the other band members were playing at other clubs across the street. Next week we're going to change places and all these kinds of things. I had an opportunity to sort of keep up with what was normal. You read the newspaper and you see the black orchid they're going to have so and so and so and hotsprings art Porter. Wow. Felt real good. Later that year arguing with the mood of the webroot was young resident organist. And for the next 35 years no matter how many engagements crowd it is Sunday morning and you get bored.

I've always known that I didn't have anything to do with my ability to good lower back so I'd be very uncomfortable not showing up on Sunday morning particularly with the need today for church music. I became an expert at juggling the responsibilities of a growing family. Teaching and performing and service to his church and community. His ability to maintain a demanding schedule was a homer by. Widely moving from one scene to the next. He walked in many places very well as a music as a kind of art porter brought his calm charge style to the classroom. His mastery of music quick wit earned him respect that was students. He was so easy going. He never let anything and that was the thing that I noticed. I don't understand how you can count all the things you encounter at night you know visibly upset.

You let people know how you really do it. He was so young. You know he was not that much older than we were. He's maintained the glass. He still got the students good sound that he needed. He would divide it into sections. We would have Section Leaders of the older class people were section leaders. We would go to trial every year under misreport Is that right. Every year we won first place in 1968. All right. You have Martin Luther King had been assassinated that your Robert F. Kennedy had the Olympics of Evans and some of the Black Power student riots. But every time you walk into his class it Joy you know you look forward to going to class every single day. And for most of us Mr. Porter was first class teacher school busing hadn't started. And the way he handled it all through

his music and demeanor it was a pretty tense time. Even in 68 and I cannot compare the decline of. But there were still some. Tensions and he just just went through all of and never really discussed using are quiet revolution what is your role. I hope my performances people have a better understanding and appreciation of music. This was my main goal when I felt who the more you know about something the better position when we value it. If you only appreciate what you know and only like what you appreciate knowing that exceptional talent also requires technical expertise. Art tried to prepare his students to fulfill their potential as they continue their music career.

After I joined the squire he would bring my vision. And from that I learned. That I wanted to be a bass player. So I went and bought a bass school with bass and water right away. I started a lap band like stage band so that we could benefit from playing Big Ben Barnes and then he hired me a bass player. And I didn't know what songs taught me on the phone that I knew. Until now. Once we were playing in a private club in Little Rock Arkansas it was frequented by. Politicians lemmings will know. And so we knew how we felt about them again. We knew how you felt. So. What we did was we would donate tips to the in trouble. But one day he found that. And so. He came

up through the bandstand screaming and raving and waving his arms. And about to go and going off and the supporters said everybody just sit here and be cool. Because you don't sing or to stop playing. And set said that once the guy and the guys chilled out walked away. So from that I learned that you can do things like without fighting. I first met at the border my first day in school Horsman high school. I was not in a very good mood because I had been forced because my father changed jobs to leave my high school just before my 18th birthday party. So that first period of class I was not exactly what your smiling enthusiastic student but he asked me to audition. And I was going to the big Thanksgiving concert when he was searching for solos. And he gave me the score. And I was chosen to do so. His

influence on me throughout that year and a half that I spent in high school was great. First of all he instilled in me an enormous love. For many different kinds of music. He was my first introduction to jazz. We sang all sorts some classical music. We sing spirituals and but the most important thing was said he said to me you won't sing very often solos in school because I don't want you to become commonplace. I want when you're going to sing so love for the students to think that it's going to be a special event. And it was a very first person to really make me think that I had very special talent and without that support and without that belief I wouldn't be where I am today. Sterling Ingram joined art as a music educator on the same faculty recognizing Stirling's fine teaching ability. Art shows him stuff his son Art Stirling insisted that the young musician

acquire is driving demands for improved performance provided a perfect complement of fathers on Reserve Board. He was never the kind of person that would never even tell me what need to do. It was so important to be like him so much. One day I was trying out for some day Saturday morning. The first to make it that for needed to do. I knew that he was. Did you know someone loves you and care for you and your family loves him you. In music and entertainment the doors open a lot easier for black here. There

is something that a musician feels inside that eliminates color. There's a communication between musicians that doesn't exist. That's where it's been that way for a very long time. And I think decency's soon acknowledges the residents are of the Arkansas music the art for is extraordinary talent was Concert me from society parties the country club the charitable events is music entertained Arkansan. You have to like people to entertain. You have to honestly like people not just tolerate me. You have to appreciate that difference. It's simple. And the older you get simpler it seems. That Israel received many honors wars top notch performing with several local musicians inspired to play with the legend knowing that just being around art could get you noticed.

Perhaps one of the most successful combinations was Carwin pleasant Larry Roths. Often there was a setting at the Arkansas arts center. That all of the local musicians and aspirants come and art of course one of the stalwart will but he took notice to young musicians attempting to play the music and to play it well. And out of that whole setting. Many of us got noticed and were somehow put together to play at different public functions. And so as a result of that five of us somehow got together and became the new direction squint to get out of that quintet. We actually went on to win the national intercollegiate Jazz Fest and as a part of winning this national we've been we've got a chance to spend a few weeks in New York. And play and various and sundry countries

and so it was all because of its positioning us at the Arkansas arts center to allow us. A venue to play and to express ourselves and for folk to take note that there were some young folk coming along who would keep the music alive. When we got back from the eight week two was when art invited me to come and. Play percussion in the window. In. 1971 I was recruited by Arkansas educational television to produce a 30 minute music program featuring African-American talent. His ability to find and help star quality talent became the basis for our involvement with some minor key screen talent or minor key has been the hardest part of this business. Many fine performers were showcased in the next 10 years including Arkansan

Gladys Gill John plucker and Irene Kretschmer. Even the children joined. There were a few sets earning the respect of the viewing public. There were three things that you could count on from art. Each Friday when we got ready to do the minor first of all it was always going to be light because he always had too many irons in the fire was always helping other people. And this kind of got in his way. Sometimes. You could count on the fact that he was going to be unrehearsed and certainly it was one heck of a show. Once we got it up hard call me on the phone and give me the time frame and then we would discuss whether we were doing ballads or standards and we would talk about tempos cetera and then we may go through the entire program one time. It generally didn't take us one take.

We were very familiar with each other because we had together and in college art was probably one of the most laid back people I've ever been around. Nothing feisty would handle the talent part of it and walk in and say we're going to do this that's the way it a been ran work. He just failed. I don't think I ever saw him flustered in anything. Sometimes art would show up with artists that we didn't even know were some big name that really the heck out of everybody he would show up with them they come into town and come by to visit him. He knew they were coming and they would come to me on the show on the mannequin. But at the same time Art never turned down those individuals. Locally here also what good artists but just not well known. And he always made sure that Meinecke serve that same place where they could

showcase their talent and certainly get the recognition that they deserve. I remember. Even at the time when when the program was over and finished maybe they could continue to play despite the music down. It didn't stop it. It seemed like they were really cooking at the time and they just kept going forward. And that's when people from the office and that report came out in the studio and just stood around really just to spend it all and really. I decided to leave the teaching profession in 1973 to earn a master's degree from Henderson State University and to concentrate on full time perform. I was really frightened having to depend on entertainment for a living. I was hungry a few days. I've been fortunate. It's not an easy thing.

Do you continue to produce the minor key and receive an additional grant to produce 10 30 minute television shows to air in 13 states porterhouse cuts each of the trio playing music on various things. First time I heard work when I had been transferred to Little Rock from Atlanta 7. Whenever I went to an in town either permanently or traveling. I always tried to find out where there was some jazz but. Pretty soon I heard about art playing a place called Sam back home. My wife and I went there. Right there. You could almost sit on my lap was the best jazz Puriel I'd ever heard. Whenever you can discover a gem like that who's quote on Naome you've got a ringside seat. You don't have to go that far. So we'd go with that guy. Almost every we. Listen to our rock. So it looked like it looked like the Sam pack was slowing down.

I was talking to my wife and we had also been going to a place called the Cajuns war. Which was bringing in out of town entertainment. The Pop would. But we went in and talked with the manager there and convinced the management to take it out and put him in there for a happy hour. And still they were counting and they did. I was scared to death that he lost his job at the scene. That would be all over then I'd have to buy a piano in my living cage and that war was open to everyone. Folks throughout the state journey to Little Rock to listen to The Music Man in person many for the first time. I want to be like you want to be like me. Everything about me had nothing to do with music as much as he carried in some ways. I think he surrounded me

repeatedly every where every time I felt like I'm too busy you should be getting interested in what I was doing. Are you ready to join the father. Was this experience playing with professional help to build his performance. Unfortunately the ABC board to the dim view of a minor appearing in a place that served with. Enforcing existing law the board barred our junior from Kazan's war even though his own father accompanied an appeal was made to an attorney general Bill Clinton. Mr. Clinton investigated the situation and proposed a satisfactory solution that continued to protect mimes while allowing talented families to perform to act 3:21 referred to as the guard Porter Act amended the law of 1914 to allow a child under 16 to be employed

upon the stage in a theatrical performance in any saloon provided that the child's parent or guardian is part of the same show and supervises the child. That was true to me. I learned so much about the movie and I think it. Good music to read music to write music understand the theory of the day that it was just not to my taste. Did he say easily made it magically made it to. Art for his professional success never diminished his community involvement. In 1976 he organized the Art Porter singers from Frye's the former chorus man's houses and rent their first

performance was Christmas music at Bethel AME Church. Next year it was their first performance of Handel's Messiah. Revisiting that sacred space created so long ago Art conducted his great love once again unbeknown to most members this Deporter routinely covered the expenses of guest soloist and others who just couldn't afford to participate. It was generous sharing of his talent and resources. The singer's singers Messiah has become an ongoing Christmas tradition and sweet gift to become. It's sort of like family. People change standards. Don't I look at the choir and some of the things we do and it's just a kind of friendly reminder that some things still do exist although they may be scarce or you know. The singers became one of the few vocal groups to present additional Negro spirituals by rescuing this near last music form our foresight continues to

enlighten the public. Lol lol lol. Lol. And lol

And so. Not a good not.

In recognition of our considerable contributions to the citizens of Arkansas. The state legislature honored him with a series of 5 certificates of merit. The first was awarded in 1977 was selected to represent the North American zone at Festac 77. Nigeria was the site of its international art fest. Seventy four countries represented participating in 10 katak. Wearing the official title of American ambassador of good will are quickly made himself available for many performers who did not have a conference. As we arrived at the venue a lot of the

artisans came up and we had some singers and whatnot and they wanted to know anybody in the group was a pianist and nobody knew. It was always very modest laid back and there was not a pianist in a group and Carwin our front PR guy always. Yeah. Here's a guy from Arkansas that's a pianist and it really was interesting for me because one of the vocal asked Will do you know the song and Art are you talking about this one in here. And oh yeah yeah. He simply asked you what he and I think she said see something but she really didn't know what. And an artist Gratias is. He was always did NOT try to embarrass me. Well I think it may be the if you can hear his pitch.

And she did. And from there it seems like the moulted too came up. Who is this guy from Arkansas. Back home art is labeled as music press is the form it does with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in downtown. Steve Allen jazz singer Carmen wood frame native son Farrel's Sanders and many people ask me the same question. Why did you stay in Arkansas. Being on the road takes its toll. I don't like to travel and I wouldn't like to be away from home. My 10 months out of the year I've always known in spite of what most people think the glamour that's apparent isn't really real in the entertainment world. The people of Arkansas loved this gracious talent into the fabric of your life quietly their enjoyment of his music became entwined. Spent time with science and art Porter.

Always was and always will. Arkansas. Art was. Was an icon. And there were musicians and you could talk about this session and you could talk about that. Bass player or you can talk to that person. But then there was art and he was in that category. He was a pure musician. He played music for the joy of playing. He just didn't make it. Darned if he was making to sing to me it had nothing to do with his performance. Every performance would be. Flawless. And I never could understand how a person could play that that perfect every time. He was the first choice to play for important state visits including first lady Rosalynn Carter and Vice President Bush when Bill Clinton became governor of Arkansas the governor's mansion often ran for me. Occasionally the governor would sit

in jail. Many folks have argued that our reporters most significant moments weren't those spent with the rich and famous. Nursing homes schools prisons hospitals and charities were routinely part of his performance schedule. Above all it was a musician musician. Ability to go from symphonic to blues to musical comedy to jazz made him a favorite with just about everybody. Art was a musician's musician. From his West Side Story medley that we would do to you know the Vanguard type jazz and modern jazz. It was just a lot of fun. I really really enjoyed playing with him. He always wanted to make sure that people live satisfied he wanted them to

leave here and with a good feeling about music more so than when we walked in the door or wherever they came to hear us. In 1983 I did something for him so. I realized that a life time dream when he opened Art's place at the Sam Pech hotel. The reviews were wonderful making it a critical success but Art's guilt and generosity soon overshadowed the nightly receipts. We soon found out that this was not going to work the way he wanted to do it. That was just a lot of money involved and a lot of things that he just wanted to do. I think most of his was in appreciation saying thank you for thinking about our place and thank you for coming by. I want to do a lot for you all to do as much as I can. Your calls your cars and so forth will all be protected like you to come again. And this is what he tried to do but it just did not work out that way financially. When Eureka Springs decided to sponsor an annual Jazz Festival in 1986 they

contacted Arkansas's jazz heads to perform. That year arts fifth child. Sean was born and like his son. With each performance Rica's brings Jazz Festival group. The most important thing music has given me over the years has been the understanding that there are many viewpoints and opinions about any matter and one is as valid as well especially in playing jazz. And in playing a particular song. Musicians improvise over the same melody. They are all saying something different and they all correct. I transfer that Taler every aspect of life this widely acclaimed festival continues to attract high profile musicians and large audiences from around the country with a multitude of performances honors and awards

to his credit including a governor's appointment to the Arkansas entertainers hall of fame board art was selected to be honored by the National Kidney Foundation. We had a few surprises for him that basically while he was in charge that night and he replied and that's beautiful music. It was an outstanding man and one of the highlights was that but then Governor Bill Clinton was embattled as one of the speakers. We had several speakers who were there to honor our own to reminisce and to tell how he had influenced their lives. And so Governor Clinton was there. And I remember he walked through the doors of the ballroom with his entourage up state troopers. And he took my arm I'll never forget that. He worked his arm through mine and he whispered I'm just aren't. Now I'm coming. And I. Who does he just doesn't know exactly what's going to happen. And he said well you know this is totally one way heart and I

felt like I felt like I said I think it's going to be wonderful. And now I tried to gather from our time. Let me tell you April my 1991 son Art junior was planning the release of his own debut album pocket city based in Chicago and off peering at the Cotton Club. Our junior was on the roster for a European tour of Belgium the Netherlands and Germany. What I heard Art junior was going to be on the tour. I was happy because I played with him before. He was the best saxophone player. I couldn't believe. That one guy could take a stage show like he does at the last minute. His pianist backed out. He had to find someone who was professionally competent enough to stand in with no rehearsals and be available to leave within a few days. The natural choice was is that after 30 years of leading my own group it was quite an experience going on tour as a

sideman with my son. I didn't say anything unless I asked. Him about it. We've played again. I mean it was mentally emotionally spiritually and I knew we were evil. And you can you it to be chained together. There was nothing like any Silesian. In September of 1992. Porter was diagnosed with an operable lung cancer. It was a shock. Then I realized it was reality and I had to deal with my belief in God has been the real foundation of my attitude. I live one day at a time and I'm thankful for each one I do. It has given me a better appreciation for life and living and what you do how important it is to be part.

A stunned Arkansas reeled with the news of Art's tragic illness undergoing radiation treatment and battling debilitating pain. He continued to play whenever he was scared. Longtime friend President elect Bill Clinton invited father and son to perform during the presidential inauguration festivities. It is weakening condition. I traveled to Washington to participate in prayers. A lasting tribute to a great musician was held at the Robinson music center to honor the

accomplishments of a man who captured the hearts of Arkansas. The most moving and emotional moment of that night was when our junior and dad performed together. You could hear a pin drop in that auditorium. It was really an unforgettable night. And for weeks after that dad would walk around and just all at the outpouring of love that was shown to him. And I can remember him telling me you do such a good job putting this show on. And I told him that it wasn't me it was you. All I had to do was mention his name. And the doors just started opening and people just came pouring out of those doors. I don't know if he ever really knows how much people loved. Not because he was a gifted musician but because he was such an extraordinary human being. Gordon. Made his final appearance with his beloved choir and

the yard porter you hotsprings Jazzfest. Wearing a pain monitor and heating assistance to move about finished his career in a gesture of community service. For. The singers. And their. Performance. The problem is when we were walking Belstaff from the hotel. I asked him I said well how are you feeling now. And you mentioned his back was hurting so. I said. We're not going to try this anymore. OK. I'm going to try this animal. When we got home. That time. I let everyone know he won't be doing this anymore. On July 22nd 1993 art Porter Sr. died

leaving behind the living legacy of a life devoted to his family friends city and city. Art. For. Music. Art. Porter was devoted to his family. Through his music. And of the state of Arkansas and its people. He could have had greater fame and fortune had he left our state. What he wanted to remain close to those who loved. His music touched our souls and stored our spirits. You raised the song and namesake who also became a brilliant musician. Art Porter was one of our greatest. Musical talents from Arkansas. He was by any standard. A great jazz pianist. But to me he was more than a great musician. He was also my good friend. I'm proud that he and his group were able to play at my first inauguration. I missed them at my second inauguration. And I still miss him very much.

He was one of the kind. And a smile and still light up mom. You. Can. Run.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities the Arkansas Arts Council an agency of the department of Arkansas heritage the governor's discretionary funds 1996 and Mrs Elizabeth and Ramsey. Home video of Art Porter Sr. a music treasure and a companion study guide are available to order right. Art Porter music education inc. P.O. Box 1 6 6 0 3 5. Little Rock Arkansas 7 2 2 1 6. Email w w w dot Art Porter or G or call 5 0 1 3 7 4 4

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