Jenna Stoker Wright to Speak on April 23rd in Martin
The Jackson Purchase Historical Society (JPHS) will meet on Saturday, April 23, at 10:30 a.m. at the City of Martin Public Library, 410 South Lindell Street, Martin, TN. Our speaker will be Jenna Stoker Wright. “A Musical Legacy: My Uncle Gordon, the Jordanaires, and Elvis.”
The Jordanaires were an American vocal quartet that formed as a gospel group in 1948 in Missouri. Over the years, they recorded both sacred and secular music as a solo act for various record companies. In the early 1950s, they began lending their vocal talents to featured artists as background vocalists in recording sessions. They are widely known for having provided background vocals for Elvis Presley, in live appearances, recordings, and feature films from 1956 to 1972. The group worked in the recording studio, on stage, and on television with many country, gospel, and rock and roll artists. The group appeared on all of Patsy Cline’s Decca sessions.
Gordon Stoker joined the Jordanaires in 1951. He joined the Jordanaires as their piano player, but soon became their tenor vocalist. He remained with the group and was its last living original member. The group caught the attention of Elvis Presley in the mid-1950s when they were performing with Eddy Arnold promoting a television show. The Jordanaires, whose lineup changed over the years, performed as Presley’s primary backup on stage and in the studio until 1968. At Presley’s request, the Jordanaires received billing on all his vinyl releases The Jordanaires recorded many gospel albums on their own and have been elected to many music halls of fame.
Jenna Stoker Wright is a retired Associate Professor of English and chair of the Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages at the University of Tennessee at Martin. She has her BA from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in education, and her MFA in Creative Writing from Murray State University. She has an extensive list of scholarly and creative activities. At UT Martin, she was a Smith Professorship Endowment recipient and has received numerous teaching awards and honors, including the UT Martin Coffey Outstanding Teacher Award, the UT National Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher Award, the UT Martin Outstanding Educator Award, and the Phi Kappa Phi Meritorious Service Award.
Those attending should comply with current state and local public health guidelines for gatherings. The meeting room is large and will allow ample social distancing. Masks will be available for those who wish one. The Society continues to monitor the regional public health situation and may make appropriate adjustments.