Martin, Tenn.–Do you want to hear more about the Jordanaires, the legendary back-up singers for Elvis, from an insider?
The Jackson Purchase Historical Society will host Jenna Stoker Wright, whose uncle Gordon Stoker was a member of the group.
Wright will speak on “A Musical Legacy: My Uncle Gordon, the Jordanaires, and Elvis” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at the City of Martin Public Library, 410 S. Lindell St.
She is a retired Associate Professor of English and chair of the Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages at UT Martin.
The meeting will not be available on Zoom and will not be recorded for our web page for later viewing.
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 early1950s, 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.
Wright 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. For updates consult the Society webpage: www.jacksonpurchasehistory.org
In 1958, a group of historians met in Murray, Kentucky led by faculty from Murray State University and University of Tennessee-Martin and formed the Jackson Purchase Historical Society to promote interest, study, and preservation of the regional history of the territory encompassed in the Treaty of Tuscaloosa, known as the Jackson Purchase. The society holds a number of meetings each year with a speaker on Jackson Purchase history and publishes an award-winning journal on local history. Members include a wide range of people who simply share a love of history and a love of the Jackson Purchase area.
Articles are welcome for the 2022 Journal and can be sent to the editor, Jim Humphreys, at jhumphreys@murraystate.edu. The editor would also welcome inquiries about topics, books for review, or offers to review a book. Copies of the Journal are available from the Jackson Purchase Historical Society, PO Box 531, Murray, KY 42071. The cost is $15.90 including postage and sales tax. Anyone interested in Jackson Purchase history is welcome to join the JPHS.
Information about membership and future programs and much more is available on the society’s website: http://jacksonpurchasehistory.org/. Free electronic access to back issues of the Journal through 2016 is available through the Murray State University libraries at https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/jphs/.
Photo: Gordon Stoker is second from left with Jordanaires and Elvis. Elvisinfonet photo.