Located in the heart of Birmingham’s historic Civil Rights District, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame stands as both a tribute to the past and a promise to future generations. Since its founding in 1978, the Hall of Fame has served as a beacon for Alabama’s deep and often overlooked contributions to American jazz history. From the legendary bandleaders of the early 20th century to visionary innovators like Sun Ra, this institution has honored the musicians who shaped not just a genre, but an entire cultural movement.
Origins: A Vision for Recognition
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was the brainchild of J.L. Lowe, a respected music educator and trumpeter, who envisioned a space that would honor Birmingham’s unique jazz heritage. Teaming with the National Black Cultural Society, civic leaders like Richard Arrington (Birmingham’s first Black mayor), and other cultural advocates, Lowe helped establish an annual induction ceremony that would formally recognize Alabama’s homegrown jazz legends.
The very first induction, held in October 1978, celebrated six of Birmingham’s most revered musicians:
- John T. “Fess” Whatley – Legendary educator and bandleader, whose students would go on to play with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Sun Ra himself.
- Erskine Hawkins – Famed trumpeter and composer of “Tuxedo Junction,” which immortalized a bustling Birmingham dancehall.
- Sammy Lowe – Arranger, conductor, and longtime member of Hawkins’ band.
- Amos Gordon – Composer and saxophonist who arranged for Louis Armstrong.
- Haywood Henry – A woodwind master known for his work in the Hawkins orchestra.
- Frank Adams – A versatile educator and performer who worked with Duke Ellington and Sun Ra, and became a foundational figure in the Hall’s programming.
Growth and Expansion
Following its early success, the Hall of Fame quickly expanded its scope, recognizing musicians from across the state of Alabama and from various roles in jazz—performers, composers, arrangers, educators, and historians. To date, the institution has inducted over 245 jazz artists who have made an indelible impact on the music world.
In its early years, the Hall’s physical space was modest. Located in a small room on 16th Street North, Lowe displayed historic photos taken from Whatley’s personal scrapbooks, while Amos Gordon offered music lessons in the back. Despite its size, the Hall served as a powerful hub for cultural preservation, education, and mentorship.
A New Home: The Carver Theatre
In 1993, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame found a permanent home in the historic Carver Theatre, a former movie palace built in 1935 and located within the Birmingham Civil Rights District. The Carver had been a cornerstone of the Black entertainment scene during the Jim Crow era, hosting performances by Billie Holiday, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway. Its renovation and reopening as a cultural venue marked a renaissance for the city’s artistic and historical legacy.
Today, the Carver Theatre serves as both a performance space and a museum, offering exhibitions, archives, and multimedia installations that trace Alabama’s impact on jazz and its intersections with civil rights. Located just steps away from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park, and the 16th Street Baptist Church, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame occupies a place of profound historical significance.
Education and Legacy
More than a museum, the Hall of Fame functions as an educational institution. Through workshops, masterclasses, school partnerships, and annual events, the Hall ensures that the legacy of Alabama jazz continues to inspire young musicians. Many of its inductees, including Frank Adams and J.L. Lowe, have devoted their lives to music education, making it clear that mentorship and accessibility are core values of the institution.
Sun Ra and the Hall’s Cosmic Connections
One of the most notable musicians to emerge from Alabama is Sun Ra, born Herman Poole Blount in Birmingham. A former student of “Fess” Whatley, Sun Ra’s roots in the local jazz education system highlight the direct line between Birmingham’s jazz educators and the avant-garde movements that would follow. The Hall of Fame acknowledges Sun Ra’s radical contributions to jazz, Afrofuturism, and spiritual music, making it a key site of pilgrimage for those exploring the intersections of music, identity, and Black futurism.
May 21–24, 2025, the Sun Ra Day Festival returns Sun Ra to his hometown in spirit with a series of performances, panels, and celebrations—headlined by the Sun Ra Arkestra at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame itself.
A Cultural Pillar in the Present Day
As of today, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame continues to honor the legacy of Alabama’s jazz heroes while nurturing new voices. It stands as a living tribute to the power of Black music and the resilience of the communities that sustained it through decades of segregation, struggle, and creative resistance.
With funding challenges facing cultural institutions across the country, especially those rooted in Black history and community empowerment, supporting places like the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is more important than ever.
Support Cultural Preservation
The Music Origins Project is proud to feature the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and support yearly events like the Sun Ra Festival. We encourage our readers to support underfunded nonprofits that are preserving the history of jazz and creativity.
Further Reading:
- Sun Ra Biography – Encyclopedia of Alabama
- Space Is the Place – IMDB
- Carver Theatre – City of Birmingham