Rather than sit and eat lunch at your desk today, bag it up and learn a little something about recent history.
At noon today (May 14), the public will have a chance to learn about Louis Jordan, father of R&B during a special Brown Bag Lecture at the Old State House Museum, 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock.
Arkansas-born Louis Jordan’s songs like “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “Caldonia” and “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” can still be heard today, decades since Jordan topped the charts. In his five-decade career, Jordan influenced American popular music, film and more and inspired the likes of James Brown, B.B. King, Chuck Berry and Ray Charles. Known as the “King of the Jukeboxes,” he and his combo played a hybrid of jazz, swing, blues and comedy music during the Big Band era that became the start of R&B.
In a stunning narrative portrait of Louis Jordan, writer and musician Stephen Koch analyzes the great forgotten musician among his musical peers, those he influenced and the musical present. Koch has spoken at and performed music in places ranging from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to festivals in the United Kingdom. Koch lives in Little Rock, where he is creator and host of “Arkansongs,” syndicated on National Public Radio affiliates.
Admission is free.
Participants are welcome to bring a sack lunch. Soft drinks and water are provided.
For more information, call (501) 324-9685 or click here. Listen to some of his biggest hits below!