Fifteenth Annual Summer Jazz Series Kicks off with Jazz Legend Bob Dorough

-By Katy Henriksen

The 15th Annual KUAF Summer Jazz Series kicks off Saturday, July 13, with jazz legend and Arkansas native Bob Dorough, who you may recognize as the voice to many songs on Schoolhouse Rock. Though raised in Texas, he moved to New York City just after finishing a music degree at the University of North Texas in 1949 and quickly immersed himself into the hotbed of bebop jazz. In 1995 he signed with prestigious Blue Note Records, where he has three albums.

Here’s his song “Three is a Magic Number” from the first episode of Schoolhouse Rock.

Also worth checking out is Robert Ginsburg’s interview with Dorough that aired earlier this week on Ozarks at Large. Dorough will perform in the Walton Arts Center’s Starr Theater with Steve Wilkes (drums) and Drew Packard (bass), both of the Claudia Burson Trio.

Concerts upcoming in this year’s season are a composer’s showcase featuring the music of resident artist Rick Salonen July 27 and gypsy jazz from the Amina Figarova Quintet Aug. 16. For online ticket reservations go here.