Janice Scroggins facts for kids

Janice Scroggins (born July 17, 1955 – died May 27, 2014) was a talented jazz pianist and music teacher. She was well-known in Portland, Oregon, for her amazing piano skills. She also dedicated her life to teaching music to others.

Growing Up and Music

Janice Scroggins was born in 1955 in Idabel, Oklahoma. Her parents were Henry and Mary Scroggins. She started playing the piano when she was just three years old! Her first music teachers were her mother and grandmother. They were both church pianists and organists. Janice went to high school and college in Oakland, California. In 1978, she moved to the Albina area of Portland. She moved there with her baby daughter, Arietta Ward.

A Career in Music

Janice Scroggins played music with many artists in Portland. These included Linda Hornbuckle and Mel Brown. She also often performed with New Orleans saxophonist Reggie Houston. Janice also played with the Norman Sylvester Blues Band. She was a session musician for many other artists. This means she played on their recordings.

Janice was the music director for the Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir. She also led the music for the World Arts Foundation's tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. She did this for 29 years! Janice was also a piano teacher. She taught in the Portland Public School system. She also taught at Portland Community College.

In 1987, Janice Scroggins released an album called "Janice Scroggins Plays Scott Joplin." This album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1988. She released her second main album, "Piano Love," in 2013. She also performed at the Portland Jazz Festival in March 2013. Her music was influenced by gospel, which is church music. It also had influences from African rhythms and country music. A writer named Bob Hicks said her music had "a whole river of American musical history in it."

Her Family

Janice Scroggins had three children. Their names were Arietta Ward, Nafisaria Scroggins, and Francis Scroggins. When she passed away, she had three grandchildren.

Her Passing

Janice Scroggins died on May 27, 2014. She had a heart attack shortly after playing piano for a Portland Community College class. She was 58 years old at the time.

Tributes and Honors

Janice Scroggins received many honors for her musical talent. In 1992, she was added to the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame. She was also inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

On August 9, 2014, Portland blues artists held a free festival to honor her. Musicians like Norman Sylvester and the Linda Hornbuckle Band performed.

Discography

• Janice Scroggins Plays Scott Joplin, Flying Heart Records (1987)
• Piano Love, MAH Records (2014)