“JAZZ ORGAN IS
A MUSICAL PHENOMENON,
PURE AND SIMPLE”
WELCOME TO THE Jazz Organ FELLOWSHIP.
ABOUT JOF
An identifiable 'Jazz Organ sound' was standardized - thanks to Jimmy Smith - on an American-made, electro-mechanical device called the Hammond organ with the help of a sound modification device (also American-made) called the Leslie Tone cabinet.
Unlike most other instrumental music embraced by our society, Jazz Organ music has received much less attention through the years. This music has been met with more apathy than support from writers, record producers, music promoters, club owners and educators. Educational institutions have provided minimal opportunities for young jazz organists to learn and develop those skills necessary to excel. The interest in this music, however, remains strong in spite of the slow developing curriculum.
With public awareness of Jazz Organ seemingly on the increase, the need to address this form of music through outreach programs, educational coursework and community events becomes more important.
While the sound of Jazz Organ remains attractive to young musicians, the actual instrumentation has shifted from the old tone-wheel technology of the Hammond organ to the sampled, digital applications of today. Jazz Organ for this new millennium has been significantly reinforced by the release of numerous digital 'clones' of the original Hammond organ and its unique sound. The fact remains, however, that this original sound is viable and worthy of preservation. All this serves to strengthen the notion that Jazz Organ will not be ignored but rather will thrive for future generations of musicians - therefore the Jazz Organ Fellowship was created in 2004, and has been based in Oakland, CA, as a central location for fans of this art form.
OUR MISSION
JOF STRIVES TO ELEVATE THE POSITION OF JAZZ ORGAN
IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE MUSIC WORLD.
The Jazz Organ Fellowship (aka JOF) provides workshops within existing jazz camps and actually brings the organ combo into the music classes of junior high schools and high schools.Working with festival directors and band leaders, JOF attempts to fill in the gap that has existed for so many years in music education that is relative to Jazz Organ studies.The history of this music is broken down in curricular fashion so as to explain the lineage of Jazz Organ music; its main proponents; and the significance of this genre within the wider musical spectrum. World class Jazz Organists are brought into the fold to contribute their experiential knowledge and demonstrate varied musical styles.
On April 29, 2019 The Jazz Organ Fellowship (JOF) donated a 1935 Hammond A model and a (circa) 1940s Leslie 31H 'Tall Boy' speaker to the 'Museum of Making Music' housed within the NAMM offices of Carlsbad, CA This Hammond organ and Leslie speaker will soon be on display in this most prestigious museum for all visitors to see. In fact, Dr. Jonathan Piper (museum curator) promises to create an interactive environment for those visitors who might want to play the instrument.
JOF is proud to have made this donation and grateful to Dr. Piper for helping us 'raise the awareness of jazz organ worldwide'.
JOF TRIBUTES / HALL OF FAME
Each year JOF pays tribute to a living jazz organist who has made significant contributions to this music with The JOF Award. We then add their name to our Hall of Fame. Those who have received our prestigious JOF Award are listed to the right. The Jazz Organ Fellowship Hall of Fame is dedicated to those jazz organists (many of whom have passed) who have contributed to the development of this music.
NOMINATE!
Email us with your suggestions
for next year's inductees into
The Jazz Organ Fellowship
Hall of Fame!
-
2025
Bobby Floyd & Atsuko Hashimoto
2024
Charles Covington
Tom Coster
Dottie Tim (Timberlake)
Clarence Palmer2023
Chris Foreman
Jeff Palmer2022
Tony Monaco
Richard Tee
Bill Champlin
Tom Coster2021
Doug Carn
Billy Larkin
Everette DeVan2020
Clifford Coulter
Reuben Wilson
Lyman Woodard -
2019
Eddie Baccus, Sr.
Earl Van Dyke
Lady Margaret
Jon Lord2018
Joey DeFrancesco
Lou Bennett
Jennell Hawkins
Paul Bryant2017
Amina Claudine Myers
Bernie Worrell
Butch Cornell
Lady Byron (Evelyn Childress)
Jackie Ivory2016
Ronnie Foster
Loretta Whyte
Beverly Pitts
Keith Emerson2015
Papa John DeFrancesco
Eddy Louis
Cherry Wainer
Bobby Watley2014
Sonny Phillips (Jalal Rushdan)
Freddie Roach
Ethel Smith
Don Pullen2013
Chester CT Thompson
Milt Buckner
Hank Marr
Bu Pleasant
Baby Face Willette2012
Melvin Rhyne
Joe Bucci
Gloria Coleman
Ed Kelly
Merl Saunders
Leon Spencer, Jr.
Les Strand2011
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Jackie Davis
Charles 'The Burner' Earland
Richard 'Groove' Holmes
Gene Ludwig
'Big' John Patton
Don Patterson
Johnny 'Hammond' Smith2010
Sarah McLawler & Trudy Pitts
Bill 'Mr. Honky Tonk' Doggett
Brother/Capt'n Jack McDuff
Jimmy McGriff
Shirley Scott2009
Rhoda Scott
'Wild' Bill Davis
Jimmy Smith
Thomas 'Fats' Waller
Larry Young (Khalid Yasin)
JAZZ ORGAN FELLOWSHIP
HALL OF FAME
JAZZ ORGAN FELLOWSHIP
AWARD CEREMONIES
JOF Tribute 2025
JOF Tribute 2025
JOF Tribute 2025
Amina Myers
Charles Covington
Doug Carn
Dr. Lonnie Smith + Rhoda Scott
Jamal Rushdan (Sonny Phillips)
Jimmy McGriff
Jimmy Smith
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Melvin Rhyne
Papa John DeFrancesco
Ronnie Foster
Tony Monaco
Trudy Pitts
GALLERY
Bob Schleicher
Barbara Thompson, David K Matthews, Chester C.T. Thompson
Dr. Brad Stone, Akiko Tsuruga, Wil Blades
Ernie Watts + Carl Yamada
Pete Fallico, Susan Emerick + Carl Yamada
Susan Emerick, Carl Yamada, Bob Schleicher + Pete Fallico
Max Borgenhagen, Carl Yamada, Pete Fallico, Tony Monaco, Leon Joyce + Akiko Tsuruga
Akiko Tsuruga + Pete Fallico
Barbara Dennerlein + Dr Lonnie Smith
Chester Thompson, Midori Ono + Dr Lonnie Smith
Pete Fallico + Dr Lonnie Smith
Eddie Baccus
Jack McDuff
Larry Young + Sakena Tyrone
Dr Lonnie Smith
Midori Ono
Pete Fallico, Tony Monaco, Dr Lonnie Smith + Joey DeFrancesco
TODAY’S PLAYERS
Brian Charette, Jared Gold, Gerard Gibbs, Pat Bianchi, Larry Goldings, Adrienne McKay, Linda Dachtyl, Adam Scone, Adam Klipple, Sundra Manning, Brian Ho, Benji Porecki, Kyle Koehler, Melvin Davis, Matthew Whitaker, Ricky Peterson, Lucas Brown, Judy Blair, Dave Braham, Matthais Bublath, Paul Conners, Davell Crawford, Kendall Carter, Chris Codish, Ken Clark, George Colligan, Fred Costello, Joe Doria, Charlie Dennard, Dave Fleschner, Dan Kostelnik, Greg Hatza, Jon Hammond, Darren Heinrich, Andreas Hellkvist, Dave Burns, Bill Heid, Jouni Joronen, Bruno Micheli, Sam Paglia, T.C. Pfeiler, Stefan Patry, Ben Paterson, Louis Pain, Sam Salomone, Gayle Serdan, Mauri Sanchis, Raphael Wressnig, Radam Schwartz, Eric Scoria, Vince Seneri, Pierre Sward, Bobby Sparks, Charlie Wood, Dan Wall, Robert Walter, John Medeski, Lloyd Wilson, Chester Smith, Ron Levy, Greg Lewis, Pete Levin, Mike LeDonne, Bobby Lyle, Mike Kocour, Bruce Katz, Alberto Marsico, Daisuke Kawai, David K. Mathews, Jocelyn Michelle, Steiner Nickelsen, Herbert Noord, Jim Alfredson, Ron Oswanski, Vanessa Rodrigues, Jeremy Thomas, Garrett Jacobson, Sam Yahel
NOTE: If your name doesn’t appear on this list, email JOF and let us know who you are, where you’re from and send us any organ recordings of yours that you’d like… so that we can help spread the word.
BOARD MEMBERS
Executive Director / Acting President
Pete Fallico
Board Members
Dave Burns
Greg Bridges
Harry Duncan
Susan Emerick
Dr. Geoff Roach
Dr. Rev Sakena Young-Skaggs
Vice President
Dr. Brad Stone
2nd Vice President
Dr. Ray Jones
Treasurer
Carl Yamada
Advisory Board:
Lonnie Smith
Afrikahn Day’vs
Past President
Linda Goshay Jones