Jefferson mayor Craig Berry has declared Thursday, April 9, “Oatts Family Day” in Jefferson in tribute to the community’s “first family of jazz music, “the late Jack Oatts and his sons and daughters.
Jack and Marcella Oatts’ son Dick and son-in-law John Mosca play with New York City’s Grammy-winning Vanguard Jazz Orchestra; another son, Jim, directs the Des Moines Big Band; and daughter Sue is a jazz soloist in Minneapolis. Daughter Nancy, married to musician John Mosca, is a graphic artist and toy designer in New York City.
All will be involved in the Thursday night, April 9, concert with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra at the Greene County Middle School gym in Jefferson.
Pictured with Berry are Beta Tau Delta event co-chairs Sue Richardson (left) and Carole Custer (right). Tickets for the performance are on sale at the Printer’s Box and Home State Bank in Jefferson.
In support of the festivities, the Jefferson public library has created a display at the library that showcases some of the accomplishments of the Oatts family of musicians. The display was created by by librarian Dorothy Hadley (pictured).
