Inductees

Lee Wiley was born in Fort Gibson in 1910. She was one of the most mysterious figures and influential singers of early jazz. Wiley moved from Oklahoma to New York in the 1920s. At age 17, she was singing and recording with Leo Reisman's orchestra. Although a cool-toned and sophisticated singer, her interpretations of superior standards were often quite sensuous. Wiley also earned notice for her ability to organize a set of songs around a common composer or theme, which later became known as the songbook or concept album. She was a songwriter and one of the few respected white vocalists in the jazz community. Wiley died in 1975. She is buried in her hometown of Fort Gibson.