Ralph Towner, Nancy King, and Glen Moore's Oregon musical origins * Oregon ArtsWatch

"EDITOR'S NOTE: Legendary jazz guitarist Ralph Towner died Sunday January 18, at age 85 (see his New York Times obituary here), a few months after the death of his early collaborator, singer Nancy King (see Lynn Darroch's ArtsWatch memorial appreciation of her here). Both Oregon Jazz Hall of Fame members were among the finest musicians ever to come out of our state. On the occasion of Towner's passing, we're publishing an updated version of Brett Campbell's 2013 Oregon Quarterly feature about Towner, King and their fellow jazz giant, Glen Moore, whose meeting at the University of Oregon in the late 1950s ignited their respective careers. ***"

"In early 1960, the Erb Memorial Union at the University of Oregon hosted the annual Parents Weekend combo contest for student musicians. Freshman Glen Moore showed up with his acoustic bass, anchoring the rhythm section of three of the five jazz groups slated to perform. Moore listened closely to the other students. One especially stood out: "He was playing a little piano, then trumpet, and even bongos. He even had a bongo solo!""

"The sophomore pianist noticed Moore, too. "He had a sound right from the beginning," Ralph Towner remembered. "He had those big strong hands." Although Moore was playing an acoustic instrument, "he'd hit a note on the bass and there was electricity right away." That highly charged first meeting of bassist Glen Moore and the bongo-playing pianist, Ralph Towner, sparked the most durable and acclaimed musical combination ever to emerge from their home state- whose name they eventually took a decade later, a continent away, when they formed the jazz and world music quartet Oregon."

In early 1960 the Erb Memorial Union at the University of Oregon hosted a Parents Weekend combo contest where freshman Glen Moore anchored several groups on acoustic bass. Ralph Towner played piano, trumpet and bongos, even taking a bongo solo. The two musicians noticed each other's distinctive sounds and strong presence, sparking frequent jams and performances. A third student, singer Nancy King, joined the pair and contributed a sublime voice and instinctive song interpretation. A decade later Moore and Towner formed the acclaimed jazz and world-music quartet Oregon. Ralph Towner died January 18 at age 85; Nancy King died months earlier. Both were Oregon Jazz Hall of Fame members.

Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News