2014 Janice Scroggins 88 Keys Not Enough Time USA

                                       (photo: Brandy Kayzakian-Rowe)

Janice Marie Scroggins b. July 17, 1956  d. May 27, 2014

"The great keyboardist Janice Scroggins, inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame last year, died of an apparent heart attack around 6pm, Tuesday, May 27."

-- Oregon Music News

"Scroggins moved to Portland in the late 70s from Oklahoma. A pianist since early childhood, she won fans as part of the classic soul band, The Esquires."

-- OPB

"We are all saddened and stunned beyond belief by the news of Janice's sudden death on May 27th, 2014. Words fail."

-- Flying Heart

"The last time I saw Janice Scroggins she was playing the blues. It was a Monday night, March 3 of this year, at the regional finals of the August Wilson Monologue Competition on the Main Stage at Portland Center Stage. While the competition judges were deliberating and getting ready to send three of the 15 high-school contestants on to the national finals in New York, the singer Marilyn Keller, in a long blues-diva gown reminiscent of the imperial title character’s in Wilson’s great playMa Rainey’s Black Bottom, was singing from the bottom of her soul. And Janice, with that trademark energetic thump that had a little bit of Oklahoma and a little bit of Oakland and a little bit of gospel and a whole river of American musical history in it, was driving the songs with rolling clarity from the piano bench."

-- Oregon Artswatch

"Janice Scroggins has died. The Portland piano legend was a master of blues, gospel and jazz styles.
Scroggins moved to Portland in the late 70s from Oklahoma. A pianist since early childhood, she won fans as part of the classic soul band, The Esquires."

-- Chinook Observer

"Scroggins came from a family of church musicians and began playing piano at 3 years old. She went on to play alongside renowned musicians like Linda Hornbuckle, Mel Brown, Curtis Salgado and Thara Memory."

-- KGW

"Scroggins grew up in Idabel, a tiny town in Oklahoma where she spent hours at the piano. After arriving in Portland in the late '70s, she became a tireless regular around town, performing alongside players including Thara Memory and Linda Hornbuckle."

-- OregonLive

"Janice Scroggins has died. The Portland piano legend was a master of blues, gospel and jazz styles."

-- Hermiston Herald

"Janice Scroggins September 18, 1956 - March 27, 2014."

-- Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home

"Janice Scroggins received from three years of piano lessons from her mother and her grandmother, who were both church organists; latter coined her on stride piano -oriented style. She attended the African American Booker T. Washington School.Musically it was shaped by gospel musicians like Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Brother Joe May Later she lived in Oakland before she moved in 1978 with her ​​daughter Arietta to Portland."

-- Wikipedia (German)

Janice Scroggins funeral to be on Wednesday, June 4 (updated with June 9 memorial benefit show info)

May 30, 2014. 

Janice Scroggins, happy in church. From FromReggie Houston via Janice Scroggins’ daughter Arieta Ward:

Funeral arrangements for beloved pianst Janice Scroggins, who died of a heart attack on Tuesday, May 27, have been finalized.

On Monday at 9am, there will be a viewing at Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church of Portland, 3138 N. Vancouver Ave., Portland, 97217. Immediately following will be a service at 11am. Reggie Houston will be one of the speakers. There will be music. This post will be updated as more information arrives.

Here is OMN’s coverage of her death.

This just in:

For the Love of Janice (A benefit for the Scroggins family)

Monday, June 9, 7pm, Alberta Rose Theater, $26,

Mary Flower writes:

The Portland music community is reeling from the death of one of its beloved musicians, piano legend Janice Scroggins. Janice died May 27 at age 58. Her legendary skill on the eighty-eights put her on the A List of pianists in this town for gospel, jazz and blues. Friends will gather for a musical tribute and benefit on June 9. The following is just a small portion of musicians who want to be a part:

Lloyd Jones, LaRhonda Steele family, Norman Sylvester, Duffy Bishop & Chris Carlson, Julianne Johnson Dave Fleschner, Louis Pain, Reggie Houston, Brian Ward, Sonny Hess, Myrtle Brown, Curtis Salgado, Mike Doolin, Alan Hager, Lisa Mann, Peter Dammann, Terry Robb, Lyndee Mah, Ken Derouchie, Anne Weiss, Brian Foxworth, Michael Alan Harrison, Tony Ozier, Devin Phillips, Mary Flower and many more musical friends of Janice. 

-- Oregon Music News (http://oregonmusicnews.com/2014/05/30/janice-scroggins-funeral-wednesday-june-4/)