Lionel Davis grew up in Little Rock next door to that Porter family.
That is, the Porter family that included noted jazz pianist Art Porter Sr. and his son, jazz saxophonist and recording artist Art Porter Jr.
"Art Jr. and I were just lifelong friends," Davis says.
Back in the day, Davis was a fellow amateur musician. "I started on drums. And he was playing drums at the time, before he progressed to saxophone. Of course his musical career went a few rungs higher than mine has."
Davis also benefited from a free, comprehensive musical education from Art Porter Sr.
"Mr. Porter ... was always teaching anyone that was [around] an appreciation for the arts and all types of music, whether you enjoyed listening to it or not," Davis says.
His honorary family membership, so to speak, got Davis in on the inception of Art Porter Music Education. The mission of the organization is to provide college scholarships to Arkansas music students, promote community service and volunteerism and enhance academic skills and develop leadership skills in students through music.
Davis works to keep the memory of both Porters alive with his behind-the-scenes role during A Work of Art, a scholarship fundraiser for Art Porter Music Education. Held each year during the first week in August, A Work of Art includes performances by jazz musicians and singers along with a scholarship presentation.
Art Porter Music Education got its start as Art Porter Sr. Music Education Inc. After the elder Porter died July 22, 1993, Art Porter Jr. founded the nonprofit organization to preserve his father's memory and promote the importance of education through scholarships. The organization was incorporated in January 1994.
Art Porter Jr. died in a boating accident in November 1996 in Thailand. The fundraising and scholarship awards continued but were suspended after Art Porter Jr.'s widow, Barbi, died of cancer in February 2001. Ten years later, the organization was renamed and its mission was expanded.
Art Porter Jr. would have turned 50 on Aug. 3, 2011. As that date approached, Davis and some friends chatted about doing something special to observe it.
"We said, 'Let's run it by Benita [Porter-Browning, Art Jr.'s sister],'" Davis recalls. "Well, Benita was already one step ahead." A Work of Art was born.
Davis lends a generous number of hours to the event, slated for Monday-Saturday and featuring a return appearance by Grammy-nominated saxophonist Gerald Albright and his daughter, vocalist Selina Albright. Swedish keyboardist Jonathan Fritzen and saxophonist and native Arkansan Ben Pruitt will also perform, as well as the informal group of local jazz musicians known as the Porter Players.
Also included will be performances by students enrolled in Art Porter Music Education's Minors in Music program. The program offers workshops to musically inclined youths and allows them to engage in relationships with professional musicians and educators and perform community service. The organization's Little Emcees program builds communication skills and confidence in youngsters by way of public speaking, radio broadcasting and related activities.
Each year, Davis takes a week's vacation for A Work of Art. As the organization's logistics director, "I do a little bit of whatever needs to be done" -- whether that's soliciting sponsorships, transporting artists to and from the airport or making sure artists' needs are met during their visit.
"If the bass drum's head bursts, then somebody's got to go get a new bass drum head. And it's not always the musicians that can get away to go get it. ... I'm the gofer. And I'm happy to be it because I want this [event] to be a success. I'll do whatever it takes to try to make that happen."
Participation has been a family affair. His wife, Marsha, supports him. His son, Lionel Davis II, sang with Minors in Music one year -- "Nice voice; he gets it from his grandfather. It skipped a generation," Davis jokes. His daughter, Briana, was Benita Porter-Browning's assistant one year.
His favorite volunteer moments, Davis says, are getting to interact with visiting musicians, many of whom knew Art Jr. and/or Art Sr.
A Work of Art, now in its sixth year, has featured such national recording artists as Will Downing, Pieces of a Dream, Alex Bugnon, Jeff Lorber, Paul Jackson Jr. and Everette Harp.
"Just to get to know these guys and interact with them is really awesome," Davis says. "That's one of the perks."
He remembers when Gerald Albright, also last year's featured artist, came to hear the Minors in Music -- "and how impressed he was with the young people that played. He was really excited about this. So that [let me know that], hey, we're doing something right."
And Albright thinks a lot of Davis.
"When I first met Lionel Davis, I could tell immediately that he had a great spirit," Albright says. "Lionel was immediately very supportive and caring from minute one. We had great conversations, and I could tell that he was very proud to talk about his town of Little Rock."
But it's not just Art Porter Music Education that has benefited from Davis' volunteerism.
"As a teenager, he accompanied his father [in] taking all the elderly disabled neighbors on our block to medical appointments, grocery shopping and other tasks on a weekly basis," says Thelma Porter, widow of Art Porter Sr. and mother of Art Porter Jr. "As Lionel matured, [and] became a family man, this humanitarian service never stopped."
Planning for next year's A Work of Art has already begun. They've gotten inquiries from people who have heard about the event and want to take part.
Davis says he'd like to see A Work of Art gain sponsors, more big-name artists and maybe even a new name indicating its much bigger draw.
He pauses a bit to daydream out loud. "Newport Jazz Festival -- Little Rock Jazz Festival. Playboy Jazz Festival -- Little Rock Jazz Festival."
A Work of Art will take place at various venues. A schedule, along with tickets ($35-$65), may be obtained at artporter.org. Tickets also are available at Lindsey's Barbecue in North Little Rock. For more information, call (501) 492-9120.
High Profile on 07/31/2016