Next month, world-renowned jazz artist and Joplin native Charles McPherson will perform two concerts as a part of Connect 2 Culture’s Curtains Up series. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

McPherson was born in Joplin and moved to Detroit at the age of nine, where he studied with renowned pianist Barry Harris and started playing jazz professionally at age 19. From there, McPherson’s career would take off, expanding rapidly and taking him to concert venues, festivals, orchestras, and jazz halls across the globe.

Turns out, McPherson went to grade school in Joplin with the Father of Javon Jackson, one of the current members of his band. “Just so happens that I went to grade school in Joplin with Javon Jackson’s father. So we were in grade school in 1946, 47, 48. And then I end up being a musician and his son ends up being a musician.” McPherson and his group will perform on Friday, February 18 at Joplin Empire Market and the following night at Central Christian Church. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro