Lillette Jenkins-Wisner is an internationally renowned concert pianist and singer. She was born in Harlem, New York and began her career at the age of six. Some of her musical training included New York College of Music, New York University and Westminster Choir College with further development in pipe organ and voice by noted professional instructors, Dr. Ron Berestord and Leonard Hayward. Ms. Jenkins-Wisner taught music for seven years in the Queens, New York School Systems while her children were in school, pursuing her musical career in the evenings, on weekends and during school breaks.
Her initial public performances revolved around church and school affairs. Then, she worked through various booking agencies; however, Jenkins-Wisner credits her marriage to vaudevillian comedy and movie star Percy (Bud) Harris with elevating her performing status.
Only an artist with the stature of Jenkins-Wisner could perform as the only soloist while playing at the funeral of Sarah Vaughan. In addition, she provided the music for a Sarah Vaughn documentary that aired internationally. The height of her professional career was enhanced by musical greats such as W. C. Handy, James P. Johnson, and Eubie Blake. Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Sophie Tucker, Duke Ellington, as well as Sarah Vaughan, were jazz immortals that Jenkins-Wisner befriended and/or performed with. Nat King Cole honored her with a song he recorded entitled “Lillette, You’re The Best Thing Yet”. With her dazzling and flamboyant blend of music, she has also shared the spotlight with Lena Horne, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, and most recently, Billy Joel.
Other acclaimed accomplishments by Jenkins-Wisner include concerts at Carnegie Hall to benefit UNCF, European music festivals, The Lorraine Hansberry Concert Series, coliseums, and featured guest appearances aboard many cruise ships. She has been featured in both, “Ebony” and “Essence” Magazines. Television and film credits comprise “All My Children” and “The Cotton Club”. Recordings include “Meditation”, “Lillette Jenkins Live at Chez Josephine’s”, “In Peace and Love”and “Lillette Plays Lil Armstrong”. Her selection to serve as the musical director and to perform in the production of “The Life Story of Thomas A. Dorsey” is one of the most honored accomplishments cherished by Jenkins-Wisner.
Although Jenkins-Wisner is a concert pianist, she served as Minister of Music for a variety of churches over the years. She is named in the book entitled “Distinguished Church Musicians in the U. S”. Jenkins-Wisner was also an accompanist to Huston B. Owens, Director with The UNCF Choir during the 1970s. Continuous ministry has been and still is being demonstrated by her contributions as a Music Therapist to clients of nursing homes, drug centers, and prisons. She has garnered many awards for these compassionate gifts, including the Humanitarian Award presented by the Urban League of Essex County, New Jersey, four Proclamations from the City of Newark, New Jersey and The Evergreen Award as a Life-Long Artist of New Jersey.
Most recently, she has performed numerous concerts up and down the Gulf Coast and has affiliated her music with the Jazz Club of Sarasota. She is the recent widow of Elbert C. Wisner, retired engineer and consultant. She has five children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
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