Unsung Giants
Indiana’s Hidden Jazz Stories Come Alive
Summary • Full Description • Impact • Meet the Artists • Press • Contact
Project Summary
Unsung Giants is a cultural preservation and community revitalization project by jazz bassist, composer and cultural advocate Brandon Meeks.
The work documents and uplifts overlooked Black jazz elders from Indianapolis, Indiana and the broader Midwest while creating new pathways for emerging regional artists.
Through oral history, original composition, concerts and intergenerational collaboration, Unsung Giants brings long-overdue recognition to musicians who shaped the sound of a region—and reshapes what is possible for the future of jazz in Indiana and beyond.
Full Project Description
Unsung Giants is an initiative dedicated to honoring the legacy of Black jazz legacy artists whose contributions shaped the cultural identity of Indiana and the Midwest.
Despite their impact, many of these musicians never received the recognition, documentation, or platforms they deserved. This project seeks to change that.
Through a combination of oral history interviews, archival exploration, original compositions, live performances, and community engagement, Unsung Giants gives voice to the musicians who built the regional jazz language that continues to influence artists today.
Their stories—filled with innovation, resilience, and cultural wisdom—inform the future of jazz while grounding it firmly in the lineage from which it emerged.
Unsung Giants is also a call to the next generation. By creating opportunities for younger artists to learn directly from legacy artists, collaborate in new musical settings, and participate in curated performances, the project bridges age, geography, and genre.
At its heart, Unsung Giants is an offering: an ongoing effort to ensure that the legacy of Black Midwest jazz is preserved, celebrated, and carried forward with intention.
With this work, Brandon seeks to expand how Indiana and the nation understand the Midwest’s role in shaping jazz—and to ensure that the musicians who nurtured its sound are finally acknowledged as the giants they are.
Why This Work Matters
For generations, Black jazz legacy artists in the Midwest shaped the culture of countless cities while receiving little documentation or institutional support.
Their stories—full of innovation, migration, mentorship, and community artistry—are foundational to the history of American music. Yet many remain missing from archives, publications, and public memory.
Unsung Giants addresses this cultural gap by:
Preserving stories before they are lost
Centering Black artistic lineage
Strengthening Indiana’s creative ecosystem
Reconnecting generations of musicians
Reclaiming the Midwest’s rightful place in jazz history
This work ensures that the musicians who shaped the sound of a region are honored, heard, and remembered.
Unsung Giants celebrates the living jazz legacy artists whose artistry shaped the cultural fabric of Indianapolis, Gary, and the greater Midwest.
Profiles and interviews will appear here as the project unfolds.
Featured Legacy Artists (in development):
Billy Foster (Gary, IN) — Pianist, educator, and pillar of the region’s jazz culture
Clifford Ratliff (Indianapolis, IN) — Trumpeter and mentor to multiple generations
Kenny Phelps (Indianapolis, IN) — Drummer, producer, and creative force
Meet The Legacy Artists
Billy Foster
Clifford Ratliff
Kenny Phelps
Project Elements
(In development)
Oral Histories
Recorded conversations with legacy artists capturing their stories, lineage, and personal histories.
Original Compositions
New music inspired by the lives and legacies of the elders, composed by Brandon Meeks.
Brandon Meeks is a jazz bassist, composer, and cultural advocate. Based in Indianapolis, he is known for his work across jazz, hip-hop, and soul, and for his leadership in strengthening the region’s creative ecosystem.
His project Unsung Giants expands the cultural narrative of the Midwest by documenting and celebrating the legacy of Black jazz elders while cultivating next generation artists.
About Brandon Meeks
Press + Recognition
Get Updates
A community-supported initiative connected to this project will launch in early 2026. Join the list to be the first to know.
Contact
For media inquiries, interviews, or partnership opportunities:
brandon@brandonmeeksmusic.com