September 1, 1932

Jim Skillern Porter Jr. was born in Little Rock (Pulaski County). Porter became the leader in integrating music venues in Little Rock in the early 1960s. He produced Little Rock’s first integrated-seating concert and became the foremost booking agent in Arkansas for performers, promoting many of the country’s leading jazz artists, such as Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Harry James, and many others. He also operated Little Rock’s first integrated country club and was influential in removing barriers to election of Jewish women to the Junior League.