About Tj WheelerTj Wheeler is a treasure of American Roots music, or better put, a living, one man Juke Joint! He performs his gumbo of Blues, Jazz, Ragtime and more on a wide variety of instruments, including the 7 string guitar, Ukulele, Tenor Banjo, 1 string Diddley Bow, Tap percussion, nitty gritty vocals & Kazoo! As a soloist or with his band, Tj takes his audience to the Blues of the Mississippi Delta, New Orleans second line jazz to his own contemporary blues and jazz original compositions.

Tj brings these musical genres to life in his inspirational & interactive performances and education programs. Students from schools K -12, universities, and all ages audiences at Blues, Jazz & Folk music festivals around the world have been enlightened by Tj’s knowledge of the history & stories behind the music as they are about his talented and passionate performances.

Tj’s workshop/concert, residency program Hope, Heroes and the Blues has been performed for over 450,000 students throughout the world. Tj often utilizes modern computer technology in making special multi-media presentation of his award winning educational programs and has won accolades from such diverse sources as Blues Revue magazine, Teaching Tolerance magazine, and the Boston Globe.

Currently, Tj also sits on the Board of Directors of the FRIENDS OF THE HAMPTON FALLS BANDSTAND INC.  

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

  • Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation presented at the Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival June 2008
  • Granite State Award from the University Of New Hampshire ..spring 2006
  • Paul Robeson Diversity Commemoration Award U.S. Post Office 2004
  • Best Youth Band T.J.Wheeler’s Funky River Band N.H. Magazine 2004
  • Key Note Speaker for the 21 Century education Conference, Durham N.H. 2004
  • Contributing writer for PBS’s Year of the Blues Educational Curriculum 2003
  • W.C. Handy Keeping the Blues Alive Award in education
  • Feature story Blues Revue Magazine Spring 2003
  • N.H. Diversity Organization’s Award in Education to the Blues Bank Collective & T.J. Wheeler 2003
  • 2002 C.D. Of The Year Award for “Blues You Can Bank On” T.J. Wheeler & Pat Gallagher by JAM magazine
  • 2 place 2002 Song of the Year Award fir “Blues You Can Bank On” written by Nadine Perry & T.J. Wheeler
  • The 2001 National Music Foundation Award for “Hope, Heroes & The Blues
  • The first Lifetime Achievement Award 2001 from Spotlight Magazine
  • 1996 Individual Artist Award N.H. St. Council on the Arts
  • 1995 Silver Pinnacle Education award from the International Music Festival Organization
  • 1993 First Race Unity Award from the Seacoast N.E. Baha’i