Columbia-Tusculum in Cincinnati in Hamilton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

“Pigmeat” Jarrett

December 8, 1899 - September 5, 1995

— Cincinnati Music History —

"Pigmeat" Jarrett Marker image. Click for full size.

Warren LeMay via Flickr/Public domain, March 15, 2019

1. "Pigmeat" Jarrett Marker

Inscription. James Jarrett, Jr. learned piano in Cincinnati at Harriet Beecher Stowe School, helping his teacher Lillian Drayton after school. He learned Barrelhouse Blues in Southgate Alley speakeasies in Newport, Ky, then moved on to riverboats, a 16-piece band & jazz, before retiring in the 1940s. Blues historian Steven C. Tracy coaxed him to perform again and arranged his only studio recording “Look At The People” in 1979. Pigmeat performed at the Chicago Blues Fest in 1992 and the Cincy Blues Fest in 1994-1995.

Erected by The Big Joe Duskin Music Education Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1979.

Location. 39° 7.007′ N, 84° 26.259′ W. Marker is in Cincinnati, Ohio, in Hamilton County. It is in Columbia-Tusculum. It is at the intersection of Hoge Street and Columbia Parkway (U.S. 50), on the right when traveling north on Hoge Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3538 Columbia Pkwy, Cincinnati OH 45226, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

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marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ruth Lyons (within shouting distance of this marker); Columbia Presbyterian & Fulton Cemeteries / William Brown (approx. ¾ mile away); Old Columbia Baptist Church and Meeting House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Pioneer Pillar (approx. 0.9 miles away); Columbia Baptist Cemetery / Columbia (approx. 0.9 miles away); World War II Comes To Lunken Field (approx. one mile away); Hon. Henry Stanbery (approx. 1.2 miles away in Kentucky); St. Marys World War Marker (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cincinnati.

Also see . . . Pigmeat Jarrett. Biography, photos and links to songs recorded by the bluesman. (Sentir el Blues/Blues on Time blog) (Submitted on December 3, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 3, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 2,181 times since then and 123 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on December 3, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide photograph of marker and surrounding area in context. • Can you help?