Jana Jae To Be Inducted Into Fiddler Hall Of Fame

Some of the biggest names in fiddling will be in Broken Arrow Thursday evening.

Five artists are being inducted into The National Fiddler Hall of Fame, including the first woman, Jana Jae. Many say there is no one more deserving then Jana. 

I recently caught up with her and we took a look back at her career.

Jana Jae knows how to jam. 

“My parents put a little 1/8 size violin in my hands when I was two,” said Jana Jae. 

Growing up in Idaho, fiddling was a family affair. Jana's parents devoted a lot of time to teaching Jana. By age 5, she was performing on national TV.

“The Ted Mac Amateur Hour, that really dates me,” said Jana Jae. 

It was the start of a great musical career. 

“I was studying and entering fiddle contests and I won a lot of championships," said Jana Jae. 

She says her first big break came when Buck Owens hired her as the first female member of his “Buckaroos Band.”

“The first gig was in Las Vegas and they just gave me a signal and I was supposed to do my kick off for 'Diggy Lee Li' and it was just lights, camera, action from that point on,” said Jana Jae. 

The rest is history. Jana has sold thousands of albums, performed all over the world, won multiple awards and made regular appearances on shows like Hee Haw and The Tonight Show. 

Jana developed a unique style, mixing country and classical. 

Her music has inspired and paved the way for many, including women. 

“It was kind of a man's world, fiddling. And then when Buck hired me that was really a first because they had girl singers in the country bands, but no girl instrumentalists,” said Jana Jae. 

Thursday evening, Jana Jae will be the first woman inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame. 

“I just feel like it's another chance to break a ceiling you know," said Jana Jae, 

A ceiling that's been shattered by the sound of four strings. As an artist, she hopes people remember her as... 

“A really good entertainer that connects with them, plays good music, sings some really good songs and touches some hearts,” said Jana Jae. 

The National Fiddler Hall of Fame 2015 Inductee Gala is being held at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center. It begins at 7:30 p.m.