Orlis Glen Wheeler

Orlis Glen Wheeler Junior, 64, of Springdale, Arkansas, died February 27 at Washington Regional Medical Center. He was known by longtime friends as Glen, but preferred Orlis in later life. Orlis was born to Orlis Glen Wheeler Sr. and Peggy Black on July 4, 1950, in Memphis, Texas, and was the second of three brothers in Las Vegas, Nevada. In Las Vegas, he met Judy Arlene Kantor and they married in 1972. Orlis and Judy raised two children: Orlis Glen Wheeler III, born June 11, 1973, in Las Vegas, and Christie Wheeler, born August 15, 1977, in Springdale, Arkansas. In 1974, Orlis and Judy moved their family to Fayetteville, and opened the The Record Exchange, a record store that became a hangout, cultural touchstone, recording studio, and meeting place for a loose group of Northwest Arkansas record collectors, music fans, and musicians spanning three generations. The Wheelers settled in Springdale in 1975, and over the next four decades Orlis became a presence in the local music scene as a musician, songwriter, concert promoter, producer, disc jockey, and enthusiastic fan. In 1983 he organized The Stompers as a backing band for the Fayetteville blues pianist Robert "Little Jojo" Thompson, and later led the band himself as Blue Boy Orlis, a nickname given to him by Little Rock bluesman Son Seals. In later years, Orlis championed live poetry performance and worked as sound technician and recordist for the Ozark Poets and Writers Collective. After the Record Exchange closed in 2006, he continued trading records and lore with a network of local collectors at his home in Springdale. Music was his life and his passion, whether he was discussing the merits of a favorite recording, playing on stage, talking up an exciting local band, or standing in the audience and cheering. He was preceded in death by Christie Wheeler in 2001, and Judy Wheeler in 2004. He is survived by his son, Orlis Glen Wheeler III, who goes by Glen; Adan Wheeler, his grandson by Christie Wheeler; his younger brother Trent Black, and his older brother Wayne Coyner. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville, 901 Cleveland Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72701. Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory handled the cremation arrangements.