[Synopsis]

Oklahoma's a big music state. Almost any weekend, even in small towns you will find a band playing live music. They may be local, but most are talented. When I lived in Tulsa, I rented a room from Waylon Jenning's guitarist at the time. He was the spittin' image of Waylon himself.

Now there was one fine musician, Waylon Jennings. I just love his music and his voice. I also loved his Fender Telecaster (or was it a Stratocaster, I get mixed up?). The guitarist I rented the room from was a fantastic musician and we would pick away together every weekend.

Good, good times. I was so very poor but also so very happy.

[boris63]

I'm a big Waylon fan too. Love all that old outlaw country!

Glad to here there's live music even in the rural areas. I love country livin, but don't want to ever quit playing live.

Thanx to everyone for all the help/advice. Oklahoma's sounding better everyday. I might actually take the big plunge and move there! We'll see how my job interview goes.

[peggydavis]

Good luck, boris! I hope everything goes well in your interview.

[checotahkid]

Originally Posted by boris63

I'm considering taking a job with a company that has several plants in eastern OK. and western Arkansas. I'm also a part-time professional musican(guitarist/vocalist) and was wondering what the live music scene was like in that area. Is there a lot of dry counties? If, so which ones?

I'm 44, so I'm not looking to become a big star, just hoping to find a working band to play with on weekends for fun and a little side money. Most of my expierience is in Classic Rock, Country, Blues, etc. Mostly old school stuff.

Anybody have any idea how hard it would be to find a place to play live music in that area? What towns/areas would be the best and worst for live music?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanx.

Boris there 77 counties in Oklahoma, none of which are dry. Tulsa and the surrounding area/metroplex is your best bet. McAlester is in the middle of nowhere, beautiful town. Muskogee would be a great place for a musician, there are a number of famous blues/country musicians from Muskogee. If you go to goggle and type in musicians from Oklahoma you will see that Oklahoma has a very rich musical history.Reinetsville just north of Checotah has a huge Blues festival every year Labor Day week-end. Coweta, Okmulgee, Nowata, Owasso, Tulsa metroplex is the best bet.

[mkfarnam]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

Sapulpa is a pretty nice own with a wide mix of bad/knockdown housing and new upscale houses. Rodney Carrington lives there as well, so I know at least one guy knows how to play a guitar. West of Sapulpa is pretty rural, Kellyville to Bristow are wonderful towns......there is a great large animal chiropractor in Bristow....he works on bucking bulls and cutting horses.

North of both communities you have Drumright, Yale, Mannford, Oilton, Jennings.......mostly small towns based on oil and cattle....except for Mannford which is on Keystone Lake.

As far as the live music scene..........we have a few notable musicians such as

* Tommy Allsup, guitarist/bass player, 6500+ recordings, played with Johnny Lee Wills Band, Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys, The Southernaires, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Rockabilly Hall of Fame, 1999 Grammy Best Instrumental Performance, Asleep at the Wheel. Born in Claremore, Nov. 24, 1931.
* *Gene Autry*, Songwriter (200+, Back in the Saddle Again), radio/TV/movie star. Born Tioga, Texas, raised in Oklahoma. 1907-1998.
* Hoyt Axton, folksinger, songwriter, Duncan, Mar. 25, 1938.
* Chet Baker, jazz trumpet musician, Yale, 1929-1989.
* Michael Been, singer/songwriter/guitarist. Formed band,The Call, born and raised in Oklahoma.
* Carl Belew. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame ( Lonely Street, Am I That Easy To Forget). 1931-1990, Salina.
* Elvin Bishop, 15 solo albums, Fooled Around and Fell in Love. Tulsa, 1942.
* Ralph Blane, composer/lyricist, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meet Me in St. Louis, Best Foot Forward, Broken Arrow, 1914-1995.
* Noel Boggs. One of world's greatest steel guitar players. 1917-1974, Oklahoma City.
* Johnny Bond. Songwriter, singer, guitar player for Gene Autry on Melody Ranch from 1940-1957. A member of Nashville's Songwriter's hall of fame, his compositions include: Hot Rod Lincoln, Oklahoma Waltz, Cimarron, Ten Little Bottles. 1915-1978, Enville.
* Mike Brewer. Folk rock artist, (One Toke Over the Line), Oklahoma City, 1944.
* Garth Brooks, country music superstar, Yukon, Feb. 7, 1962.
* Albert Brumley. Prolific songwriter composed over 800 gospel and sentimental songs. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Gospel Music Hall of Fame (Turn Your Radio On, I'll Fly Away). Oct. 29, 1905, Spiro.
* Anita Bryant, singer, political activist, Barnsdall, Mar. 25, 1940.
* J.J. Cale, prolific songwriter, singer (After Midnight, Guitar Man), Tulsa.
* Jeff Carson. Country singer/songwriter (Not On Your Love)
December 16, 1963, Tulsa.
* Gary Chapman. Country/Christian, 1996 Dove Award, Male Vocalist of the Year. Aug. 19, 1957, Waurika.
* *Charlie Christian*, jazz guitarist, member of Benny Goodman Sextet, born in Dallas, moved to Oklahoma City as an infant, 1916-1942.
* *Roy Clark*. Versatile country entertainer. Born Virginia, lives in Tulsa.
* Color Me Badd, Oklahoma City-based R&B band, formed in 1987 (I Adore Mi Amor, All 4 Love), winners of an American Music Award, two Soul Train Awards and 3 Grammy nominations.
* Joe Diffie, country musician.
* Big Al Downing. Legendary 50's Rock & Roll pioneer. Centralia, 1940.
* Ronnie Dunn, country singer/songwriter (Boot Scootin' Boogie), Tulsa.
* Nokie Edwards, guitarist, played with The Ventures (Walk Don't Run) from 1959-1967, and again from 1972-1984. Lahoma.
* Ty England. Young country singer/guitarist, played with Garth Brooks 6 years, two solo CDs. Dec. 5, 1963, Tulsa.
* Ernie Fields, big band musician, Tulsa.
* Flaming Lips, Oklahoma City-based alternative rock band.
* For Love Not Lisa, rock band formed in Oklahoma City (Slip Slide Melting).
* Dallas Frazier. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Grammy Winner
(Alley Oop, There Goes My Everything, Elvira, True Love Travels on a Gravel Road). Oct. 27, 1939, Spiro.
* The Gap Band, Tulsa-based soul trio, funk, R&B, 70's and 80's.
* David Gates, musician, the band Bread, Tulsa, 1940.
* Vince Gill, country superstar, Norman, April 12, 1957.
* Wardell Gray. Jazz tenor saxophonist, Oklahoma City, 1921-1955.
* Woody Guthrie, folksinger/songwriter, Okemah, 1912-1967.
* The Hansons,Isaac, Taylor and Zac, rising young "alterna-alterna rock" stars (MMMBop, first poptop 10 hit). Tulsa.
* Gus Harden. 1983 Best New Female Artist, Academy of
Country Music Awards (After the Last Goodbye, All Tangled Up In Love). 1945-1996, Tulsa.
* Roy Harris, symphonic composer, 200+ works, Chandler, 1898-1979.
* Wade Hayes. 1995 Billboard Top New Country Artist ( Old Enough to Know Better, On a Good Night). Apr. 20, 1969, Bethel Acres.
* Michael Hedges, new age composer, musician. Enid. 1954-1997.
* Becky Hobbs. Songwriter/singer (Angels Among Us, It's a Cheating Situation). Jan. 24, 1950, Bartlesville.
* Wanda Jackson, country singer, (In the Middle of a Heartache, Right or Wrong). Oct. 20, 1937, Maude.
* Toby Keith, country superstar, born Clinton, lives Moore, July 8, 1961.
* Barney Kessel. Noted jazz guitarist/improvisationist, has played with Artie Shaw's Gramcercy Five, Oscar Peterson Trio and Charlie Parker. Muskogee, Oct. 17, 1923.
* Joel Levine, Music Director, OKC Philharmonic. Born Oklahoma City.
* Susie Luchsinger. Christian Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year, 1994, 1995, and 1996 Dove Country Album of the Year nomination. Nov. 8, 1957, Chockie/McAlester.
* Mel McDaniel, 1985 nominated CMA single of the year, Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On. Checotah, Sept. 9, 1942.
* Barry McGuire. Singer/songwriter, original member of the New Christy Minstrals, star of Broadway musical, "Hair". Songs include Green, Green and Eve of Destruction. Oklahoma City, Oct. 15, 1935.
* Reba McIntyre, country superstar, McAlester, Mar. 29, 1955.
* Jay McShann, jazz pianist, Confessin' the Blues, Muskogee, 1916.
* Eddie Miller. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (Release Me, Thanks A Lot, There She Goes). 1919-1977, Camargo, Okla.
* Ralph Moon. Session guitarist/songwriter (Crazy Arms, Falling for You), played with Waylon Jennings from 1970 until a few years ago. Duncan.
* Alan Munde, one of world's leading banjo players, Norman.
* Kenny O'Dell. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, notable compositions include 1973 CMA Song of the Year, Behind Closed Doors, and Beautiful People, Mama He's Crazy). Born early 1940's, Oklahoma.
* Bonnie Owens. Country singer, 1965 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, 1970 CMA Vocal Duo of the Year (with husband Merle Haggard). Oct. 1, 1932, Blanchard.
* Billy Parker. Country musician-turned DJ, Country Music Disc Jocky Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award, Oklahoma Assoc. Broadcasters. Tulsa native.
* *Tom Paxton*. Folksinger/songwriter. Born Chicago, raised Bristow.
* Oscar Pettiford, Double bass player and bandleader, Okmulgee, 1922-1960.
* Patti Page, singer, Tennessee Waltz, Claremore, Nov. 8, 1927.
* Carl Radle. Bass guitarist, played with Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Derek & the Dominos, Layla, Eric Clapton and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends. Oklahoma City, 1942-1980.
* Jimmy Rushing, musician, Oklahoma City, 1903-1972.
* Leon Russell, Tulsa.
* Jean Shepard. Pioneer female country singer and regular on Grand Ole Oprey (A Dear John Letter, Satisfied Mind, Two Hoops & A Holler). Nov. 21, 1933, Paul's Valley.
* Billy Simon. Country/inspirational singer/songwriter, member 4Runner quartet. Cleveland, OK.
* Kay Starr, singer, hits include Wheel of Fortune, Rock 'n' Roll Waltz, Dougherty, July 21, 1922.
* Hank Thompson, "King of Western Swing", Brazos Valley Boys. Born Sept. 3, 1925, Sand Springs (?), now resides in Waco, Texas.
* Floyd Tillman. Country singer/songwriter (It Makes No Difference Now, I Love You So Much it Hurts, Slippin' Around), 1976 inducted into Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame, 1984, Country Music Hall of Fame. Ryan, Dec. 8, 1914.
* Pinky Tomlin. Lyricist (The Object of My Affection), orchestra leader. Sept. 9, 1907, Eureka Springs, Okla.
* The Tractors, Tulsa-based country rock band.
* *Merle Travis*. Country swing (Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! That Cigarette, Capital Records 1st million seller). 1917-1983, born Kentucky, lived in Tahlequah at time of his death.
* Dwight Twilley. Rockabilly singer (I'm On Fire), has been called an "overlooked American pop genius". Tulsa, June 6, 1951.
* Jimmy Webb. Prolific singer/songwriter, and the only artist to have won Grammy awards for music, lyric and orchestration. National Academy of Songwriter's 1993 Lifetime Achievement Award. Songs include McArthur's Park, Galveston, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, All I Know, The Highwayman, The Moon's A Harsh Mistress, Up, Up and Away, Wichita Lineman. Elk City, Aug. 15, 1946.
* Bryan White. 1996 Top New Male Vocalist, Academy of Country Music Awards (Love is the Right Place). Feb. 17, 1974, Lawton.
* Claude Williams, been called "the last of the great swing fiddlers", Muskogee, 1908.
* Kelly Willis. Alternative country, nominated Top New Female Vocalist of 1994. Oklahoma-born.
* Heath Wright. Lead vocalist, Ricochet. Apr. 22, 1967, Vian, OK.


As far as up and coming music, the Red Dirt movement is from Stillwater........there are literally dozens of bands and venues in Green Country.

Is that all!?...I could have sworn there were more.

[checotahkid]

Please don't forget the 2 " boys from Western Oklahoma, Van Cliburn and Roger Miller both were born in Sayre Oklahoma, Van Cliburn was raised in Ft. Worth, not bad as a piano player, and dang me 'ol Roger took his musical talents on the road, he was also raised in Texas. In Langston Oklahoma, there was a band and I am still researching this but, they were a Gospel, Jazz, Blues Band, needless to say a all Black band, they did make it to New York, and played with some of the " Big Band leaders of that time, I want to say, their "big break" came with Billy Eckstein.Muskogee has had notable musicians as well.WE can not forget Anita Bryant.

[checotahkid]

Please forgive the error, it was Van Cliburn mother that was Sayre Oklahoma, Van was born in Sherveport La., and Roger was born in Texas but raised in Erick Oklahoma, just outside Syare, my error please forgive me.

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by checotahkid

Please forgive the error, it was Van Cliburn mother that was Sayre Oklahoma, Van was born in Sherveport La., and Roger was born in Texas but raised in Erick Oklahoma, just outside Syare, my error please forgive me.

You're forgiven , welcome to the Okie forum.

[linicx]

Billy Eckstein.. haven't heard that name or voice in an age. Considering the number of 'hit' makers that have Okie roots, it would be my first choice if I wanted to get noticed. Nashville is a hard nut to crack.

[ORexpat]

Does anyone know anything about the classical music scene in Oklahoma? I am interested in choirs, symphony, music schools. I write different kinds of music, some of it religious and classical, but don't perform, and would like to move to a place which is supportive.