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Wanda White Rock
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Rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson has been working with Jack White and expects to release the first two songs from the collaboration in late January, 2010. Look out for the music and news about it on Wanda's website.
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Gap Band's Wilson Hits It
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Oklahoma Picks State Rock Song
(3/3/09) (OKLAHOMA CITY, OK) – Hailing rock and roll from the 46th state, the Oklahoma State Legislature passed Senate Joint Resolution 24. Sponsored by Senator Mike Schulz and Representative Joe Dorman, the bill names “Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips as the Official Oklahoma Rock Song. The selection of an official rock and roll song recognizes the outstanding achievements of Oklahomans in the genre which dominated the last half of the twentieth century.
A planning meeting between the Oklahoma History Center and the Oklahoma Film & Music Office generated the idea for an official Oklahoma rock song. Jeff Moore, Director of Exhibits for the Oklahoma History Center, recalled “We were discussing Oklahoma’s impact in Rock and Roll and it became clear that there are so many artists, landmark venues, and business connections that Oklahoma needs to formally recognize this remarkable heritage.”
Jill Simpson, Director of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, expressed, "The legislature's official naming of "Do You Realize??" as Oklahoma's Official Rock Song is the culmination of an almost two year process. I don't think any of us involved anticipated just how tough this choice was going to be for both our panel of judges and the voting public. Each of our ten finalists has had a huge impact on rock and roll. It's a testament to the depth of musical talent coming out of Oklahoma."
Nominations for the rock song were collected from February-July 2008. More than 2,498 nominations were submitted for 458 songs. After verifying that each recommendation had an Oklahoma connection, the Oklahoma Historical Society then set forth a final list of nominations to the Official Oklahoma Rock Song Advisory Panel.
With members appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Senate Pro Tempore, the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, the Official Oklahoma Rock Song Advisory Panel included Phil Bacharach, Oklahoma City; Ronnie Kaye, Oklahoma City; Lacey Lett, Oklahoma City; Steve Ripley, Tulsa/Pawnee; Ryan LaCroix, Norman; Dr. Hugh Foley, Stillwater; and Angie Devore-Green, Tulsa.
The Advisory Panel met at the Oklahoma History Center in August of 2008 and narrowed the expansive list of nominated songs down to the ten finalists. They chose songs that represented the different decades of rock and roll in Oklahoma and the wide range of influence Oklahomans have had on the genre.
Spanning six decades, the chosen songs represent the pervasive influence of Oklahoma and Oklahomans on the continuous development of the rock and roll genre. The finalists were “Let’s Have a Party” by Wanda Jackson (1958); “Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips (2002); “Walk Don’t Run” by The Ventures (1960); “Endless Oklahoma Sky” by John Moreland and the Black Gold Band (2008); “Home Sweet Oklahoma” by Leon Russell (1971); “Move Along” by the All-American Rejects (2005); “Never Been to Spain” written by Hoyt Axton (1971); “Oklahoma” by The Call (1986); “Heartbreak Hotel” written by Mae Boren Axton (1956); and “After Midnight” by J.J. Cale (1965). These ten finalists are representative of the pervasive influence of Oklahoma and Oklahomans on the development of rock and roll. The songs are written or performed by Oklahomans and show the massive contributions of Oklahomans to the development of rock and roll in the twentieth and into the twenty-first century.
After being announced in a press conference on September 2, 2008, the ten songs were put to a public vote on the website oklahomarocksong.org. Before the polls closed November 15, 2008, 21,061 votes were cast, the majority of which went to the Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” from their album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. As the final step in the rock song selection process, “Do You Realize??” will now be presented to the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives.
Voters submitted many reasons for their selection of the Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” for the Official Oklahoma Rock Song. With visible pride in their Oklahoma roots, innovative and modern artistry, and a long-standing commitment to rock and roll, the Flaming Lips enjoy a deep connection with the citizens of their native state. Voters submitted a variety of reasons for their selection of “Do You Realize??” for the Official Oklahoma Rock Song. “Not only are the Flaming Lips from Oklahoma, but the song ‘Do You Realize??’ also makes for an excellent state song. The song is universal and very unifying, with a great message,” remarked one fan. Another stated, “The beauty in the message of ‘Do You Realize??’ perfectly suits the beautiful state of Oklahoma.” Yet another wrote “‘Do You Realize??’ is one of the greatest songs ever written and The Flaming Lips are a fine example of the brilliance that the state of Oklahoma has produced. The song and the band are timeless. The sentiments expressed in ‘Do You Realize??’ are universal and would project Oklahoma in a positive and endearing light.”
The selection of the Official Oklahoma Rock Song is part of a greater effort of the Oklahoma Historical Society to celebrate the state’s rock and roll heritage with an exhibit entitled “Another Hot Oklahoma Night,” slated to open May 2, 2009 at the Oklahoma History Center. The History Center is actively collecting stories and artifacts related to rock and roll in Oklahoma. For more information, please contact the museum staff at (405) 522-0798 or visit the exhibit website at anotherhotoklahomanight.org.
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Flaming Lips Film Finally Out
The long-awaited Flaming Lips film, Christmas on Mars, landed November 11. Collectors are busy checking their available funds and tracking down the special vinyl edition package: Lips Vinyl Cheese
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Miss Blues Does Us Some Good
(10/25/08) Barreling out of Skinner Studios in Norman, Miss Blues (a.k.a. Dorothy Ellis) may be Oklahoma's most authentic blues shouter. Miss Blues' emotive power and gravel truck voice rumbles through nine tracks of brutally honest life stories on her fourth independent CD, Bad Prospects (Skinner Audio). Excellent production qualities with some stinging guitar work, slinky rhythm, and Miss Blues' quintessential lyrics make this CD one to have in your Oklahoma music collection. One has to wonder how long it will be before the national blues publications and maybe even a larger distributor or label picks this one up. We don't listen to blues to make us feel worse. We listen to blues to feel better, and Miss Blues gives us all a good, cathartic cry in the grandest tradition of women blues vocalists going back to the Smiths (Bessie and Mamie), or more contemporary singers such as Koko Taylor. With sixty-five years of professional gigs under her belt, Dorothy Ellis brings it all home in a way that reminds us pain has purpose, to get to the other side of it, understand it, and then put it away.
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Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Announces 2008 Honorees
8/7/08 – The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. announced its 2008 honorees and inductees.
Five artists or groups were recognized by the hall of fame this year. The Cherokee National Youth Choir will receive the coveted Governor’s Award, a prestigious honor given only twice before. The choir was founded in 2000 and has recorded six CDs. The choir performs traditional Cherokee songs in the Cherokee language to increase awareness of the Cherokee culture.
Chick Rains and the late Bob Childers were inducted in the songwriters’ category. Songwriters from Oklahoma or writers who write songs about Oklahoma are eligible to be inducted in this category. Chick Rains is a songwriter born in Muskogee, Okla. He has written songs for well-known music stars including the Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire and Johnny Cash. Bob Childers, known as the father of red dirt music, began playing guitar at 16. He emerged on the music scene with his 1979 song, “I Ain’t No Jukebox.”
The All-American Rejects were honored for the significant national attention they have received for their music talents. Announcement of their Rising Star Award occurred at their concert at D-Fest in Tulsa, Okla. The All-American Rejects began in Stillwater, Okla. in 2001 and have recorded three CDs with a fourth being released this fall.
The Wichita & Affiliated Tribe were this year’s inductee into the American Indian Tribal Music Traditions category. With recording of Wichita music made as early as 1902, the tribes’ singers are some of the earliest recording artists in Oklahoma music history.
Oklahoma country music singer, Wade Hayes, who took two of Rain’s song to #1 performed Chick Rains’ songs; members of the Red Dirt Rangers sang Bob Childers’ songs with backup music provided by Tom Skinner and the Science Project. The Cherokee National Youth Choir performed under the direction of Mary Kay Henderson The All-American Rejects knocked out the show a concert featuring their hits and some new songs from their forthcoming CD, due for release in time for Christmas.
ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM, INC:
To date, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Inc. has honored fifty-three individuals or groups for their talent and contribution to the music industry. Among those awards are forty-six inductees including Vince Gill, Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, Wanda Jackson and more from all genres of music. Also five rising stars have been awarded, including Carrie Underwood, Hinder, Keith Anderson and honored two governor award recipients. Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame has produced more than 20 concerts and has renovated the facility that educates Oklahomans for generations about those innovators and industry icons from the Sooner State who shape music all over the world.
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New Woody Guthrie Tribute CD
8/1/08 - Woody Guthrie fans will definitely want to grab a copy of Ribbon of Highway Endless Skyway: The Woody Guthrie Tribute Tour (Music Road Records). A series of live recordings from the Guthrie tribute shows organized largely by Jimmy LaFave, and with narration by Red Dirt Music godfather, Bob Childers, the disc features some of Woody's greatest music performed live by a lot of famous folkies old and new: Pete Seeger, Ellis Paul, Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves, Kevin Welch, Ellis Paul, etc. Commenting about the set, on which he appears several times, Jimmy LaFave writes, "We're trying to showcase all facets of Woody Guthrie. He so many things besides a songwriter; a painter, a philosopher, a soldier, a poet, a supporter of the disenfranchised. His songs were just the tip of the iceberg. He was the spirit of America."
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Tulsa Bartender Wins American Idol
David Cook, a Missouri native who moved to Tulsa in hopes of furthering his music career, did just that in stratospheric proportions by winning the 2008 American Idol talent competition. The former bartender and front man for Tulsa's Midwest Kings has also signed a recording contract with 19 Records/RCA Records. Already a #1 hit on I-Tunes, Cook's "Time of My Life" is zooming up the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and ten more songs are right behind it on the chart. Cook begins recording his forthcoming album in between road stops on the "American Idols Live" tour, which ends September 13 at the new BOK Center in Tulsa. (Image Courtesy Star Magazine)
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