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2022 INDUCTEES
          
  

>>>> CLICK to SEE  >>>>  OBHOF 2023 wall photos certs BEST

CLIFF BELCHER, JOHN FORD, SMILIN’ PAUL HUSKINS,  STEVE P.MOJO MAGGARD, STRETCH MOON, CARL V MOORE, CRAIG MORGAN, CHRIS RAGSDALE, ALPHONSO WINSTON ROBINSON, DARRYL ROSS, JAMES SLAW, VERNON ‘GEECHIE’ SMITH, BBQ BOB WALLACE, GARY WHITLEY, KAREN WOODY OBHOF 2023

CLIFF BELCHER
Music Biography of John Ford

John Ford, band director, developed a highly successful, decade long tour called
the ‘Motown Revue’ traveled the state of Oklahoma.
Traveling with tours is nothing new to the native Oklahoman, John Ford.
He learned to play the drums at 13 and by age 16 started his own band called the
‘Soul Sonics’ at Douglass High School.
At age 17 he formed his second band, The Funky Bunch in Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
In 1976, John merged with California Malibu’s and began touring. Traveling with
the Chi-lites, SOS band, Denise LaSalle, Chocolate Milk and Johnny Taylor. While
still in his teenaged years John performed in Chicago, Atlanta, Montgomery,
Denver, Jackson MS, Kansas City, MO and Dallas Texas perfecting their sound.
After living in Dallas for several years and armed with his format, he moved back
to Oklahoma City and formed one of the greatest sounds and well known “THE
FUNKY MUSIC MACHINE.”
The Funky Music Machine was the top premier band in Oklahoma City and
enjoyed the success of national celebrity status. Always performing to sold out
crowd locally and while traveling to surrounding states.
John Ford formed the ‘411 Band in 2004 a very successful band touring with Percy
Sledge, Chubby Checker, 3 Dog night and performing in all the top casino’s in
Oklahoma. In 2006 he also pulled together the ‘Motown Soul Revue’ consisting of
12 musicians and singers. As they performed at Windstar World Casino and other
grand casinos in Oklahoma.
The 411 band still performs under the direction of the master musician John Ford.
Who will now be inducted into the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame!

Smiling’ Paul Huskins

‘Smiling’ Paul Huskins grew up in Texas and began playing drums at the age of 11. By the time he was 14 he was playing professionally across the Dallas/Fort Worth area and later in the Houston area. In his formative years, Paul studied many styles of music including Jazz, Rock, County, and of course the Blues. Fred Below, Sam Lay and Sam Carr were very influential blues drummers that helped shape Paul’s playing style. Paul says ‘it’s all about keeping it between the lanes and making the music swing and feel good’!

Paul has had the opportunity to play, write and record with several artists and bands over the course of his 45 plus years of drumming. After countless gigs, blues festivals, and TV appearances, Paul relocated to Oklahoma. For the past several years he’s been providing the backbeat with his band mates David Berntson, Steve Kilman, and Bob Wallace, also known as The Hydramatic

Steve P. (Mojo) Maggard

Born in Tulsa , Ok in 1960

Moved to California at the age of 6

In 1970 at the age of 10 an uncle introduced me to the harmonica

I discovered the blues at the age of 20 and fell in love with the blues

At 23 i started sitting in with blues bands at a local music venue in Niles , Ca

Later in life i met a lifelong bluesman named Nat Bolden at a jam..he heard me play and he asked me to join his band

“The State of Mind band”

We played all over the SF bay area and Central California

In 2016 i moved back to Tulsa where i played with several bands before being asked to be the frontman for The 29th Street band for 5 years til i retired

Now i sit in with blues bands as requested to get my blues 

STRETCH MOON,

CARL V MOORE,

CRAIG MORGAN,

CHRIS RAGSDALE,

ALPHONSO WINSTON ROBINSON,

DARRYL ROSS,

JAMES SLAW,

VERNON ‘GEECHIE’ SMITH 

Bassist  BBQ BOB WALLACE is a veteran of the Oklahoma and California blues scene with over 40 years experience.

The only music available growing up as a child in the Central California town of Atwater was a Top 40 local AM station KYOS in Merced, until he discovered Rhythm & Blues on a high-powered late night Mexican radio station XERB which featured Wolfman Jack. 50 years later the music he heard as a child still is a driving force. After attending a B B King and Elvin Bishop concert in Fresno,CA around 1971 listening and playing the blues has been a life long quest. He studied guitar and bass under Big Band multi-instrumentalist Tommy Galindo. He was founding member of The Hydramatics in 1990 and still is a member. When The Hydramatics took a pause, he formed the popular Tulsa,OK blues band The Bluehemians in 2003.

 Bob Wallace has worked in many areas of the music business, including bassist/vocalist, band leader, soundman, graphics designer, stage security, retail music sales and owner of Wallace Sound a successful guitar and amp repair business.  Over the last 4 decades he has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in blues music. 

GARY WHITLEY
I grew west of Sand Springs and started learning accordion (!) when I was eight and took up guitar at 13. I was teaching guitar and gigging a couple of nights a week by the time I turned 16 and hit the road full time at 19. The early part of the ’70’s was spent touring the Midwest with The Hoffman Brothers and Red Dogs. In 1975, I joined up with Wayne Cochran and the CC Riders and toured nationally and in Canada, as well as recording and making tv appearances. Upon returning to Tulsa in 1979 I played with a variety of groups, including Donna Williams & Fat Tuesday, Ronnie Dunn & the Screaming Ranch Band, finally ending up with a 15 year run with regional favorite Big Kid. Since then, I’ve played and recorded with a variety of acts. I’m currently working with Ronnie Pyle & the Drivers

KAREN WOODY

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2023  2023  2023  2023   2023   2023   2023

   KBA (Keeping the Blues Alive) AWARDS go to:
Tracy Griggs No Nonsense Productions
Hilary & Ronald Conley 
Jayne Hutt Moon

OBHOF ROUND LOGO  

NB: 2018 , 2019 and 2020 are right below2022 and  2021…and
at the BOTTOM of the PAGE a COMPLETE LIST OF ALL INDUCTEES SINCE 2004,
When we began the OBHOF
…also there are other separate pages with bio info on the earlies years inductees 

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2021  2021   2021   2021   2021    2021   2021

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Why We Honor Them – Musician BIOS 2021

the Inductions were our OUR ONLY ACTUAL EVENT LAST YEAR…..in 2020 

2021 INDUCTIONS into the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame

OBHOF INDUCTEES 2021 Why We HonorThem:

Arrealus ‘Boo’ Williams
Brian McKinney
Keys and vocals

Barbara and Charles Burton Jr. 

Charles Burton 
Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee Charles Burton performs for Spotlight Concert Series!

The Burton Band is an entertainment fixture in Oklahoma City and one of the classical rolex replica uk premiere bands in the State of Oklahoma. Charles and Barbara Burton have been playing music together for over 40 years. Charles, the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist, has played with Gladys Knight and the Pips, as well as on the Tom Jones Show. Barbara was featured with the Jazz Messengers and recognized at the 15th Annual Granny Awards. She has also played with Roger Miller and Brenda Lee. The couple has opened for Nancy Wilson, Della Reese and replica watch uk outlet Vic Damone. The Burton Band also features Charles and Barbara’s son, Tre, the group’s drummer.

Charles and Barbara are Tulsa natives and graduates of Booker T. Washington High School. Charles also worked as a principal at Gateway Elementary in Oklahoma City, and Barbara as a physics and biology teacher at Douglas High School.

Retrieved from www.okjazz.org

Harley ‘Cowboy’ Hamm Jr.
Grew up in Fort Gibson extremely versatile guitarist/vocalist. He lived and performed in Minneapolis MN, Nashville and Las Vegas, also played the Festival in Scotland – they gifted him with a kilt! . He put together a knockout Stevie Ray Vaughn Tribute and taught for many years at Square Deal Music in Muskogee Worked as manager at the OK Music Hall of Fame. He had a great sense of humor, was a generous man, and was loved by many people.

Bronko Carr
Started in a musical Family and plays Bass and Drums
David Carr Jr.
Son of Big Dave Carr Jr. also a sax player of note and OBHOF Inductee. Srom Spencer OK

Dycie and Larry Funches
(LARRY AND DYCIE FUNCHES)

MUSICAL INFLUENCES ARE: ARETHA FRANKLIN/ BILLY COBHAM/ MAX ROACH/ CHAKA KHAN/ ANN PEBBLES/ DENEICE WILLIAMS/ PATTI LABELLE/ BETTY WRIGHT/ BUDDY RICH/NANCY WILSON/ ANITA BAKER/ SARAH VAUGHN/ DIANA ROSS/ AL GREEN/ 
THE INSPIRATIONAL SOULFUL R&B JAZZ 

SONGSTRESS AND ENTERTAINER

               *DYCIE FUNCHES*

Dycie Lorraine (Bryan) Funches Was born in (OKLAHOMA CITY OKLAHOMA) Started singing at the age of 6yrs old, In the church choir at the First Bpts Church Of Kingfisher Ok

Her Uncle the late Rev.R.T.Jackson.was the pastor and Her Aunt the late Dycie B.Jackson was the first lady an choir director, *Dycie* was named after her Aunt who .noticed that she had the gift for singing and Vocal Performance at a very young age, She encouraged me to use my gifts to Glorify God!!! I told my mother that I loved all different kinds of music That being the 60’s as a child sang gospel in the choir & The Motown Sound upstairs in her bedroom, *Dycie* Began Performing @ age 13 Her First Performance was during a talent show assembly, she was in the 7th grade, She sang “Killing Me Softly” A *Roberta Flack* Classic: *Dycie* Re-arranged it as a duet and performed an sang it with her friend, The late (*Pamela “Pam” Brooks*) While in Jr.High School, *Dycie* Began Writing Poetry & Even Won A Poetry Contest, She was in a play called “Paris To Rome” while still in Jr.High School, She Began Performing On Many Stages, It All Started Back In 75′ *Dycie* Began Performing & Honing Her Craft On Many Fall and Spring, Douglass High School *Talent Shows* She sang in the Concert Choir Under Her The Leadership Of Her Music Teacher & Mentor

*LEROY J.HICKS*/ He Encouraged Her To Open Up  Her Mouth & Sing!  *Dycie’s*First Taste Of Performing In Front Of A 1200 to 1400 Audience @ Douglass High School Auditorium: She Performed “Sweet Thing” A Rufus ft:Chaka Khan 70’s Classic: Where She Received A Standing Ovation!!!

And That’s When She Knew From That Moment

On That Singing Was Her Musical Gift & Calling

At Just 14yrs old, In 76′ *Dycie* @ The Age Of 16 *Dycie* Portrayed The Role Of “Lady Day” *Billie Holiday*  During BLACK HISTORY MONTH  That Yr. She Literally  Stepped Out Of The Pages Of History, ‘A Stage Prop” Built By Her Cousin *Gerald Davis*  *Dycie* Performed The “Avant Garde” (Jazz/ Blues) Classics: “God Bless The Child” & “Stormy Weather” In Stage Play Production “FROM AFRICA 2 AMERICA” @ THE OLD MACFARLAND BRANCH YWCA IN OKLAHOMA, CITY OKLAHOMA// *SYLVIA DRIGGIN* 1ST MISS BLACK OF OKLAHOMA!!! Wrote The Production & Was The Activities Director There: As Fate Would Have It, *Dycie* Met A Man.Name *Ike Kimbro* Jr.

He Was The Nephew Of The Late *Evelyn’ LaRue Pittman* She Was An Educator/ Teacher/Music Teacher/ Playwright/ And Composer/ Which Led To An Audition For The Off Broadway Stage Play & Muscal Production

“FREEDOMS CHILD” Based On The Life Of *Dr.Martin Luther King*  (A Drum Major For Justice) *Dycie* Went To Europe In The Summer Of 78′ With The Stage Play!!! Touring London, England and Glascow, Scotland/ And Other Cities In These 2 Countries, Upon Returning To The USA, *Dycie* Performed The Role Of *Coretta Scott King* In White Plains,NY

(She was Originally The Understudy, But As Fate Would Have It & “Ms.Evelyn” Felt That *Dycie* Could Step Up And Portray *Coretta*)

And Perform & Sing “Brother Martin Spread His Wings” An Original Composition Written By The Playwright & Director: *Evelyn LaTue Pittman*

After Graduating From DHS, *Dycie* Began Performing As Lead Female Vocalist For Many Top Local Bands! Through Out 80’s & 90’s Into The Early 2000’s/ Performing For Many Gala Events! Festivals! Private Venues! Which Led To  Being An Opening Act For Many R&B International Recording Artists: Both *Dycie* & Her Husband *Larry “FANTASTICK” Funches* A Seasoned Veteren Percussionist/ Drummer Have Opened Live In Concert For R&B Music Legends!// Bobby Womack/Dennis Edwards-Formerly Of MOTOWNS *Temptations*/ Betty Wright/ Natalie Cole/ Shirley Murdock/ Alexander O’Neal/ Roger Troutman & ZAPP! Yarborough and Peoples/ Midnight Star/ Rose Royce/Bobby Blue Bland/  Keith Sweat/ Just To Name A Few: *Dycie* Is A Seasoned Veteren Vocalist & Performing Artist! With Over 40+ Yrs.

In The ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS

She’s Been Quoted As Saying That Music Is Like The Very “Air That She Breathes”// And That Singing & Performing Live Feels Like OXYGEN TO HER SOUL!!!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Ed Warren
From Muskogee, graduated Manual Training HS and attnded Langston U. played in the Air Force Band and the Jazz and Blues Band at NE State University …He is a family member of D.C. Minner by marriage. A sweet man with a great tone on the sax.

Edgar J. Scott
Educator who worked at Millwood Public Schools as the band teacher, later the principal The band room he worked bears his name as he had so many extremely accomplished students over the years. Vocalist and guitarist for several OK bands, including The Now, Masterpiece, Bottom Line Transaction (BLT), and the Music Makers. He attended Langston Uni;versity on a full band scholarship, He received his masters of Education from UCO.
Jermaine Mondaine
Highly inspired by his loving father he ran the Muskogee based Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame anad performed with Waymon Tisdale, the Swon Brothers, Timothy Wright, Selby Minner and Oklahoma Slim, and Jonathan DuBoise Jr.
Kenneth A. Diggs Sr. Truly a gentleman and an inspired talent!
Originally out of Philadelphia, but n ow from Muskogee…he went to Japan with the Platters as their musical director, playing keyboard and then came to the Sunday Jam Sessions here in Rentiesville and played only bass… In a year he was proficient eonugh to form his band D’Elegantz as a bassist! This group plays area casinos on a regular basis

JERMAINE MONDAINE

Biography

Growing up in church, Jermaine Mondaine often heard the inspiring adage that “When praises go up, blessings come down.” Over time, as he made the saxophone the center of his ever-evolving musical life and ministry, he realized that praise had the power to take that one step further: “When praises go up, the Blesser comes down.” Effortlessly developing a hybrid gospel-jazz sound, the multi-talented performer – in the spirit of greats like Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler and others who inhabit both worlds successfully – brings God into the house even when he plays for secular audiences.

Over the past few years, in addition to sharing his dynamic gospel/jazz with thousands of the faithful in his hometown of Muskogee, OK, Jermaine has made an increasingly strong impact on the national contemporary urban jazz scene. His 2015 breakthrough single “Going Higher” featuring Tim Waters and legendary R&B/jazz guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr., reached the Top 25 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs and National Airplay Charts. That song and another key track from his critically acclaimed debut album Don’t Let The Moment Pass You By, “Over and Over Again (You Just Keep On Blessing Me),” scored significant airplay on SiriusXM’s Watercolors.

On the heels of his recent follow up single “Always By My Side,” Jermaine is currently working on a new full-length album featuring collaborations with Billboard charting keyboardist and producer Greg Manning, gospel/jazz pioneer Ben Tankard and guitarist Jonathan DuBose, who guested on Jermaine’s debut album, has been a longtime member of Harry Connick Jr.’s band and has played with gospel legends Yolanda Adams, BeBe & CeCe Winans and Andrae Crouch.

In 2003, Jermaine established Mondaine Musical Ministries with the mission of providing quality, life changing ministry and entertainment through music, public speaking and inspirational literature. That same year, he was honored by Muskogee Mayor Hershel McBride with “Jermaine Mondaine Day” to recognize his accomplishments in the music field. Since then, the saxophonist has enjoyed a unique career fusing his pastoral and musical roles both within and outside various congregations.

On any given Sunday these past years, he plays at Boulevard Christian Church and The Bridge at Christ Church in Muskogee; at Bridge, he is both a regular presence in the worship band and associate pastor delivering sermons. His deep involvement in church has led to opportunities to play on behalf of several prominent ministries (led by Pastor Sharon Daugherty and Bishop Noel Jones) and with musical heroes in the gospel and jazz worlds, including the late Wayman Tisdale, legendary bassist/producer Marcus Miller, Grammy Award winning trumpeter Phil Driscoll, singer/songwriter Dennis Jernigan and country music duo The Swons, who have appeared on NBC’s “The Voice.” 

Having the opportunity to play with Marcus Miller at a show honoring Wayman Tisdale and celebrating a new documentary about the NBA star/jazz bassist’s life was more than a dream come true for Jermaine; it brought everything in his musical life full circle. When he was first learning the sax in middle school, he was practicing a major scale in his bedroom one day and when he played it for his father, he thought it sounded like the melody of “Maputo,” the tune Miller wrote for the iconic Grammy winning Double Vision album by David Sanborn and Bob James. Jermaine’s dad promised him ten dollars if he could learn “Maputo” by ear. Mastering the challenge, the saxophonist calls this the moment he learned to play by ear.

Besides Sanborn, Jermaine’s dad had introduced his son to great saxophonists from an earlier album, including Ray Charles’ horn men Hank Crawford and David “Fathead” Newman. Within his second year of picking up the sax, Jermaine was playing along with and improvising over his dad’s Sanborn albums while also debuting with his vocalist mother during worship at their local church. Combining his God-infused love for these two seemingly opposite worlds of jazz and gospel helped him develop his unique style of playing.

Jermaine’s subsequent growth as a musician came through the Muskogee Public School system under the direction of band directors Jim McPherson, Richard McCall, and Joe Metzer.  He received many awards and accolades including the Boston Russell Jazz Award and membership in the O.M.E.A. All State Jazz Band.  Never abandoning his gospel roots, Jermaine often represented his church at district conferences and musicals.

During his college years at Lincoln University, Missouri, Jermaine quickly made a name for himself as a versatile and dynamic player. While engaged in his studies, he became a well-known studio musician and his playing was featured on local and national radio commercials. He was later selected to represent the university at the National Association for Equal Opportunity (NAFEO) conference in Washington D.C.  The performance landed him on the cover of Black Excellence Magazine.  Committed to making sure the power of music and the Lord is felt in every endeavor he engages in, Jermaine has also served as the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Board President and Executive Director. 

“Many people in the church community are under the impression that jazz and gospel are two separate worlds, and that jazz doesn’t belong in the worship experience,” Jermaine says. “Because my dad was such a huge jazz fan, God revealed to me the power of music, period. Whether someone claimed to be a Christian sax player or a jazz performer, the impact on people’s hearts and souls was the same. When my dad came home from work and put Sanborn on, it had the same effect on me as church music. It made me want to use my saxophone as a means to lift and inspire people and I wanted it to have the same effect on them that Sanborn’s playing had on me during my formative years. When I’m playing, whether it’s at church or a secular venue, I tell my audience that it’s not about my playing, but His Presence. It’s not about my talent or abilities but God showing up with the power and an invitation to change your life.” 

Joe Modica

Joe Modica started gigging in Parsons, Kansas in 1967. He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1979, playing with Flash Terry, Glenn R. Townsend, and Smilin’ Vic, among others. Joe formed The REAL Band in 1989. He’s played with Redbone, Rufus Thomas, Nappy Brown, and continues to play with blues and rock bands in and around Tulsa.” 

Kenneth A. Diggs Sr.,  BIO

Kenny has been playing piano and bass guitar for more than 40 years.  He attended Settlement Music School of Philadelphia, PA., majoring in music theory.  Playing with many local bands and DJ’ing in Philadelphia as a teen, Kenny decided to further his communication skills after high school and joined the US Navy.  While in the Navy he played with numerous Navy bands and traveled abroad.  He had the honor of teaching all the music for the US Air Force Tops and Blues touring musical show (tryouts) for personnel at San Vito AFB, Italy.

After military service, he returned to Philadelphia and formed his own band “Back In Action”, with musicians he grew up with and toured the Philadelphia area playing for different venues.  While traveling, he met more musicians and his name began to precede him.  Before long he was asked to play with numerous groups at the same time, which opened the door for him to start playing behind recording artists.  He was placed as Music Director for groups such as: The Tymes “So Much In Love” & “Wonderful Wonderful”, The Coasters ” Charlie Brown”, & “Poison Ivy”, The Drifters “Under The Boardwalk” & “White Christmas”,  Brotherly Love “Traveling On”.  He also played with Philly Cream, The Ingram Brothers, Vicki Austin, and Niaobi.  Having the pleasure of sitting in on keyboards with Tiny Tim “Tip Toe Through the Tulips”, Billy Paul “Me & Mrs. Jones”, Archie Bell and the Drells “Tighten Up”, and a host of oldie groups, just to name a few.  He’s performed at such prominent venues as: Radio City Music Hall NYC., Apollo Theater, Casinos in Atlantic City, Mississippi, Louisiana, Las Vegas, Jackpot NV, Oklahoma, numerous Civic Centers, Theaters, and Clubs across the USA including numerous tours overseas.  He’s written and recorded numerous songs alone and collaborations such as: “Stop the Violence”, “Come To Me” which are still played on East Coast Radio Stations. After moving to Oklahoma, Kenny became Minister of Music for Union Baptist Church Wagoner, OK over 13 years, and First Baptist Summit, OK over 3 years. He also formed the Muskogee Community Choir and played with numerous bands such as: Shy Willy and the Blues Crew, Starr Fisher, Wallstreet, Fabian Ray & Bluefish, The Funky Mutha’s, and Crystal Clear.

He enjoyed a brief retirement from 2007 to 2013 from the band scene to focus on personal & family matters.  This came to an end on his 50th birthday party celebration.  After inviting a few old band members, Bronco, Daniel, Shy Willy, just to name a few.  He was once again attracted to entertaining the audience.  After deep considerations he and fellow musician Bronco began to form the band known today as D’Elegantz.  Kenny’s work ethics are second to none, which he expects from his Band members adopting the slogan “Music Isn’t Just Our Profession, It’s our Passion”.  Kenny’s hopes and desires are to entertain all races & age groups, which he shows with the musical selections his band performs.

Kevin Phariss
Worked faithfully in the Flash Terry band as a guitarist for many years. After Flash’s death he formed the Kevin Phariss band, keeping the Flash Terry musicians working, playing around the region. Kevin Phariss Bio

Kevin Phariss was born, with his twin Kenny, on January 12, 1959, to Floyd & Virginia Phariss and siblings; Michael, Paul and Julia. The family lived in Tulsa until the mid – 70’s when they moved to Bixby.

Like many musicians Kevin participated in band; where he played tuba and was a Drum Major. And of course, learned his love for music. He fiddled with a guitar there and was given his first guitar by his brother-in-law, Jim Mitchell.  A 12 string, which he played as a 6 string!

Kevin was influenced by the music of the 60’s & 70’s. He has always respected and admired Eric Clapton and Keb Mo.

On June 21, 1980, Kevin married Laurie E. Durk (nee), they have two beloved children, Sarah, 28 and Sean, 26. 

From 1978 till the early 80’s he played in Rhondo with lead guitarist Dee Ray of Atoka, Ok. From the mid 80’s to 92 he was with Phil Tower & Happy Hour with lead guitarist Brad Absher. From 1992 till mid 2003 he was a member of Flash Terry & the Uptown Blues Band, who performed over many years at The Dusk to Dawn Festival.  After Flash’s death in 2003 he became part of Steve White and Super Groove. In 2005 he formed The Kevin Phariss Band. In 2006 his band won the Blues Challenge in Tulsa. During the 2000’s Kevin ran the Sunday Jam at The Cimarron Bar where he gave many musicians the opportunity to get up on stage and learn their chops

Received Best Rhythm Player from the Tulsa Blues Society in 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Kevin suffered a stroke on December 29, 2009 and has not performed since. 

Lee Norfleet
Is from Muskogee, and is the most versatile bass player in the region! Jazz, funk, blues Western and more.

Morris ‘Po Mack’ McCraven Jr.
Morris McCraven Bio

Originally from Memphis, Tenn., Morris McCraven Jr. moved to Oklahoma City after graduating from Langston University in 1963. Morris attended Langston University on a four-year band scholarship, where he earned two degrees in both Music Education and Elementary Education. After graduating, he taught in the Oklahoma City Public School System from 1965 to 1970. While teaching, Morris also became a graduate of the Life Underwriters Training Counsel (LUTC) in 1975 where he went on to become an insurance agent with Prudential Insurance Co. and Farmers Insurance Group from 1970 to 1984. He has been working as an independent insurance/broker from 1984 to present.

Although teaching and insurance became Morris’ career over the years, they never replaced his passion for music. Morris began playing the saxophone at the tender age of 12. And over the past 60+ years he has performed with many different bands. His early years included playing with Preacher Smith, The Fantastics, The Freedom Riders (of which 2 of the members went on to play with Tower of Power, Santana, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Isley Brothers and Milly Jackson). Morris was also a member of The Soul Messengers who were invited to the 15th annual Grammy Awards in Nashville Tenn. in 1973. His later years included playing with Hart & Soul, Bottom Line Transaction, Albert King, Hank Marr, Jay McShan, The Burton Band and Shortt Dogg. In 1996, Morris won the International Blues Contest in Memphis Tenn. with Smilin Vic and the Soul Monkeys Band and toured the Caribbean playing on the famed “Blues Cruise”. He has also performed on behalf of Blac Inc. for the Oklahoma City Counsel and several of our city’s Mayors starting with Mayor Andy Coats to kick off the Charlie Christian Jazz Festival.

After performing as a band member for most of his career, in February 2009, Morris released his first self-titled album and was invited to perform at Jazz in June in Norman, Oklahoma. His CD was released on Lunacy Records – Studio 7 in Oklahoma City and features many of the Soul & Jazz classics that have defined his career. Morris continues to play with several bands but is now a stand-alone musician who freelances and plays with multiple bands upon request. He is currently working as an Artist in Residence at Friends Bar & Grill Dance Club with The Clique as well as at the Embassy Suites with The Burton Band.

Listening to the sweet sounds of Morris’ musical capabilities, where he plays so effortlessly on the alto and tenor saxophone, is literally called “music to my ears”. His musical gift and talent of playing has moved all ages, all races, all of his life and all in the name of his passion: Music.

Otis Watkins
A friend of Doc Blues who was inducted several years ago. A dynamic and beloved guuitarist /vocalist who held down steady dates at Doc Blues’s Club called Mojo in Bricktown twice a week for many years. His daughter Lauren Watkins is keeping his memory alive

Otis Watkins was a self taught musician who learned to play guitar by the age of 8. He was born in Richmond, CA but lived his life in Oklahoma. He started his music career in the late 60s at the Red Dog Saloon in Oklahoma City. He was only 14 at the time. From there he gained extreme popularity throughout the state and started performing at other local clubs like the Longbranch Saloon and Samurai Sake House. He was a part of several different bands throughout his career such as The Smiley Brothers Quartet, Nadz, Bushdoctors, Duke Jupiter and The Otis Watkins Band. 

    In the mid 80s, Otis moved to Austin, TX to pursue more in the music industry. He signed a record deal with Capital records with his then band, Duke Jupiter. After a few years in Austin, he moved back to OKC to work on and complete his album “Otified”, which debuted in 1992, under an independent record label, Lunacy Records. Hit songs from that album include “Fat Chance”, “Break My Heart”, “You are My Chance” and a re-make of a Blood Sweat and Tears song “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know”. His music has been featured on KATT-FM in OKC as well as KSDI-FM in Stillwater and KMOF-FM in Tulsa. In 1989 he won best guitar player in the second Annual Oklahoma Gazette Music Awards Competition as selected by fans in the Oklahoma City area. The Otis Watkins band also earned best rhythm and blues band for Oklahoma in 1993 and 1994 by the Oklahoma Gazette. Otis and his band were one of two bands chosen to represent the United States in 1995 at an international festival in Europe. During this tour he performed at venues in Budapest Hungary and Vienna, Austria and was the first American to perform live music in Slovenia. 

    He has opened for artists like The Georgia Satellites, Def Leppard, Koko Taylor, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Chick Corea, Head East, Steppenwolf, Arc Angels and The Kentucky Headhunters. He has also played along with fellow musicians such as Jeff Healy, Vince Gill, Johnny Lang, John Butcher, Jim Dandy, and Frank Zappa. During his later career he performed at venues like The Motherload in Red River, NM, The Bricktown Blues Festival in Oklahoma City,  Mojos and many more. 

    Otis was known to play loud and captivated his crowd with his charismatic presence on stage. His deep gravel voice and guitar style epitomized true blues/rock style but most importantly his devotion and astounding ability to wail on the guitar has influenced numerous other musicians. His legacy will live on through his music and the many people he inspired throughout his career

Rusty Traywick
DoB 09/28/1955 Anadarko Oklahoma got my first guitar at age 11 an acoustic fell apart first day mom took it back n came home with an electric guitar and amplifier! I was ready mom set up lessons for me an old country man I walked out more determined to learn by age 16 I was playing out one Sunday at the OKC blues society in the 90s I met who would become the crosstown blues band I recorded my first album with them 5 songs I wrote got airplay on all the radio stations in Oklahoma Dallas up to Nebraska opened for many big acts Fabulous Thunderbirds, Gatemouth Brown, Bo Diddly, Bluesbreakers, Clarence Carte,r to name a few Elmore James sent me down the blues path after hearing hurts me too I was definitely hooked for life I’ve lived the life of a bluesman didn’t know it till I was older looking back along the way met very nice people looking forward to recording in Lubbock Texas with Buddy Holly’s family.

Music from 2 pm until midnight, outdoors at the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame in Rentiesville, Sat., May 29th…$10 includes BBQ Dinner by Sam Cunningham Famous BBQ while it lasts.

2020 INDUCTEES into the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame

The Down-Homes Blues Club not only hosts the annual festival (which will be virtual this year on youtube), but is home to the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame and Museum. It’s the place to learn about the history of the blues and the 100 musicians who have been honored by induction.

Club events would normally  include the blues hall of fame inductions, The Mini Fest in the Spring and the Rentiesville Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival presenting 30 bands, kid friendly, and founded in 1991….and also weekly jam sessions….but not now. We will have one event this year – 

     CLick below to see all the Wall Photos and All the Certificates!!!  
>>>OBHOF 2020’s wall photos         >>>OBHOF 2020’s CERTIFICATES 

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2020  2020   2020  2020   2020    2020   2020

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2020 INDUCTEES into the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame
                                                            

          >>>>>>>>>>CLick above!<<<<<<<<<<

PRESS RELEASE (918) 855-0978

Email Link https://conta.cc/2zAi27E

CONTACT   (918) 855-0978 Rentiesville OK I-40 @ US 69     dcminnerblues.com selbyminner@gmail.com

2020Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame INDUCTIONS

CLICK HERE >> WALL PHOTOS of INDUCTEES!

This Class of Inductees has several stories to tell about music from this state

2019 AND A LIST OF ALL EARLY YEAR INDUCTEES…SCROLL dOWN THANKS.

(2019 Inductees Are below 2020   scroll down, please ! )

The 2020 Class of Inductees has several stories to tell about music from this state!

please note that this page is taken off the website and edited some http://dcminnerblues.com/14-2/ the photos are there. 

The TULSA Connection:

J.J. CALE

…famed guitarist / songwriter (After Midnight, Cocaine), friend of Eric Clapton He and Leon Russell are really two of the greatest innovators behind the ‘Tulsa Sound”

JAMIE OLDAKER

Tulsa; drums; in addition to playing with J.J. Cale and being called “Eric Clapton’s Best Drummer” he played with Freddie King, Bob Seeger, Albert Collins many more and has helped Dr. Bob Blackburn of the OHS create exhibits at OK POP; the Museum being built in Tulsa up near the Cains Ballroom.. Jamie was a very sweet and giving man, beloved by many of his fellow musicians.  .OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER

DAVID TEEGARDEN

Tulsa; drummer lots of jazz, but also Blues…toured with Bob Seeger and many more…will be inducted and also in the OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER category with his recording studio across from the Church Street Studio (think Leon Russell) to help create a MUSIC ALLEY in Tulsa. Works with youth as well.

BOZ SCAGGS

BIOGRAPHY

Boz Scaggs is a Grammy-winning, chart-topping blues, jazz, and R&B singer/songwriter and performer. He served as guitarist and occasional lead singer with the Steve Miller Band in the 1960s, and in the ’70s gained fame with several solo Top 20 hit singles in the United States, including the hits “Lido Shuffle” and “Lowdown” from the critically acclaimed multi-platinum proto-disco breakthrough album Silk Degrees (1976), which peaked at number two in the Top 200. Scaggs’ earthy tenor ranges wide across virtually any material he chooses to sing. His laid-back delivery belies his intense focus and passion. His recordings run the gamut from earthy blues and R&B dates to pop standards to jazz and rock, cut with some of the finest musicians in the business. While he records infrequently, when he does it’s an event. More recent recordings — including 1997′s Come on Home, 2013′s Memphis, 2015′s A Fool to Care, and 2018′s Out of the Blues  — all reflect his lifelong obsession with R&B, soul, and blues that originally captured his attention as a high-school student and budding musician in Plano, Texas. In addition, his live appearances, particularly with the all-star Dukes of September touring group that included Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen , have underscored that assertion. Born William Royce Scaggs in Ohio on June 8, 1944, he was raised in Oklahoma and Texas, and while attending prep school in Dallas met guitarist Steve Miller . Scaggs joined Miller ’s group the Marksmen as a vocalist in 1959, and the pair later attended the University of Wisconsin together, where they played in blues bands like the Ardells and the Fabulous Knight Trains. Scaggs returned to Dallas alone in 1963, fronting an R&B unit dubbed the Wigs; after relocating to England, the group promptly disbanded, and two of its members — John Andrews and Bob Arthur — soon formed Mother Earth . Scaggs remained in Europe, singing on street corners. He also recorded a failed solo acoustic LP for Polydor in Sweden entitled Boz (as “William R. Scaggs”), before returning to the U.S. two years later. Upon settling in San Francisco, he reunited with Miller , joining the fledgling Steve Miller Band ; after recording two acclaimed albums with the group, Children of the Future and Sailor in 1968, Scaggs exited to mount a solo career. With the aid of Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner, Scaggs next secured a contract with Atlantic. Sporting a cameo from Duane Allman , 1968′s soulful Boz Scaggs failed to find an audience despite winning critical favor, and the track “Loan Me a Dime” later became the subject of a court battle when bluesman Fenton Robinson sued (successfully) for composer credit. After signing to Columbia, Scaggs teamed with producer Glyn Johns to record 1971′s Moments , a skillful blend of rock and R&B which, like its predecessor, failed to make much of an impression on the charts. Scaggs remained a critics’ darling over the course of LPs like 1972′s My Time and 1974′s Slow Dancer , but he did not achieve a commercial breakthrough until 1976′s Silk Degrees, which reached number two on the album charts while spawning the Top Three single “Lowdown,” as well as the smash “Lido Shuffle.” Released in 1977, Down Two Then Left was also a success, and 1980′s Middle Man reached the Top Ten on the strength of the singles “Breakdown Dead Ahead” and “Jo Jo.” However, Scaggs spent much of the ’80s in retirement, owning and operating the San Francisco nightclub Slim’s and limiting his performances primarily to the club’s annual black-tie New Year’s Eve concerts. Finally, he resurfaced in 1988 with the album Other Roads, followed three years later by a tour with Donald Fagen ’s Rock and Soul Revue. The solo effort Some Change appeared in 1994, with Come on Home and My Time: The Anthology (1969-1997) both released in 1997. The newly energized Scaggs spent the next few years consistently releasing new material, including Fade into Light , Dig , and a collection of standards called But Beautiful . An expanded reissue of Silk Degrees and Runnin’ Blue (a recording of a 1974 performance) appeared in 2007, and Speak Low saw him reinterpreting a number of jazz standards in 2008. Scaggs toured as a member of the Dukes of September in 2012; the group’s other principals included Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen . Scaggs emerged from his recorded silence in March of 2013 with the Steve Jordan-produced Memphis, a collection of original and cover tunes. Recorded at Willie Mitchell ’s Royal Studio in the city, the album was meant to reflect the heritage of the Southern soul tradition in the 21st century. In 2014, Scaggs — with Jordan again as his producer — booked four days at Nashville’s famed Blackbird Studio with a core band from Memphis. They enlisted top-flight Music City session players as well as guests Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams to supplement the sessions. A Fool to Care, released by 429 in 2015, showcased covers of classic soul, NOLA R&B, rock & roll, country covers, and new material. After successful tours of the U.S., Europe, and Japan — both solo and with the Dukes of September — Scaggs returned to the studio to complete his “roots trilogy” begun on Memphis and A Fool to Care, that expressed his lifelong love of great blues and R&B. He’d been mining the music throughout his career but began paying homages in earnest with the aforementioned covers set Come on Home. He recorded the material of iconic soul-blues singers such as Bobby “Blue” Bland , Jimmy Reed , and Magic Sam , as well as delivering an unexpected reading of Neil Young ’s “On the Beach,” and included original compositions by songwriter Jack Walroth. For the occasion, Scaggs produced the set, and assembled a star-studded studio band that included guitarists Doyle Bramhall II , Ray Parker, Jr. , and Charlie Sexton , bassist Willie Weeks, drummer Jim Keltner, keyboardist Jim Cox , and Walroth on harmonica. Scaggs played guitar and bass. Preceded by the May issue of the single “Rock and Stick,” the album Out of the Blues was released in July of 2018. It hit number one on the blues charts and spent more than six months in the Top Ten. ~ Jason Ankeny

The MUSKOGEE and OKMULEE Connections:

EDWARD ‘SPIKE’ GORE

Tulsa drums… totally in demand, he does the job so well ..works often with OBHOF inductee Leon Rollerson

MARK FURNAS

Tulsa, Guitarist with Leon Rollerson and many more. Works with Jim Halsey Booking Agency …who took Country Music (including Elvis) to Las Vegas…

BIG MIKE MOORE

Tulsa area, Mike has the BIG BAND; Education Award… he brings the largest group of musicians….(well, really, it is between him and his band-leading friend OBHOF Inductee Jim Davis of Checotah High School.) Big Mike sings the blues, styling his vocal arrangements to fit the big band era of the tune, some 30 musicians playing together….. wonderful!

HAROLD G. JONES 

vocals, OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER created a DVD Documentary, called “Celebrating Deep Deuce, ‘The Lady’ Second Street” This DVD chronicles the transition of the Charlie Christian Jazz Festival from Venues to the street..the work and commitment and people it took to get the Festival outdoors on Deep Deuce – demolishing a broken building, for one thing…It is a great story!

HIs bands have been We the People and BLT; Bottom Line Transaction, among others.

WALTER TAYLOR l l l

Gifted drummer. GREAT track record… (see his complete bio below in this release)

OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER with his Blu Fonk Movement; building community and helping others while growing a love of Deep Blues

Walter Taylor III AKA “The Doctor” Drums/VocalBorn June 26, 1956

Oklahoma City-born musician lived the first part of his childhood in Kansas City, Mo.

Taylor started drums at age 11, with his stepfather, Ashley Monroe Taylor Jr. Bandleader and bass player, would take13-year-old Taylor, along for his first club gig. So whenever the band took a break, he would have to sit outside until break was over. By the time he was 14, he’d be performing in the legendary Deep Deuce District. At 16, taking leadership for popular High School band, Bold Underground, eventually becoming an opening act for their favorite group, Kool & The Gang. Desiring more, Taylor would migrate into funk, soul, and Gospel bands.

Uptown Syndicate: First recording opportunity. Uptown/You’re a Woman would be released on Fat City Records, and Taylor found himself touring the renowned Chittin Circuit. Manager, Pete Tyler, from Stax Records, knew all the stops to sustain major airplay. Uptown would release another single featuring Taylor, on a partial lead verse. Just Be Yourself/Bloaded, again would take them to the road in support of the new release, and received major airplay. The group would open for The Impressions, Rufus and Chaka Khan, The Ohio Players, and many more. Touring Kansas City, Mo. Uptown would hook up with Bloodstone rivals, The Talisman; singing group, arranging and recording their single in Oklahoma City. Shady Side of Town/Running From the Devil, would be released and showcased in Kansas City, and the record was a huge regional success.

Jokers Y-ilde: This popular group would gain the favor of RCA Records executives. Also would open for Frankie Beverly and Maze, S.O.S., Rodger and Zapp, Kool & The Gang, just to name a few. This would be Taylor’s first songwriting/producer experience. Nothing But A Party/Very Special Love, would be released and would rival mainstream artist. The industry would change and the group would disband. In 2009, Uptown Syndicate, and Jokers Y-ilde would be inducted into The Oklahoma Historical Society Funk and Soul Exhibition and book, Another Hot Oklahoma Nights, A Rock and Roll Story.

After Five Jazz: After 5: Considered the young lions… After 5 Jazz, would become talk of the touring circuit, opening world-class artist like, Midnight Star, Barney Kessel, George Benson, Alex Bugnon, Nancy Wilson, Little Milton, Freddy Jackson, LaLah Hathaway, just to name a few. Producer Taylor, would fly to New York with Executive producer, Steven D. Jones to sign a distribution deal with Warlock Records, for Jones Chez Nous Record label. The CD release of Expressions, would go worldwide. Featured on major jazz stations, in rotation with the top names in the business. BET’s Jazz Central, Art Good’s, Jazz Trax, Jazz Times Magazine, etc. While in studio working on next project, group would disband.

Garrett “Big G” Jacobson: “Blues, Soul, Sensation” Year, 2000…Taylor get called to fill in for Garrett’s drummer who didn’t show for the gig… and has been working with every since! Recorded two CD’s, Soul Buffett. And “Live” In Person. Won The 2002 Oklahoma Blues Society Blues Competition, to compete in the IBC, International Blues Competition in Memphis, TN. Played BB Kings. Bricktown Blues Festivals, Dusk ‘Till Dawn Blues Festival, Rentiesville, Ok. Arcadia Blues Festivals, Acadia, Ok. Medicine Park Blues Festival, Medicine Park, Ok. 2013 Chicago Blues Festival, Rosa’s Lounge, Chicago, Ill, Kingston Mines, Chicago, Blu Fonk Blues Movement “The Big Blues Show” I, II, III, Oklahoma City, Ok. Belle Isle Brewery Blues Festival 2019, Okc, and the UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond, Ok. Home base.

Mothers Day 2004: Debut Walter Taylor III & The BisquitHead Allstars 2005 Charlie Christian Battle of Band. International Music Festival, 2006 Charlie Christian Festival, 2007 Charlie Christian International Music Festival, The Walter Taylor Band, and Jam Session

Walter Taylor III/TaylorMadeJazz: Debut 2009 Charlie Christian Music Festival. In 2010 Taylor would return to Deep Deuce to talk owners of The Sage Lounge, about bringing jazz back to the Deuce. They agreed. On April 30, 2010, Walter Taylor III/TaylorMadeJazz kicked off the first of many Saturday night sessions. Which led to the first, and last Deep Deuce Festival, put on by the residence and business owners

Deep Deuce and Beyond: Written by Historian/Educator, Anita Arnold features Taylor, and many of his photos and groups he’s worked with over the years. In 20010, “The Doctor” became a recipient of the prestigious Charlie Christian Award for his work in Jazz.

Taylor connected with Musician and Playwright, Tyrone Stanley and became percussionist for his many projects. Wings of Harmony toured New York City, and other cities for his award winning Wings of Harmony choir. Touring Musical, Soul On Fire, would showcase to a sold out, The Kennedy Center. Featuring Stanley, singer Shirley Murdock, and cast. With, “The Doctor” operating from the Pit.

Blu Fonk Movement; Is one of Taylors many efforts to revitalize blues in Oklahoma City and beyond. Not as much of a band as it is a movement, Blu Fonk is the umbrella label Taylor applies to the multiple projects. “We’re just trying to start a movement here that hasn’t been started, because in our community, the blues no longer exists, he said.

Blu Fonk was born in 2014 as an entrant into the International Blues Challenge music competition. Taylor’s band included members “Sir” James Walker Sr. (guitar and lead vocals), Larry Banks (saxophone), Danny White (harmonica and vocals) and Vernon King (bass). They advanced into the finals in Memphis; Tennessee He has gathered musicians to compete every year since. “I don’t go in there to win; I go in to play the best that we can play,” he said. “If we win, we’ll take it.”

Beyond competition, Taylor also organizes showcases around the city, and is Musical Director for Dallas, Tx, based, I.A.F. International Artist Festivals. I’ve been blessed to back up recording artist, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Dr. Wayne Goins, Joe Settlemires, Hank Marr, Little Joe Blue, Barbra Mason, Little Jonnie Taylor, Tremaine Hawkins, Tim Minor, T.J. Hooker, and many others.

But my biggest support came from the late Sir James Walker Sr. and Miss Blues, Dorothy Ellis. She was with me when we started the movement… and I was with her when the Angels took her home. Miss Blues endorsed and encouraged some of the top up and coming musicians to play along side their seasoned colleagues. “The Big Blues Show,” is a culmination of the music from the community, normally during the Thanksgiving weekend, when we all give thanks. Bringing blues back to a true respectability is an important mission to him because he recognizes it as the groundwork of a larger culture and the countless genres that sprang from “I saw how personal it was, how spiritual it was…,” he said. “When you get deep into the authentic blues, that’s where you really see it happen. Remember… The Blues is Still…. ALRIGHT!

Walter Taylor III           *Some parts of this Bio borrowed from Ben Luschen OK Gazette story 12/22/16       Visit facebook.com/blufonkrealo

‘SLICK’ WILLIE LAWSON

Stillwater, Perkins …You may remember we inducted Poochie a few years back. She sings and brings a party when she comes…the consummate guitarist behind her was her brother Slick Willie Lawson! High School math teacher.slick willie bio 1 ppdf

Closer to HOME: 

TAMMY ‘BAM BAM ‘ GLIDEWELL RIDGEWAY

Drums, Tahlequah …15 years with Miss ‘Mama’ Blues ..Dorothy Ellis. Power drummer!

Tammy Ridgeway, is also known in the music industry as Bam Bam and Funkydrummer.  She was born September 1, 1959 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was raised in a musical family.

Her love for the drums began early in life as she played in band throughout elementary, middle school and high school. Tammy played her first professional gig at the age of thirteen.

After high school, she experienced life changing events that interrupted her music career, such as: marriage, giving birth to two beautiful daughters and ACL reconstructive surgery on her knee. Tammy is now proudly the grandmother of seven grandsons and she also enjoys cooking; especially for her grandsons.

In 1995, Tammy purchased a drum kit and returned to playing music in Tulsa at local jams. While at the Dusk Til Dawn Festival in 1996, Bam Bam met World renown, “Miss Blues,” Dorothy Ellis and soon became the bands official drummer.

In 1999, Bam Bam played with the band that won Tulsa’s Best Unsigned Blues Band contest.  She add to her musical schedule when she also began playing for The Blue Notes band.

Throughout the following years they played at many different music festivals like Dusk til Dawn, Cherokee Casino, venues, events and gatherings. Bam Bam also set in with other projects during this time such as: Selby Minner band and Pat Moss Juke Joint Preacher.

The year 2009 brought joy and sorrow.  Joy when her musical talent awarded her as a recipient of the Woody Guthrie Award with Miss Blues and band and then sorrow when her beloved husband of 29 years passed away.

After almost losing her life to a major heart attack in 2013, Bam Bam went on a two-year hiatus to rebuild and rehabilitate her health and her life.

Bam Bam made a come-back in 2015 and played at the Rentiesville Juke Joint Jams and Dusk til Dawn Festival.

She attended the Legends of Blues Cruise Sea of Cortez and played with many of the Legends onboard in 2018.

She jammed with Watermelon Slim at the 2019 Dusk til Dawn Festival.

She revisited the Legends of Blues Cruise Caribbean 2020 where she had the time of her life as she jammed with many of the Legends onboard.

Tammy is now humbled and honored to become an Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame member and continue to play the Blues, spread the love and live the music!

BOZ SCAGGS

BOZ SCAGGS TX, McAlester OK, CA Toured with Steve Miller and has a long string of his own hits… we just found out this famed recording artist is qualified for an induction as he lived in McAlester for a time as a child.

Boz Scaggs is a Grammy-winning, chart-topping blues, jazz, and R&B singer/songwriter and performer. He served as guitarist and occasional lead singer with the Steve Miller Band in the 1960s, and in the ’70s gained fame with several solo Top 20 hit singles in the United States, including the hits “Lido Shuffle” and “Lowdown” from the critically acclaimed multi-platinum proto-disco breakthrough album Silk Degrees (1976), which peaked at number two in the Top 200. Scaggs’ earthy tenor ranges wide across virtually any material he chooses to sing. His laid-back delivery belies his intense focus and passion. His recordings run the gamut from earthy blues and R&B dates to pop standards to jazz and rock, cut with some of the finest musicians in the business. While he records infrequently, when he does it’s an event. More recent recordings — including 1997′s Come on Home, 2013′s Memphis, 2015′s A Fool to Care, and 2018′s Out of the Blues  — all reflect his lifelong obsession with R&B, soul, and blues that originally captured his attention as a high-school student and budding musician in Plano, Texas. In addition, his live appearances, particularly with the all-star Dukes of September touring group that included Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen , have underscored that assertion. Born William Royce Scaggs in Ohio on June 8, 1944, he was raised in Oklahoma and Texas, and while attending prep school in Dallas met guitarist Steve Miller . Scaggs joined Miller ’s group the Marksmen as a vocalist in 1959, and the pair later attended the University of Wisconsin together, where they played in blues bands like the Ardells and the Fabulous Knight Trains. Scaggs returned to Dallas alone in 1963, fronting an R&B unit dubbed the Wigs; after relocating to England, the group promptly disbanded, and two of its members — John Andrews and Bob Arthur — soon formed Mother Earth . Scaggs remained in Europe, singing on street corners. He also recorded a failed solo acoustic LP for Polydor in Sweden entitled Boz (as “William R. Scaggs”), before returning to the U.S. two years later. Upon settling in San Francisco, he reunited with Miller , joining the fledgling Steve Miller Band ; after recording two acclaimed albums with the group, Children of the Future and Sailor in 1968, Scaggs exited to mount a solo career. With the aid of Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner, Scaggs next secured a contract with Atlantic. Sporting a cameo from Duane Allman , 1968′s soulful Boz Scaggs failed to find an audience despite winning critical favor, and the track “Loan Me a Dime” later became the subject of a court battle when bluesman Fenton Robinson sued (successfully) for composer credit. After signing to Columbia, Scaggs teamed with producer Glyn Johns to record 1971′s Moments , a skillful blend of rock and R&B which, like its predecessor, failed to make much of an impression on the charts. Scaggs remained a critics’ darling over the course of LPs like 1972′s My Time and 1974′s Slow Dancer , but he did not achieve a commercial breakthrough until 1976′s Silk Degrees, which reached number two on the album charts while spawning the Top Three single “Lowdown,” as well as the smash “Lido Shuffle.” Released in 1977, Down Two Then Left was also a success, and 1980′s Middle Man reached the Top Ten on the strength of the singles “Breakdown Dead Ahead” and “Jo Jo.” However, Scaggs spent much of the ’80s in retirement, owning and operating the San Francisco nightclub Slim’s and limiting his performances primarily to the club’s annual black-tie New Year’s Eve concerts. Finally, he resurfaced in 1988 with the album Other Roads, followed three years later by a tour with Donald Fagen ’s Rock and Soul Revue. The solo effort Some Change appeared in 1994, with Come on Home and My Time: The Anthology (1969-1997) both released in 1997. The newly energized Scaggs spent the next few years consistently releasing new material, including Fade into Light , Dig , and a collection of standards called But Beautiful . An expanded reissue of Silk Degrees and Runnin’ Blue (a recording of a 1974 performance) appeared in 2007, and Speak Low saw him reinterpreting a number of jazz standards in 2008. Scaggs toured as a member of the Dukes of September in 2012; the group’s other principals included Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen . Scaggs emerged from his recorded silence in March of 2013 with the Steve Jordan-produced Memphis, a collection of original and cover tunes. Recorded at Willie Mitchell ’s Royal Studio in the city, the album was meant to reflect the heritage of the Southern soul tradition in the 21st century. In 2014, Scaggs — with Jordan again as his producer — booked four days at Nashville’s famed Blackbird Studio with a core band from Memphis. They enlisted top-flight Music City session players as well as guests Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams to supplement the sessions. A Fool to Care, released by 429 in 2015, showcased covers of classic soul, NOLA R&B, rock & roll, country covers, and new material. After successful tours of the U.S., Europe, and Japan — both solo and with the Dukes of September — Scaggs returned to the studio to complete his “roots trilogy” begun on Memphis and A Fool to Care, that expressed his lifelong love of great blues and R&B. He’d been mining the music throughout his career but began paying homages in earnest with the aforementioned covers set Come on Home. He recorded the material of iconic soul-blues singers such as Bobby “Blue” Bland , Jimmy Reed , and Magic Sam , as well as delivering an unexpected reading of Neil Young ’s “On the Beach,” and included original compositions by songwriter Jack Walroth. For the occasion, Scaggs produced the set, and assembled a star-studded studio band that included guitarists Doyle Bramhall II , Ray Parker, Jr. , and Charlie Sexton , bassist Willie Weeks, drummer Jim Keltner, keyboardist Jim Cox , and Walroth on harmonica. Scaggs played guitar and bass. Preceded by the May issue of the single “Rock and Stick,” the album Out of the Blues was released in July of 2018. It hit number one on the blues charts and spent more than six months in the Top Ten. ~ Jason Ankeny

The MUSKOGEE and OKMULGEE Connections:

LAWRENCE WRIGHT  & the STARLIGHTERS Kansas City,
Muskogee OBHOF Inductee Lem Sheppard asked me to include Lawrence Wright as he led the ‘top blues band in Kansas City ‘ for many years.
Lawrence Wright stands behind a keyboard, looking straight at the photographer, and lays his left hand over his heart as he holds a plaque high with his right hand at the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival. The plaque reads in part: Kansas City Blues Society in recognition of forty years . . . present to Lawrence Wright the lifetime achievement award.
July 18, 1998
Digitizing agency: University of Missouri–Kansas City. Library. Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Special Collections.
Lawrence Wright Blues & Jazz Fest – 1998 7/18/98.

Blues legend LAWRENCE WRIGHT to give show at Zoo Bar

• • CHRISTIAN LONG    Jan. 24, 2003S

In the late 1950s, Dwight Eisenhower was president, the Cold War was just beginning and a young Elvis Presley was still earning his title as the King of rock ‘n’ roll.At that same time, an 18-year-old Oklahoma man named Lawrence Wright was getting his start in the music business. Now, 57 years later, the young man has solidified himself as a celebrated blues musician.Lawrence Wright and his band The Outlets will play Saturday night at the Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14th St. The show begins at 9:30 p.m. Cost is $6.

Wright began his career playing keyboards for The Starlighters, which then featured a young Albert Collins.After years on the road, Wright and the rest of The Starlighters were all but retired.That was until The Starlighters held a 1994 reunion show in Kansas City. By then Collins was a bona fide blues legend, but refused to play unless Wright was on stage with him.“Albert (Collins) is the one who brought him out of retirement,” said Mark Eakin, bass player for The Outlets, Wright’s current backup band.“I was starting my own band, and I was asked to join The Starlighters,” he said. “I did one gig, and it was a total fiasco. Afterwords, I asked Lawrence if he wanted to join my band. The rest is history.”That nine-year history includes playing 150 to 200 dates a year, sometimes with such notables as Chuck Berry.“(Wright is) pretty much the John Mayall of Kansas City,” Eakin said. “Most of the top acts have played with Lawrence.”

After more than five decades, Wright has seen more than his share of music trends.“It’s changing,” he said. “I’m a professional, and I can tell it’s changing. It’s hard to tell what it’s about, but it’s changing.”Regardless, Wright’s dedication as a blues musician gives him solidarity.“Blues is a little different than the rest of music. It’s got its own category, its own rules,” he said.While blues as a whole is grouped together as a genre, The Outlets’ particular style utilizes electric guitar, piano and rhythm-driven beats.“There’s Texas blues, New Orleans blues, East Coast and West Coast style, but we play Kansas City-style blues. We pride ourselves on it,” Eakin said.With such prestige and longevity, Wright’s experience serves as a how-to manual to the music industry.“He’s taught us stuff about the music industry that we never knew,” Eakin said.For a man who could be credited as a living blues legend, spending almost one-third of his life on stage, Wright’s drive is as honest and simple as the style of music he plays.“I just like music, that’s all,” he said.By MARY RUPERTKansan news editorThe Kansas City, Kan., Street Blues Festival will be bigger and better this year, according to organizers.“We moved an extra block this year,” said Marvine McKeithen, one of the founders of the festival, who also is the manager of the Club Paradox in KCK. “We had to add two blocks this past year.”And instead of one day, as in the past, the festival will last two days this year, she said.The fifth annual free festival will be June 25-26 at Third Street and Parallel Avenue, she said. The location is in front of Club Paradox. Food vendors and children’s activities will be included.The Street Blues Festival won the “Best of Wyandotte” award last April for bringing in visitors, helping revitalize a neighborhood, promoting cultural awareness and diversity in the community and “providing a good time to an appreciative audience.”Despite the award, the festival lost some grant funding this year, and has been trying to raise funds recently.McKeithen said people plan to travel from as far away as Canada and Australia to attend this festival in KCK. The city was once home to musician Charlie Parker and has a rich music tradition, she said.All musicians performing at the KCK Street Festival must have been born in KCK, lived here or played music here for some years, according to festival organizers.The festival this year will be dedicated to the memory of musician Lawrence Wright, McKeithen said.Wright, in whose memory the festival is dedicated, was part of the band called the Starlighters. He played the organ and was still performing in recent years throughout the area, particularly at the Grand Emporium. He died last November at age 76.“Lawrence was a great musician, and personally I don’t feel he really got his due recognition by the whole country,” McKeithen said. “He was very well liked by everyone.”In his memory, at 5:15 p.m. Friday, June 25, the Starlighters Memorial Allstars Show will be on the main outdoor stage at the festival.The memorial performance features survivors of the band: Lester “Duck” Warner, Marcus Wright, Rick Hendricks, Steve Shoemaker, L.C. Gant, James “Spoon” Wilson, King Alex, K.C. Kelsey Hill, Everett DeVan and Donovan Bailey.Other names well known in Kansas City jazz and blues circles, including Danny Cox and Jay McShann, also will perform at the festival.Cox, a musician, singer, actor and theater owner, has lived in KCK for more than 30 years.McShann is billed as “88 years at the 88s.” 

WILLIE WRIGHT

Muskogee, Wichita KS Tony Mathews (OBHOF Inductee) asked me to induct Willie Wright… “he was so good to me when I was just a kid from the country going up to Muskogee…The Wright brothers played a lot of music in Muskogee in the Churches and that is where Tony met them. Tony reported “had a three piece vocal group and Willie took me under his wing and taught me things on the guitar and I just want to thank him, Selby. He has played music all his life and in church the last 30 years, He is still alive…” Well I started asking questions and found out they were brothers – Lawrence was one of the three!

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SCOTT BOOKER 

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT        OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER

   founder ACM@UCO in OKC; Education 

working to build a Music Mecca in OKC he has created a new age school which has graduated ten years of students…Music business, Contracts, Recording and Sound Engineering, Guitar and Band Development as well as Singing and Performance… this is not traditional music instruction which often leaves out guitar (?) and certainly does not teach the business side of the music…( I mean oboe and french horn and how to read jazz improvisations…oh no!) The Academy of Contemporary Music is in Bricktown right by the canal and the Biting Sow.

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STANLEY ‘SIR STAN‘ GRIGGS

STANLEY ‘SIR STAN’ GRIGGS vocalist/entertainer born in Okmulgee, lived in KC, currently form Los Angeles…you may have seen this man at the Rentiesville Blues Fest last year… a character and fun entertainer with a life in the music  

Stanley Griggs (Sir Stan), was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma August 11, 1939 and raised in Kansas City Missouri. Graduate of R.T. Coles High School in Kansas City where he studied music majoring in voice, bass guitar and professional drums. Sir Stan played for many years while attending school for the reserved course.
Stan practiced music for many years before moving to the Los Angeles area where he organized and became the band leader for the “Counts of Rhythm and Blues Band”.
Stan became famous for his previous recordings on the Magnum label. He has been entertaining in the L.A. area for over 20 years and across the country for more than 30 years.
“Sir Stan” has appeared with some of the great blues artists all over the world, including John Lee Hooker, Rufus Thomas, Ike and Tina Turner, Jimmy McCracklin, Johnnie Taylor, Etta James, Little Milton, Little Richard, Sugar Pie Suzana, Johnnie Guitar Watson, James Gadson, John Hammond, and many more.
Currently he performs regularly with his band “The Counts Rhythm and Blues Band – featuring Ms. Jackie Jackson” in Los Angles and on national tours. He’s working in the recording studio on a new CD and is looking for a new label

ANITA ARNOLD

ANITA ARNOLD Memphis, OKC, B.L.A.C. and organizer of the Charlie Christian Festival, also active with the Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame as a Board Member…brilliant..OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER
…I graduated from a high school in 1957 that successfully prepared all students for being high achievers in any career field they chose to enter. Years later, I returned to find the school struggling, left behind with students who were being left behind. The band had no uniforms or instruments and the school had unfairly earned a reputation as low-performing, whose parents, teachers and students did not care.

It was then that I joined the Black Liberated Arts Center, Inc. to bring the arts, arts education, history and heritage to a community that has been deprived of the best in education, arts and a rich history mostly forgotten for the past 40 years.

The work that I have undertaken as Executive Director has been accomplished through writing books about the rich history of African-Americans in Oklahoma City, providing professional development training for classroom teachers, raising money for music instruments, bringing in renowned national educators such as Geoffrey Canada to speak and engaging local motivational speakers such as Mama Durant to engage and encourage parents and community to support children who are mostly overlooked.

I encouraged a teacher in the Oklahoma City Public Schools to apply with my organization to become a partner in education with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. We were selected and chose a very low-performing elementary school of students that had every kind of problem imaginable.

In a matter of four years, it became a “top ten” school in the school district where it has remained for the last 15 years consistently. The school is nationally recognized and a model school for arts integration where teachers use arts to teach every subject in the curriculum.

I have also been able to bring attention to and build a music festival around a forgotten guitar music prodigy, Charlie Christian, who died at the age of 25. He is now an international icon who is a member of every major music hall of fame in the world, including Jazz at Lincoln Center with college courses named after him, and available on the internet in every major country. All of this was initiated by the work of this nonprofit organization.

There are many ways to make contributions to your community that may lead to a wider impact. I had no idea that the work that I so passionately pursued in giving back to my community would yield such phenomenal results that others would model. My only thought was helping my hometown get up from the bottom of the list in education and become known for positive things, instead of negative statistics.

Older workers may still be able to write, tell meaningful stories and provide wisdom from difficult personal experiences that may be inspirational and motivational to generations of people.

DR. BOB BLACKBURN

CEO and head of the State Historical Society 

OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER; 

a brilliant man,and big inspiration to me and a friend. Has taken the Historical Society into a bright cross-cultural future. Telling the stories…The Tulsa Race Massacre included.

LARRY O’DELL

from the State History Museum….did considerable research on the approximately 50 Historic All Black Townships… even to digging the holes and putting up the signs the project generated at town halls in the 13 remaining Townships! 

OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER

  __________________________________________________________________

Bob Seeger hugs David Teegarden.. 

Tulsa; drummer lots of jazz, but also Blues…toured with Bob Seeger and many more…will be inducted and also in the OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER category with his recording studio across from the Church Street Studio (think Leon Russell) to help create a MUSIC ALLEY in Tulsa. Works with youth as well.

HAROLD G JONES

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   Visit facebook.com/blufonkrealokblues

North West Oklahoma Connection:
     

https://www.facebook.com/tony.tilotta/videos/937572052955044/?t=10

new!….TIM AUSTIN MITCHELL Enid OK: kin to the famed Opera Singer Leona Mitchell Tim is a very adept musician and tours regularly on the road with the top R & B artists of our times. Also a solo artist with a great CD.  Bio from SongCast

      Tammy

Slick Willie                                          Tammy 

WILLIE WRIGHT

   Scott Booker

ANITA ARNOLD

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D.C. and Selby Minner appear at Charlie Christian Festival OKC (Anita Arnold and Harold G Jones) 

DC on TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQaCdTT38Nk

Directions – google Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame OBHOF..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca9Wso2mJ2g

more on  BOZ SKAGGS

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another year Muskogee Phoenix

Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame induction set

Enshrinement for 10 new members set for Saturday in Rentiesville
She said she works three ways to keep blues alive

“You teach the babies, you employ those who play the music well..as in the Festival we have done here since 1991, bringing in 200 musicias each year,” Minner said.

“The third thing is, you honor the elders,” she said.

Thus, the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame was formed.

Minner recalled how honored her late husband, D.C. Minner, felt when he was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

“He said we need to start a hall of Fame for the blues people, and we want to get them in while they’re still alive,” Selby Minner said.

Since 2004, they’ve put more than 100 inductees’ photos on the wall, she said.

“They had to have done something besides play at the local bar,” she said. “They had to have made a contribution to music itself, either written original music and recorded it, or toured with acts that are national and reflect glory back to the roots, or had a hit record. It’s more about making a contribution to the music to keep it alive.”

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2019  2019   2019   2019   2019    2019   2019

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Miss Blues passed away during the Festival in 2017…the has graduated to become a Guardian Angel”

 

     
You’ve got to have heroes in this life. Our children have to have heroes… We need tales of people who have overcome, people who have endured, people who have given of themselves in many ways despite the hardships of their own lives. Their survival is a testament worthy of celebration. These people were and are road warriors who overcame indignities of every sort… Musicians as men and women of great courage? You better believe it!

  live from the inductions!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0_mFq7eg1I

!OBHOF 2018 WALL PHOTOS          <click link to get all the details – see the inductees as they appear on the OBHOF WALL !    

! OBHOF 2018 Certificates for Inductees   click link to view Inductees Certificates they received, designed by D.C. Minner

                                                         flyer

CELEBRATING all 17 YEARS of OBHOF INDUCTEES

2021

2020

sCOTT bOOKER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

                           OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER

J.J. cALE

mARK fURNAS

eDWARD ‘sPIKE’ gORE

sTANLEY ‘SIR STAN’ GRIGGS

hAROLD G. jONES       OK MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDER

‘SLICK’ WILLIY LAWSON

TIM AUSTIN MITCHELL

‘BIG MIKE’ MOORE

JAMIE OLDAKER

TAMMY ‘BAMBAM’ GLIDEWELL RIDGEWAY 

BOZ SCAGGS

WALTER TAYLOR III

DAVID TEEGARDEN

LAWRENCE WRIGHT

WILLIE WRIGHT 

MORE OKLAHOMA MUSIC COMMUNITY BUILDERS:

ANITA ARNOLD, DR. BOB BLACKBURN, LARRY O’DELL

2019

KELVIN ‘MR GUITAR’ DRAKE
WONDA ‘SUNSETTER’ MACON
PAT ‘JUKE JOINT PREACHER’ MOSS
HOLLYWOOD JENKINS
MELVIN ‘TANK’ JERNIGAN
SHY WILLY
MICHAEL ‘MAGIC MIKE’ UPDEGROVE
SMILIN’ VIC GUTIERREZ
MORRIS ATCHISON
LAUREE WALTER WATKINS   

ALSO HONORED 2019

COLTRANE GROUP BLACK TOWN TOURS   
NARVA JOHNSON FOUNDATION
CASSANDRA GAINES MAMA C’S SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT 
RUDISILL LIBRARY!

2

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2018  2018   2018   2018  2018    2018   2018

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INDUCTEES

DONNA LADY D BREWER
AL GARCIA
CARL GRAY
DEBBIE HENNING
MAIN McMANN
BOB PACEMAKER NEWHAM
TED TAYLOR
PAT TOINTIGH
TERRY TSOTIGH
MIKE WINEBRENNER
DANNY WHITE

2017 

2017 

2017

INDUCTEES

Roy Clark
Homer Johnson
Oklahoma Ollie
Frank Ray
James Russell
Henry Lee “Butch” Russell
Tom Ware

KBA TO 
Henry and Doris Baker and their Church of Western Swing in Turkey Texas

2016

INDUCTEES
James Peterson,
Jim Donovan,
Johnny Rawls,
Norman Stauffer,
Freddy Lee Rice,
John Seymour,
Earnest ‘Harmonica Slim’ Carr

2015

INDUCTEES:
Harry and Debbie Blackwell,
Wolfman Black,
Jimmy ‘Chank’ Nolan,
Roger ‘Hurricane’ Wilson,
Layce Baker Jr.,
Cecil Gray and
David Berntson.

2014

INDUCTEES
Dr Harold Aldridge: Education
Joe Settlemires
Guitar Shorty : Friend of the Rentiesville Blues Festival
Big Mike Griffin
Mike McKinney

2013

INDUCTEES
June McKinney
Scott Ellison
Slugger Trask
Robbie McLaren
Danny Timms
Broadway Jimmy
D.C. Minner Lifetime Achievement Award:
Oklahoma City Blue Devils Band
KBA for Scholarship: Kerry Kudlacek
KBA in Recording: Mike Peace
Media: John Wooley Kyle Peterson
Leilani Roberts Ott Alonzo Stack Wooten

2012

INDUCTEES
Leon Blue
Clyde “Chico” Lamar
Baby Ray Mucker
Malyne ‘Poochie Love’ Lyons
Aaron Harvey King
Harold Jefferson
KBA in Education: Jahruba Lambeth
D.C. Minner Lifetime Achievement Award:
Miss Lura Pearson Drennan
Keeping the Blues Alive KBA’s:
Booker Lowery Robert Williams
Media: LaNelda Hughes Charles ‘Dr. Live Jive’ Gaye

2011

INDUCTEES
Chuck Blackwell,
Roland Bowling,
Jesse Ed Davis,
The KBA in Education Inductee will be
Jim Davis,
Jimmy ‘Cry Cry’ Hawkins,
Sonny Hill,
Leon Rollerson,
Leon Russell.
Sponsorship awards will go to
Budweiser and Yaffe and
Love Bottling.
Media to the Current

2010

INDUCTEES
Tiny Davis
D.C. Minner
Curly ‘No Shoes’ Jr.
Joe Liggins
Bucky Young
Rudy Scott
Roy Milton
Ray Tubbs KBA Volunteer of the Year Award

2009

INDUCTEES
Bill Davis
Wes Reynolds
Earnest ‘E.T.’ Tanter
Chester Thompson
Walter Watson and Pure Silk
Mike Kern – Education
Media Award Jammin John Peters
2009 Volunteers of the Year:
Donna & Lee Mayo

2008

INDUCTEES
Miss Avalon Reece
Wayne Bennett
Tank Jernigan
Little Eddie Taylor
Vernon Powers
Paul Lewis
Rocky Frisco
Jimmy ‘the preacher’ Ellis
Media : Hardluck Jim Johnson & his KGOU Radio Blues Show

2007

INDUCTEES
Watermelon Slim
Wanda Watson
Hart Wand
Wayne Bennett
Claude Fiddler Williams
Jay McShann
Rockin’ John Henry
D.C. Minner Lifetime Achievement Award : Tony Mathews
KBA Media Awards:
Jack Fowler, McIntosh County Democrat Muskogee Daily Phoenix

2006

INDUCTEES
Elvin Bishop
James Jr. Markham
Selby Minner
Steve Pryor
Frank Swain
James Walker
D.C. Minner Lifetime Achievement Award:
                                               D.C. Minner

INDUCTEES FOR

2005

Lowell Fulson
Mary “Little Miss Peggy” Wallace Johnson
Sam Franklin
Ace Moreland
Herbie Welch
Claude Williams
Harry Williams
Dr French E. ‘Doc Blue’ Hickman – Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award

2004

INDUCTEES first year
Flash Terry
Lem Sheppard
James Michael Antle
Tony Mathews
Berry Harris
Larry Johnson
Dorothy ‘Miss Blues’ Ellis
Big Dave ‘Bigfoot’ Carr
Hiram Harvelle

OBHOF
Requirements for induction include

We prefer to induct artists who are alive if possible.
A person must be a performing artist in the Blues genre.
They must be from or have lived in Olkahoma.
The exception to this is the ‘Friend of the Rentiesville Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival Award’ which is for nationally known artists who have consistently over a period of years helped the Festival by coming in at a significantly reduced rate.
They must be 60 years of age unless they are seriously ill.
They have to be a ‘good guy’ – treat people with respect and carry the music with dignity.
They must have a track record in the sense that they are not just playing area bars where they live. Either they work(ed) with people of note or have traveled and toured.

PROCESS
Artists can be nominated by any non profit blues related organization or, in fact, by any blues lover.
Noinations need to supply documentation including their track record, any touring, other contributions to the genre such as teaching etc.  We also need a photo which will print well in either black and white or color – 300 dpi minimum, and a sample of the music played by the nominee.
This should be sent in by March of any given year. OBHOF 103020 D.C. Minner Street, Checotah, OK 74426

Oklahoma Musicians  Oklahoma Musicians   Oklahoma Musicians 

May 23, 2013    in  the MUSKOGEE DAILY PHOENIX
A HALL OF FAME KIND OF SHOW
Blues inductees to jam this weekend in Rentiesville
By Leilani Roberts Ott Phoenix Correspondent
Songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Scott Ellison of Tulsa calls blues “the real true art form of American music.”

Ellison along with June McKinney, Robbie Mack McLerran, Broadway Jimmy Thomas, Danny Timms and Slugger Trask are being inducted into the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Down Home Blues Club in Rentiesville. The Oklahoma City Blue Devils will receive the D.C. Minner Lifetime Achievement Award, according to Selby Minner, co-founder of the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame. Several others will be honored for Keeping the Blues Alive through archiving, recording and media.

“This year is a milestone here in Rentiesville for the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame — our 10th year of inductions,” Minner said. “We’ll sprinkle the awards through the night.”

Several of the inductees will perform, including Ellison and Timms, during the gala that includes a barbecue dinner and awards ceremony. It is open to the public at a cost of $10. Past hall of fame winners like Baby Ray Mucker, Leon Rollerson and the Production, Jim Davis, and Minner and Blues on the Move with Okahoma Slim will play the blues until about midnight.

Minner and her husband, the late D.C. Minner, started the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame after he was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

“He told me they’re going to miss a bunch of people. He said we’re not big and flashy but when you’ve worked your whole life, you want to be honored,” she said. “So we decided to do it.”

The D.C. Minner Lifetime Achievement Award is going to the Oklahoma City Blue Devils.

“Count Basie produced some of the most blues driven jazz ever created with these musicians from the Oklahoma City Blue Devils,” Minner said. “My favorite Basie quote goes; “If you want the best, get a Blue Devil.”

Inductees are selected by a committee of blues scholars who bring suggestions to a meeting of the Friends of Rentiesville Blues Inc., a non-profit organization. Ellison, McLerran and Thomas said they are “honored” to be inducted.

“It’s a dream come true,” Ellison said. “To be in that group with all those great musicians … it’s a great accomplishment.”

He said he’ll be “jammin’ and playing” with Timms during the ceremony.

McLerran of Tulsa said he’s honored and surprised. He said he’s still being “Okiefied” since he wasn’t born in Oklahoma. He had a songwriting partner from Oklahoma and came here from Colorado. He has played the Dusk ’Til Dawn Blues Festival in Rentiesville since 1998 with his son, Little Joe McLerran. He and his son will be performing at a festival in Kansas on Saturday but will attend the jam session at the Down Home Blues Club at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Thomas of Los Angeles, Calif., also won’t be able to attend the ceremony but plans to pick up his award when he performs at the Dusk ’Til Dawn Blues Festival on Labor Day weekend.

“It’s a great honor to me,” Thomas said. “I wasn’t born in Oklahoma, but I grew up with it. I know a lot of musicians from Oklahoma. I’ve been doing the festival since 2001.”

He’s been playing the blues for more than 50 years.

“I’m still playing music at 72,” he said. “I play bass and saxophone.”

Ellison believes the best blues musicians have Oklahoma roots.

“Blues is so real,” he said. “Pop music and country music always changes. Blue remains true to its art form.”

He got his start when he saw The Rolling Stones on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

“I got to do that,” he said he thought. “It electrified me.”

Ellison and his band along with a few other musicians just recorded several tracks for a new CD at Leon Russell’s church studio. “Hit It, Get It and Go” will be released in six to nine months. He’ll perform songs from his current CD, “Walkin’ Through the Fire,” at the ceremony Saturday.
2013 Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame inductee bios
• D.C. Minner Lifetime Achievement Award: Oklahoma City Blue Devils — The early jazz tradition in Oklahoma was more closely associated with the blues tradition than in many other places, Selby Minner said. The Territorial Bands played both jazz and blues traveling to Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. One group was renowned for being the best of these many musicians. This was the Oklahoma City Blue Devils. They would continually win when the bands got together to compete with each other. Count Basie – Bill Moten – followed them and played with them. The story goes, one night when they were back East and did not get paid after a gig and he took over the leadership position.

• Scott Ellison toured in the bands of: Jessica James, who is Conway Twitty’s daughter. Veteran bluesman Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown plucked the energetic guitarist as rhythm player for his own band, she said. A move to Los Angeles during the mid-1980s found Ellison playing and touring with groups like The Box Tops, The Shirelles, The Coasters, and Peaches and Herb. By the 1990s, he formed his own blues band and opened up shows for such legends as Joe Cocker , Roy Orbison, The Fabulous T-birds and Buddy Guy. As a songwriter, he composed enough material to record and release his first two solo efforts, “Chains of Love” on Quicksilver Records and “Live at Joey’s” on Red Hot Records. Returning back to his home in Tulsa, Ellison teamed with longtime friend Terry Lupton to write 10 more tunes for his next release, “Steamin’” on Fishhead Records, which garnered critical acclaim, Minner said. Ellison then co-wrote and recorded “One Step from the Blues” on JSE, a Tulsa sound rhythm and blues record featuring well-known Tulsa musicians. As a songwriter, Ellison has had his songs featured on TV shows “Sister Sister,” “Eye on L.A.,” “Santa Barbara” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Burnside Records is proud to release Bad Case Of The Blues available at all fine record stores, by mail-order through Burnside Records or online at www.burnsiderecords.com. Scott is currently touring across the U.S., Canada and Europe with accompanying radio and retail in-store performances.

• June McKinney — Famed pianist for jazz greats including Count Basie and the Thad Jones Trio, she is also the mother of Michael McKinney, road bassist for Michael Jackson on his world tour, recommended by Nate Watts. Michael went around the world three times playing bass. Credited on the Jacksons album “Triumph” (Epic, 1980), and is the bassist heard on “Jacksons: Live” (Epic, 1981). McKinney was a famed Oklahoma City music educator as well.

• Robbie Mack McLerran — He was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2012 along with the other members of the Astronauts, the surf band from Boulder, Colo., who became popular in the 1960s releasing albums on the RCA label. The Astronauts moved their base of operations to California in 1967 where the band realigned with Capitol Records, changing the band’s name to Hardwater and moving in a psychedelic rock direction. In 1970 McLerran teamed with Oklahoma native John Herron forming a songwriting partnership and country rockish band, Boondoggle & Balderdash, releasing two LP records for the MCA record group. In the mid-1970s he returned to Colorado in order to focus on his family. His musical interest moved to the early blues and jazz styles. The family moved to Tulsa in 1998. His son, Little Joe McLerran, following in his father’s footsteps, became a musician and in 2009 won the International Blues Challenge (IBC) representing the Blues Society of Tulsa. McLerran has performed and toured internationally with his son ever since.

• Broadway Jimmy Thomas — He played in 1968 for Taj Mahal and on his album “Taj Mahal” with Jesse Ed Davis. He worked with Johnny Otis in 1967 and spent one year in Hawaii with a band. He also worked with Joe Houston and Jay McNeely and the West Coast Horn Section. He was in the band for Screamin’ Jay Hawkins of “I Put a Spell on You” fame. He played with Phillip Walker, Smokey Wilson and Sonny Rhodes — West Coast blues players. He worked with Phillip Walker for years. Jimmy half way grew up in Wichita, Kan., and he played with Oklahoma Ollie Gaines, Eddie Taylor and Larry Johnson through a booking agent called Aunt Cat and Uncle Bob which booked teenage bands to dances across the Wichita, Kan., and Western Oklahoma area. He was born in Salina, Texas, 50 miles from the Red River. His mother had family in Oklahoma so he spent childhood summers and holidays living and visiting.

• Danny Timms — When he wasn’t writing and touring with Kris Kristofferson, playing keyboards for The Fabulous Thunderbirds or making his acting debut as a hippie band member in a “Married With Children” TV episode, Timms joined a project they called “Little Whisper and the Rumors.” Billed as “the greatest little band you never heard,” they were hired by Bonnie Raitt to join her touring band in the early 1990s. One song he co-wrote, “A Moment of Forever,” became the title track of a Willie Nelson album and was also recorded by several others.

• Slugger Trask — The band received the Best Self Produced Album of the Year for the album “Slugger Trask: Groove Injected” at the 2007 International Blues Challenge. The band also won first in the Bands of the World Tour in 2007. The tour played shows in 12 U.S. cities. Slugger was half Cherokee and hails from the Miami area.