Oklahoma music has made its mark

By TERRY JOE Wiles

Oklahoma has always been rich in style, talent and culture in music. It is influenced by natives and settlers from around the world. The five tribes had music to celebrate life, death, war, peace and unity. The slaves that were part of their families brought music from another land. My family mostly came from West Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains.

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After the big push for gold and land, there was exposure from Ireland, Germany, Spain, France and most of Europe. It was quite a hodgepodge, or as the song was presented in my early music career, quite like “The Memphis Soul Stew.” So, as a state, we have a wide variety of music to enjoy.

SUPPORT LIVE, LOCAL MUSIC

“Considering the outstanding lifetime achievements of talented Oklahoma musicians, we can also appreciate the contribution they make to the quality of life for Oklahomans and everyone across the globe.” is a quote you’ll find with the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

If you haven’t had a chance to go to Muskogee, make plans to hear your favorite style, played by your favorite band at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame real soon. There also is a museum there of artists that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony every spring. Then you will see just how rich we have been AND how rich we are in music and musicians.

My favorite style of music and my very favorite band will be there at 7 p.m. Aug. 7. “SideKicks,” friends and family from our area will play country music guaranteed to entertain. Floyd Adams (vocals/bass), Shane Adams (Floyd’s son on vocals/keyboards), Russell McNeely (Floyd’s nephew-in-law on vocals/lead guitar) and Dave Love (vocals/drums) will be joined by guests Kenny Maddox, Lori Rose, Austin Stewart and Wendell Giles.

It will be a spectacular show and well worth the short trip from Poteau. Make plans to be there!

Just a heads up, the auditorium is under construction at this time, so the concerts are taking place at the Muskogee Civic Center. For additional information, call (918) 687-0800.

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Rodeos would not be the same without the dances. I know, everybody goes to see the bulls and the clowns, but for me it has always been the live music during the rodeos and at the street dances afterwards. I’ve had the best seat in the arena on the 8×8 platform directly above the bucking chutes. It took a few cowboys to help get the equipment up the steep flight of metal steps but it was worth it.

The 81st Annual Sallisaw Lion’s Club Rodeo will begin at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and the rodeo parade with bands and horses will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. So, go watch all the events and then listen to the live music. This year, the Sallisaw rodeo will have live music all three nights, with Emily Hollingshed and Wyatt Shumate on Thursday night , “Kanton Teen and The Penny Pinchers” on Friday night and “Tara and the Gift Horses” on Saturday night. It will be an awesome schedule of entertainment included in the small price of a ticket of $10. However, on Thursday night, the Salisaw Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4518 is sponsoring “Veterans Night.” Any veteran showing identification of being a veteran will be admitted for the half price of $5.

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Open Mic Night will be Aug. 7 at The Coffee Cup. Last month, there was a full sign-up sheet of awesome talent. Take your guitar and a song. It’s a great place to see some of the talented musicians in our area. It will start at 6 p.m. The reuben sandwich is back, by the way!

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As for live music this week, “Earl Hearon and the Sound of Country” will be at Muldrow City Limits on Saturday. Earl has always been my favorite country singer and bandleader. He presents some of the country’s biggest legends and their biggest hits in a style that shows the highest respect for their contribution to country music. What I mean is that this is not just a cover of their songs, the music comes from the heart and love of it all. It has been an honor to be a part of Earl’s band. Some of my finest memories are when I got to be a sideman in “The Sound of Country.” Get your dancing shoes on and get over to Muldrow City Limits. It’s a NS/ND kind of a venue with the biggest dancefloor and the largest crowds going. Shelia and David Keith know how to throw a shindig. Get there at 7 p.m to dance the first song!

“Rhythm Coalition” will start the month of August with a bang. From 9 p.m. until midnight Friday, the band will present its offering of eclectic tunes to the melomaniacs at the coolest dive bar in Fayetteville, Arkansas — KingFish! Country to blues, red dirt to R&B, rock to jazz, it’s an awesome couple of sets of live music. Please say something nice to David Carbrey about his shiny guitars, AND I hear that there is a new direction for this group — more R&R flatout in-your-face kind of a band that will reinvent a sound that was always in them — it’s just gotta come out! I can’t wait to hear it!

“Movin’ On” will be busy with a gig on Friday at LaHuerta’s Mexican Grill on Garrison Avenue in Fort Smith, Arkansas This band will play country and rock from 7-10 p.m. Then, the band will be at The Mighty Crab on Rogers Avenue in Fort Smith from 6-9 p.m. Saturday. There will be good times, music and some pretty good grub. Be there!

“Aces and 8s” will be at Crocky’s Cafe in Hackett, Arkansas, beginning at 6 p.m. There will be a great family-friendly atmosphere, good food and great music.

Pocola Senior Center has the best meal every Tuesday and Thursday for just $5. Now as a special treat on Aug. 7, “Backporch Country” will provide live music from 10 a.m. until noon. There will be a great bunch of folks there, too!

There’s probably a lot more that I could say, but I’m just going to smile and let you think I’m smarter, wiser and more knowledgeable than I.

Keep supporting local live music. It’s a legacy for Oklahoma. Be a part of it. For additional information about any live-music events or to let me know about any such venues, call or text message me at (918) 649-5736, message me through Facebook or e-mail me at tj.wiles61@outlook.com.

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