by: JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
10/27/2007 3:50 AM
From country to blues to rock ’n’ roll, Oklahomans have undoubtedly had a rich and profound impact on the world’s music culture.
Since 1997, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame has annually honored some of the most notable artists whose musical styles are as breathtaking and diverse as the Oklahoma landscape.
Thursday, the 11th annual Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Concert & Induction Ceremony will include honors for Cal Smith and the late Sammi Smith in the country music category. Legendary guitarist Tommy Crook also will be honored with the Eldon Shamblin Sideman Award. Oklahoma City rock act Hinder will be honored with the Rising Star Award.
And nothing’s getting in the way of Hinder’s fame.
Formed circa 2002, the Oklahoma City-based act is one of this year’s top selling post-grunge rock groups with its worldwide hit “Lips of an Angel.”
The band will receive the Rising Star Award.
“We’re hoping to be the band to get people into rock again,” said drummer Cody Hanson recently.
He writes the bulk of the band’s material with vocalist Austin Winkler.
Hinder was formed in Oklahoma City, when guitarist Joe Garvey and Hanson discovered Winkler singing for a cover band at a college dorm party.
In addition to Cal Smith, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Concert will feature legendary music icon Three Dog Night, with special guest Hinder performing an acoustic set of its rock hits.
“Hoyt Axton was a big cuddly bear with so much music in him that I always felt honored to be his friend,” said Three Dog Night bandmate Mike Allsup in a recent interview with Sue Harris, vice-chairwoman of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
“I was in awe of what he had done, and as time went on found out what was inside of him. He was fantastic,” shared Cory Wells.
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame has now honored and inducted more than 41 individuals or groups and has produced numerous concerts.
The nonprofit organization also has renovated part of the Frisco Depot, with the help of the city of Muskogee. The former depot houses a museum that celebrates innovators and industry icons from the Sooner State who shape music all over the world.
Such industry icons already inducted include Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, Flash Terry, Gene Autry, Wanda Jackson, Toby Keith, Ronnie Dunn and Lee Wiley.
A complete list of past inductees is available at www. tulsaworld.com/OMHoF.
Jennifer Chancellor 581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.
OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME CONCERT AND INDUCTION CEREMONY
When
8 p.m. Thursday
Where
Muskogee Civic Center, 425 Boston St., Muskogee
Tickets
Tickets start at $25 and are available at the box office, online at www.tulsa world.com/MuskogeeTickets, or by calling (918) 684-6363.
Singer Cal Smith emerged from Ernest Tubb’s honky-tonk country band and enjoyed several hits of his own between the late ’60s and mid-’70s.
His rendition of “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking” became his first No. 1 country hit in 1973. Jim Blair, past president of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, said, “I recently recorded a bluegrass version of ‘The Lord Knows I’m Drinkin’ with the Neverly Hillbillies. That song is timeless.”
Sammi Smith, born Jewel Fay Smith, was one of the few women in a movement called “outlaw country” in the 1970s. She celebrated a career hit with “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” composed by Kris Kristofferson and later covered by Elvis Presley. Johnny Cash himself helped her get her fi rst record label contract.
In 1972, Smith won a Grammy Award for the song, as well as the title of Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
Tommy Crook still creates unbelievable magic when he plays his guitar. Hank Thompson, an inductee from a previous year, said, “(Crook) must be considered one of the creative stylists of our time, not only for his expressive style, but for utilizing every angle a small group has to achieve a big sound.”
One night on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show,” Chet Atkins said Crook was the best finger-style guitarist he knew.
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