Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock & Roll Story

This Thursday, as part of the Oklahoma History Center’s celebration of our state’s rock and roll history, the center will be hosting a book-signing and release party for “Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock and Roll Story.”

Artwork by Cameron and Bruce Eagle

The 200-page book is a collection of essays on a variety of genres, time periods and experiences. Essay authors include Wayne Coyne, Scott Booker, Jimmy LaFave, Steve Ripley, John Cooper, Hugh Foley, John Wooley, Ryan LaCroix (that’s me), Angie DeVore-Green, Jerry A. Church, Stuart Hudson, Chris Brownsberger, Michael Dean, Jeff Moore, Larry O’Dell and Elizabeth Baxter.

“Here, for the first time, is an illustrated book that takes you on a stroll down the memory lane of Rock and Roll in Oklahoma. Along the way you will encounter intersecting musical styles that range from Rhythm and Blues to Soul and Western Swing. You will meet pioneers who changed the landscape of musical history such as Woody Guthrie, Leon Russell, and Wayne Coyne. Most importantly, you will feel the music.” - Dr. Bob L. Blackburn, Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Director

EVENT INFO:
• When: Thursday, July 16
• Where: Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N Laird Ave., in OKC
• Musical entertainment: Hosty Duo
• Time & Admission: 6-9pm; $5

Check out a video with Jeff Moore and Larry O’Dell of the Oklahoma History Center and an article by Robert Medley of The Oklahoman.

Oklahoma’s roots in rock history grow
Book collects musical contributions of Oklahomans
BY ROBERT MEDLEY

The state was celebrating 100 years of history in 2007 when an idea hatched that came out loud and fast, jumping and bopping as it left the nest.

The exhibit would cover only the last 60 years, and the topic would plow new ground at the Oklahoma History Center.

Historians launched “Another Hot Oklahoma Night,” a rock ’n’ roll exhibit, in May, but they haven’t stopped digging into the state’s rock ’n’ roll roots.

Larry O’Dell, 40, the history center’s director of collections, and Jeff Moore, 39, director of exhibits, have traveled much of the country tracking down some of the lost legends of rock with Oklahoma ties.

Moore said it was during the state centennial that he began thinking about University of Oklahoma President David Boren’s aunt, Mae Boren Axton.

She was the mother of Hoyt Axton, who co-wrote the timeless rocker “Heartbreak Hotel,” made famous by Elvis Presley. Hoyt Axton also wrote the hit, “Joy To The World,” for Three Dog Night.

“I said we ought to do an exhibit on rock ’n’ roll, and the timing seemed right,” Moore said.

Oklahoma-born country and western singers have been well-documented, but looking into the state’s rock history has proven to be more of a ground-breaking endeavor, he said. Much of the history gathered has been from word of mouth.

“People don’t always think it is history when they are still in the middle of it,” O’Dell said.

“We’ve had to do original research. It’s not like we put together an Abraham Lincoln exhibit or even an exhibit on the Land Run,” Moore said.

Since the exhibit opened, stories have continued to pour in.

Essays on rock music have been compiled in a book called “Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock and Roll Story.” The book will be unveiled at 6 p.m. July 16 at the history center at 2401 N Laird Ave.

“Once we got into this we realized these stories are great, and we are going to continue,” O’Dell said.

The 200-page book of essays will bring the history of the music and the state’s contributions up to date, he said.

One of the chapters from the 1960s and early 1970s is going to be recreated.

“The Scene,” hosted by disc jockey Ronnie Kaye on WKY-TV from 1966 to 1974, was Oklahoma City’s version of “American Bandstand.”

A re-creation of “The Scene” with the band, The Five Americans, is planned. A date will be announced later, O’Dell said. The Five Americans of Durant had the hit “Western Union” and are headlining the event.

O’Dell and Moore said their passion hasn’t waned for exploring rock music in Oklahoma. They have driven up and down the coast of California researching music with state connections. That included an interview with Elvin Bishop in northern California.

O’Dell said the exhibit keeps evolving. The historians recently completed interviews with the musical brothers Keith and Mike Brewer, who are Oklahoma City natives.

Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley, known collectively as Brewer & Shipley, had a 1971 song hit the top 10 with “One Toke Over the Line.” Many radio stations banned it due to the reference to illegal drug use, O’Dell said.

O’Dell and Moore said more ideas are hatching, such as building a state history center in Tulsa that focuses on music and popular culture. There are those who don’t think rock ’n’ roll is worth the time, though, so some serious historians have had to be convinced.

“We’re raising awareness about the state’s history and preserving and sharing Oklahoma history. There is so much interest in this topic of Oklahoma music and Oklahoma pop culture. We are permanently preserving many of the stories,” Moore said.

Michael Dean, history center spokesman, was disc jockey at KBEL Radio in Idabel in 1964 and recalls playing “A Hard Day’s Night” on the southeast Oklahoma airways. Rock music is a legitimate part of the state history, just like the vaudeville shows, Will Rogers and wild west shows of the past, he said.

“Our hook is that the exhibit showcases a part of popular culture, and Oklahoma has contributed to rock ’n’ roll not just nationwide but worldwide from rockabilly to Alice in Chains,” Dean said.

Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said rock music is a lot like the makeup of the state because it is comprised of so many separate influences. Rock music was a mixture of country, jazz, blues, gospel, folk and soul. Oklahoma is a state of immigrants who brought their heritage here, he said.

“If you can understand rock ’n’ roll, you can understand this melting pot of American culture,” Blackburn said.