OETA’s ‘A Conversation with…Wanda Jackson’

by Ryan

OETA’s interview series “A Conversation With …” will feature Wanda Jackson tonight at 9pm CST. (Find your local OETA station here.)

She was there at the beginning of rock and roll, and she’s still going strong. From the time she was young, Wanda Jackson wanted to be a “girl singer.” She regularly sang on a radio show in her hometown of Oklahoma City while in junior high school and had her first hit record by the time she was 17.
Wanda sang country songs until Elvis Presley encouraged her to try a new form of music called rockabilly - a combination of country, rhythm and blues, gospel and swing. She toured with Elvis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly and became the “Queen of Rockabilly” and the “First Lady of Rock and Roll.” In April, 2009 this music pioneer and native Oklahoman was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Hosted by Dick Pryor, “A Conversation With…” features intimate interviews with famous and noteworthy Oklahomans. Past guests have included the late Governor Henry Bellmon, Governor George Nigh, civil rights leader Clara Luper and many others.
An encore of this episode will air October 23 at 9pm.