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Al Clauser and His Oklahoma Outlaws and Patti Page
Another blog article started long ago, July 26, 2021, but never quite finished, until now. In 1982, Oklahoma was celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Diamond Jubilee of statehood, and it was one of the focuses (along with Korea) of the Smithsonian Institution's 1982 Festival of American Folklife. The program book...
Time Jumpers at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Every year about this time, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco hosts a weekend of free performances from dozens of bands. It all started with bluegrass, but it expanded to include country, folk, Americana, zydeco, blues, western swing and who knows what all, and now it's known as Hardly...
Donald Trump in Tusla
On Wednesday, I attended the Tulsa rally for presidential candidate Donald Trump with former Alaska Gov. and vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, held at ORU's Mabee Center. I was there as a member of the news media; I received an email at 7 pm the night before the event saying that...
Riders in the Sky at Cain's, April 14, 2012, for National Fiddler Hall of Fame Gala
The world's premier cowboy band, Riders in the Sky, will perform at this year's National Fiddler Hall of Fame gala on April 14, 2012, at Tulsa's historic Cain's Ballroom. The Riders' fiddler, Woody Paul, the King of the Cowboy Fiddlers, is one of this year's inductees into the hall of...
International Western Swing: The Swinging Hayriders
Number 3 in our review of international western swing bands, building an invite list for that dreamed-of Tulsa International Festival of Western Swing. From Malmö, Sweden, it's the Swinging Hayriders with the "Texas Playboy Rag": From the "Band" page on their official website: Swinging Hayriders is a band from Malmö...
Democrats in key congressional races, part 3
Alan Grayson Alan Grayson Suzanne Kosmas Jim Marshall Debbie Halvorson Bill Foster Phil Hare Baron Hill Leonard Boswell Frank Kratovil Gary McDowell Mark Schauer Mike Ross Dennis Cardoza Christopher Murphy John Barrow Melissa Bean Bruce Braley Dave Loebsack John Yarmuth Chellie Pingree Tim Walz Russ Carnahan Rush Holt Carolyn McCarthy...
Fun stuff in Tulsa this weekend (that I can't do)
There are some exciting events in Tulsa over the next few days, but because of a heavy and strange work schedule I won't be able to make any of them. But that doesn't mean you have to miss them: Friday, April 23, 2010: National Fiddler Hall of Fame Gala, Tulsa...
Review: Texas Playboys at Bob Wills Birthday
An orphaned draft, found and published April 12, 2024: I had apparently intended to write a review of the 2010 Bob Wills Birthday Bash at Cain's Ballroom, but got no further than to record that night's line-up and set list. Vocalists are shown in parentheses; songs without vocalists are instrumentals....
Barthelmes anniversary concert Tuesday
Barthelmes Conservatory will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a special concert this coming Tuesday night, May 19, 2009, at 6 p.m., in the Bernsen Center, 708 S. Boston in downtown Tulsa, in the Grand Hall on the 4th floor. Admission is free. About two dozen students will perform short...
Rockin' Acoustic Circus tonight at Jazz Depot
Tonight at 8 p.m. (Friday, March 27, 2009) the Rockin' Acoustic Circus will perform at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in the old Tulsa Union Depot at 1st and Boston. The six-member band performs bluegrass, western swing, and modern country. They put on a great show. Here's a sample:...
My election day
In case you were wondering: 6:00 am -- Up after a night of tossing and turning, during which I dream of total on-air collapse: I don't get my database stuff finished, I can't keep up with the precincts as they come in, I have nothing coherent to say. 6:20 am...
Republican Boot-Scootin' Barbecue -- Saturday
This coming Saturday, October 4, the Tulsa County Republican Party will hold its annual fall fundraiser out at the old barn on the McGraw place, 10900 S. Louisville Ave. It's a great opportunity to meet fellow Republican activists and elected officials. Councilor John Eagleton will be providing the barbecue: chopped...
Joe Bates on KFAQ tonight
Elvis Polo has an entertaining and enlightening talk show every Saturday night from 6 to 9, but as an extra special treat, he's invited my son Joe to bring his fiddle to the studio and play the bumpers into and out of the commercial breaks during the first hour, from...
Tulsans are top yodelers
Belated congratulations to Tulsa's Emma Jane Pendleton, 14, who took first place in the Patsy Montana National Yodeling Championship, and to her younger sister Marina, 13, who took second. The two sisters are also top fiddlers; Emma Jane is the reigning Oklahoma Junior Fiddle Champion and won the junior championship...
National Fiddler Hall of Fame launched
Last Friday night, I had the privilege of being at Cain's Ballroom for the inaugural gala of the National Fiddler Hall of Fame with my wife and son, both of whom play violin/fiddle. We got to meet Bob Wills's daughter Rosetta, who was there to accept the induction of her...
From a cushioned parlor sofa to a fast moving Cadillac
Recognize these words, western swing fans? The light is in the parlor, A fire is in the grate; The clock upon the mantle Ticks out --"it's getting late" -- The curtains at the windows Are made of snowy white, The parlor is a pleasant place To sit on Sunday night,...
Floyd Estes Bates, RIP
Yesterday afternoon we laid to rest my Grandfather's next youngest brother, who died early Sunday morning in Nowata. Floyd Estes Bates was born on October 3, 1920, in Welch, Oklahoma. He joined the Army when he turned 18, served with the 127th Infantry in New Guinea, and left the service...
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