Oklahoma, also referred to as the "Sooner State," is a state of rich cultural heritage and rich musical diversity. From the bluesy sounds of the blues to Red Dirt music's gritty realism, Oklahoma has proven to be a rich soil for the cultivation of numerous genres of music. This blog explores the heritage of Oklahoma musical styles, and how the unique cultural fabric of the state has created music that is distinctive in its resonance far beyond the limits of the state.
The history of Oklahoma music styles starts with the blues, a style deeply embedded in African American culture. The Great Migration of the early 20th century brought numerous African Americans from the Deep South into Oklahoma, with them the rich Delta blues tradition. This movement was encouraged by the prospect of improved chances and hopes of escaping the discriminatory Jim Crow legislation.
In Oklahoma, the blues established a new home, mixing with native influences to develop a distinctive sound. Tulsa and Oklahoma City served as hotbeds for blues artists, with clubs like Oklahoma City's famous Deep Deuce district providing venues for some of the greatest blues artists. Oklahoma City natives Jimmy Rushing and Lowell Fulson, who grew up in Tulsa, were among those who placed Oklahoma on the blues map.
The blues provided the groundwork for most of the music genres that would come after it in Oklahoma. Its focus on storytelling, emotional content, and improvisation would have an impact on country, jazz, and ultimately Red Dirt music.
While the blues were causing a stir in the cities, rural Oklahoma was developing another genre that would become inextricably linked with the state: country music. The tribulations of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl years found expression in the mournful melodies and heart-wrenching lyrics of country tunes.
Oklahoma's country music industry was influenced by such artists as Woody Guthrie, whose music highlighted the struggles and determination of the everyday man. Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" is still an uplifting anthem of American folk and country music. His influence went beyond Oklahoma, inspiring generations of musicians to continue the legacy of country music.
During the post-war period, Oklahoma kept yielding country music legends. Merle Haggard, although he was born in California, lived most of his formative years in Oklahoma and was influenced by the musical tradition of the state. Likewise, Reba McEntire, born in Chockie, Oklahoma, grew to become one of the world's most successful female country recording artists, projecting Oklahoma's country music onto a worldwide stage.
As the 20th century continued, the urban areas of Oklahoma turned out to be melting pots of musical change. Cities such as Tulsa and Oklahoma City boasted healthy jet communities rich in jazz an art form directly rooted in African American culture. The combination of jazz and other genres produced a particular sound, unique to the state, which gave voice to the diversity of its culture.
Possibly the most well-known Oklahoma jazz player was Charlie Christian, a visionary guitarist who was one of the prime architects of bebop and modern jazz. Christian's innovations with the electric guitar enabled thousands of other artists and opened doors for others into the field of jazz as an art form.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Oklahoma's jazz fusion community remained strong, with groups such as The Gap Band, out of Tulsa, combining jazz with funk, R&B, and soul. Infectious grooves and advanced arrangements defined their music, which brought Oklahoma's urban sound to the masses and established the state as a center of musical innovation.
As the musical landscape continued to shift, Oklahoma embraced the indie rock movement, which occurred during the latter half of the 20th century as a reaction against commercialism in mainstream rock. Indie rock, emphasizing Do-It-Yourself philosophies and musical independence, found a friendly landscape in Oklahoma's vibrant music scene.
Acts like The Flaming Lips, who are from Oklahoma City, were some of the earliest acts to innovate the indie rock scene through experimental sounds and extravagant performances. Their popularity brought national attention to Oklahoma's independent rock movement and encouraged a younger generation of artists to challenge what rock music was all about.
Other notable Oklahoma indie rock acts include Broncho, who specialize in a tough garage-rock style, and Colourmusic, who have a genre-bending sound that blends the styles of rock, pop, and electronica. All of these acts and more have made the richly varied bouquet of Oklahoma music genres even richer and kept the state vibrant with activity.
Although Oklahoma has seen its share of music genres, none is more specifically Oklahoman than Red Dirt music. Growing in popularity during the 1970s and 1980s, Red Dirt music is a style that defies categorization, borrowing from country, rock, folk, and blues to create a sound that is unmistakably Oklahoman.
Red Dirt" refers to the Oklahoma red soil, and the music that bears its name is deeply connected to the state's geography as well as culture. Red Dirt music is characterized by its raw and unadorned sound, as well as a concentration on telling stories, often basing its themes on love, loss, and struggles in everyday life.
One of the founders of Red Dirt music is Bob Childers, known as the "Godfather of Red Dirt." Childers' music, which featured sentimental lyrics and earthy sound, set the stage for the genre and influenced an entire generation of artists. Some of the other successful Red Dirt musicians are Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, and Turnpike Troubadours, who have contributed to popularizing Red Dirt music.
Red Dirt music is not a genre, it's a culture. Red Dirt has a tight-knit group of musicians, fans, and venues that all feel connected to each other, a feeling of community and a common goal. Red Dirt festivals like the Tyler, Texas, annual "Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival" and "The Medicine Stone" in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, provide the opportunity for the appreciation of the genre and uniting of the artists and fans from all over the region.
Oklahoma's musical legacy is in good hands going into the future. There are still new audiences opening up for talented musicians in the forms of blues, country, jazz fusion, and indie rock. Most especially, it is now easy for people to access and share music. Well, there are social media and digital platforms, which allow Oklahoma artists to showcase their unique sounds to the world with the greatest of ease.
On the other hand, Red Dirt music has a timeless definition, which solidly assures itself a stake in the musical and cultural heritage of Oklahoma. With new acts and the constant change of the genre, Red Dirt will surely remain the music that encompasses the spirit and culture of the state far into the future.
Oklahoma's musical history is a reflection of its vibrant cultural fabric, in which influences from everywhere have come together to forge sounds that are uniquely their own. From the deep blues and country roots to the development of Red Dirt and indie rock, the state has made an indelible contribution to American music. As Oklahoma musicians continue to innovate and defy boundaries, the heritage of its sounds will clearly persist for many generations to come.
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