NewsOK
Jimmy LaFave. Photo provided
From red dirt music trailblazers to a platinum-selling sibling trio, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame will induct seven diverse acts in its 2017 class.
This year’s inductees include red dirt music pioneer and recent recipient of theinaugural Restless Spirit Award Jimmy LaFave (who recently revealed that he has terminal cancer); the late country music singer and songwriter Carl Belew; “Hee Haw” musician and actor Rodney Lay; red dirt music torchbearers the Red Dirt Rangers; Grammy Award-winning musician David Teegarden Sr.; singer and harmonica player Jimmy “Junior” Markham; and pop-rock trio Hanson.
The Muskogee-based Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame will host a celebratory concert and induction ceremony in June at Hatbox Field prior to the second annual G Fest Muskogee music festival. The event will feature performances by many of the honored artists.
The induction will be at the Hangar at Hatbox Field at 7 p.m. June 14. The ceremonial video bios will begin at 8 p.m. An after-party with the Tulsa Playboys is set for 10 p.m.
The induction is a separate, ticketed event from the festival; however, all G Fest three-day ticketholders and volunteers are invited to the after-party.
VIP tickets are $75 and include seating for the induction ceremony, hors d’oeuvres and after-party admission. VIP tables with seating for eight are $500. For tickets and information, go to omhof.com.
The celebration comes in advance of the second annual G Fest Muskogee music festival, which takes over Hatbox Field on multiple stages June 15-17. As previously reported, NEEDTOBREATHE, Blackberry Smoke, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kentucky Headhunters, The Mavericks, California Honeydrops, The Swon Brothers, John Fullbright, Leon: The Tribute (Leon Russell Tribute Show) and more are scheduled to play the festival.
While the rest of the 2017 class will be honored at the June 14 Muskogee event, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Executive Director Jim Paul Blair tells me that Hanson will be inducted in a separate ceremony Sunday during the band’s fourth annual Hop Jam craft beer and music festival in the historic Brady Arts District of their hometown of Tulsa. For more information on Hop Jam, go to www.thehopjam.com.
In the past, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame has similarly honored Kings of Leon and Journey rocker Neal Schon during their state tour dates. Blair says the separate ceremony Sunday will allow the hall to recognize the busy Hanson brothers – Isaac, Taylor and Zac – during their 25th anniversary year.
As previously reported, Hanson will launch its extensive “Middle Of Everywhere 25th Anniversary World Tour” at Hop Jam and spend much of June touring Europe and the U.K. before returning to play through the United States in the fall.
-BAM