Oklahoma to Pick Official Rock & Roll Song

Contact: Michael Dean
Public Relations Director
(405) 522-5241

Oklahoma City, OK
April 25, 2008
For Immediate Release

Oklahoma has an official state folk song, a country and western song, and of course an official state song, as well as numerous state emblems. The state lacks an official rock and roll song, a genre that has dominated the last half of the twentieth century and helped define the “Baby Boomer” generation.

A vote in the State Senate has brought the state one step closer to choosing one. Senator John Ford and Representative Joe Dorman cosponsored House Concurrent Resolution 1047, which was approved unanimously by both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Ford explained that the Oklahoma History Center will celebrate the state’s rock and roll heritage with an exhibit entitled “Another Hot Oklahoma Night,” slated to open in 2009. Under HCR 1047, the Oklahoma Historical Society will host a web site, www.oklahomarocksong.org, and have polling locations at special events and at the Oklahoma History Center where the public can nominate an official rock and roll song.

In August 2008, the nominations will be pared to ten songs by a panel of experts selected by the governor, legislative leaders, the Oklahoma Film & Music Office and the Oklahoma History Center. From September 1 to November 15, 2008, the public will have the final say, voting on the official Oklahoma rock and roll song to be presented to the Legislature in 2009.

The idea for an official state rock song resulted from a planning meeting between the Oklahoma History Center and the Oklahoma Film & Music Office. Jeff Moore, Director of Exhibits for the Oklahoma History Center, recalled “we were discussing Oklahoma’s impact in Rock and Roll and it became clear that there are so many artists, landmark venues, and business connections that Oklahoma needs to formally recognize this amazing history.Additionally, the selection process will allow the public to be involved in the exhibit’s development.”

Jill Simpson, Director of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, expressed "The Oklahoma Film & Music Office is excited to be working with the Oklahoma History Center on the Oklahoma rock song designation. We're confident that the public nomination process will encourage radio stations across the state to play more original music by Oklahoma bands and songwriters. Based on the number of people already visiting the website from around the country and the world, we think this effort has significance beyond our state's borders. We are pleased to be joining forces with the History Center to promote the contest in communities throughout the state."

Larry O’Dell, Historic Collections Specialist for the History Center’s Research Division, explained “the nominations we have already received are assisting us in our research for the exhibit. We have learned about Oklahoma connections to songs and artists that we did not previously know.”

Moore added “every exhibit project we work on is a collaborative effort. Our exhibit projects are funded through donations and grants to the History Center. Even though this is early in the process, several organizations and businesses are donating time and resources to get the word out. The Red Cross of Oklahoma is printing nomination forms. Several music festivals around the state, including the Norman Music Festival and DFest in Tulsa, are allowing us to distribute information.”

The History Center is actively collecting stories and artifacts related to rock and roll in Oklahoma. For more information, please contact the museum staff at (405) 522-0798.

For more information about the Oklahoma History Center, call Michael Dean, Public Relations Director at (405) 522-5241 or by email at mdean@okhistory.org.