A Rogers State University professor and his co-author will discuss and sign their two recently published books about Oklahoma’s musical legacy during an Aug. 26 event at the Stratton Taylor Library.
Dr. Hugh Foley, assistant professor in RSU’s Department of Communications and Fine Arts, and Dr. George Carney, Regents professor of geography at Oklahoma State University, will present their books, “Oklahoma Music Guide: Biographies, Big Hits and Annual Events” and “Just For Kicks: Oklahoma Route 66 Music Guide.”
The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Stratton Taylor Library, Room 207. The presentation is free and open to the public as part of the university’s Library Literary Review series.
“Oklahoma Music Guide” is the first comprehensive guide on the subject of Oklahoma’s musical heritage. The book details the history, personalities, groups and songs that have made Oklahoma productive in every area of American music. Its centerpiece is a list of 200 biographical essays on significant musicians, groups, tribes, and musical movements including Gene Autry, Garth Brooks, the Cherokee tribe, Charlie Christian, the Flaming Lips, Woody Guthrie, Toby Keith, the Kiowa tribe, Reba McEntire, the Red Dirt Music scene, Leon Russell, Blake Shelton, the Tulsa Sound and the Bob Wills legacy.
The book also features an in-depth essay detailing the origins, highlights and contemporary stars of music from the state. The book includes many related lists including 350 No. 1 hits performed or written by musicians with Oklahoma ties; more than 500 place-based songs that mention Oklahoma and its cities in the titles or lyrics; more than 100 annual musical events in Oklahoma including festivals, community events, and powwows; and a master list of more than 2,000 additional Oklahoma musicians, groups, tribes and music industry people being considered for a future edition to coincide with Oklahoma’s centennial celebration in 2007.
Published this summer, “Just For Kicks” is a guide for historic U.S. Route 66 tourists and area residents interested in discovering more about Oklahoma and its contributions to American music.
Foley received a doctoral degree in English from Oklahoma State University, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English from New York University. His primary areas of scholarship are American studies with an emphasis on Oklahoma music and culture, Native American studies, and cinema. He has been published in numerous professional forums, and his video compilations on Native American music and culture have been shown at national conferences. Involved actively with radio broadcasting since 1977, he serves as the faculty music consultant to the campus radio station, RSU Radio, and as faculty advisor for the RSU Native American Student Association.
Carney has authored three books on American music and contributed more than 50 scholarly articles and book chapters to a variety of publications. He is also a member of the Friends of Oklahoma Music Board of Directors and the Governor’s Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Board.
For more information, call the RSU Stratton Taylor Library at (918) 343-7716.