First of Wanda Jackson’s Jack White-produced songs due out this month
Wanda Jackson performs a 2009 show. (Photo by Jaconna Aguirre/The Oklahoman Archives)
Oklahoma rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson will release the first two songs from her recent recording sessions with the multi-talented Jack White of the White Stripes later this month.
The Oklahoman’s Entertainment Editor Gene Triplett spoke with Jackson’s husband/manager Wendell Goodman, who confirmed the songs would be released on iTunes and seven-inch vinyl.
The songs are covers of Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good” and early British rock band Johnny Kidd and the Pirates’ “Shakin’ All Over.”
Gene broke the news in November that alternative rock star White, who also leads the bands the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather, had invited the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer to Nashville to record under his production guidance. To read the rest of Gene’s latest story on this intriguing musical pairing, click here.
Goodman did not know the exact release date for the first two Jackson-White songs, but the Oklahoma Rock Newsblog reports that the tracks are due out Jan. 26.
-BAM
Elvis played Oklahoma several times in his music-changing career
Elvis Presley in 1968 (Associated Press file photo)
Music fans celebrated the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth Friday, remembering the charismatic performer whose music permanently changed the world of entertainment.
The King played Oklahoma City several times during his transformative career and forged a special relationship with a legendary Oklahoma singer, Wanda Jackson.
My excellent colleague George Lang reports that on Oct. 16, 1955, Elvis played his first OKC concert at Oklahoma City’s Municipal Auditorium (now the Civic Center Music Hall). The singer, then known as “The Hillbilly Cat,” met Jackson, then a 17-year-old country singer, around that time.
“I had never heard of him, and Oklahoma City wasn’t playing his records yet, so I didn’t know anything about him,” Jackson said in a 2006 interview with The Oklahoman’s Gene Triplett.
The two went on tour together and began dating. Elvis, who went on to become the “King of Rock ’n’ Roll,” convinced the future “Queen of Rockabilly” that she should move beyond country music and use her powerful voice to sing rock ‘n’ roll. She has become widely regarded as the first woman to sing rock ‘n’ roll.
“I still wouldn’t have tried it if my daddy hadn’t thought it was a good idea, too,” Jackson said. “He said, ‘I think Elvis knows what he’s talkin’ about, about the music. It’s changing, and you’ve got to change with it.’ So that was good advice from both of those men in my life at the time.”
To read more of George’s fascinating story about Elvis’ career and his history playing in Oklahoma, including a pair of Norman concerts just months before his death in 1977, click here.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup for Nov. 20-22, 2009
Wanda Jackson (Associated Press photo)
Here is a list of events happening around Oklahoma today-Sunday (Nov. 20-22, 2009). For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
- Hear Wanda Jackson, Brian Dunning and the Rock & Roll Trio Saturday at the 50th anniversary celebration for 66 Bowl, 3810 NW 39 Expressway. The party goes on from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, 59 cent specials on bowling, shoes, hot dogs, soft drinks. Doors reopen at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. concert. Information: 946-3966.
- Take in hands-on art activities, face painting, live performances from the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and more at the Fall Family Festival celebrating the special exhibit “The Dutch Italianates” from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive. Information: 236-3100 or www.okcmoa.com.
- Watch the musical “Little House on the Prairie,” presented by Celebrity Attractions, at 8 tonight, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: (800) 869-1451 or www.celebrityattractions.com.
Hinder
- MIAMI – Hear Oklahoma City rockers Hinder at 8 p.m. Saturday at Buffalo Run Casino. Information: www.ticketstorm.com.
- THACKERVILLE – Laugh along with Ron White at 9 tonight at WinStar World Casino. Then, hear Lyle Lovett at 8 p.m. Saturday at WinStar. Information: www.winstarworldcasino.com.
NORMAN — Listen the Gin Blossoms at 8 tonight at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.
- Hear Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter Michael Fracasso at 9 tonight at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark”
- NORMAN — Learn more about the state’s winter birds and build a birdfeeder from 6 to 8:30 tonight during Family Night Out at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave. At 8:30, the museum’s Movie Night will play “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Information: 325-4712 or www.snomnh.ou.edu.
- Share tales of “Sibling Rivalry” at OKC StorySlam’s monthly story slam tonight at Istvan Gallery, 1218 N Western Ave. Registration starts at 7 p.m., and storytelling begins at 7:30. Information: www.istvangallery.com or okcstoryslam@yahoo.com.
- Hear No Justice with Kyle Bennett Band at 10 tonight at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan. Or listen to Kevin Fowler with Kevin Pickett and Southern Rain at 10 p.m. Saturday at the Wormy Dog. Information: www.wormydog.com.
Gary Vaynerchuk
- Listen to social media sommelier Gary Vaynerchuk and sample gourmet food and drink at OK Crush It at 8 tonight at Will Rogers Theater, 4322 N Western. Information: www.okcrushit.com.
- Watch the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Washington Wizards at 7 tonight at the Ford Center, 100 W Reno. Information: www.thunder.nba.com.
- Shop for a good cause at Individual Artists of Oklahoma’s Red Dot Art Auction fundraiser from 7 to 11 tonight at IAO, 706 W Sheridan. The auction will feature artwork by more than 50 Oklahoma artists. Information: www.iaogallery.org.
- Watch the American Quarter Horse Show from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Saturday at State Fair Park. Information: www.aqha.com or www.okstatefairpark.com.
-BAM
Jack White talks working with Wanda Jackson on “wild record”
Jack White (Associated Press photo)
Rocker Jack White talked this week to MTV.com about producing a recent recording session for Oklahoma’s own Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson. He said the sessions have already been completed.
“I just finished recording with Wanda Jackson in Nashville. It was just supposed to be a seven-inch (single), but we did a lot more songs, so maybe it will be something bigger,” White told MTV.com. “There was a lot of good stuff. It’s a wild record.”
Jackson (pictured left), a 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, told The Oklahoman’s Gene Triplett last week that she was working with the rocker on a project that she likened to his Loretta Lynn’s 2004 album “Van Lear Rose,” which White produced.
“They had a super album, but he didn’t have her do anything different, you know,” Jackson told Gene. “She just did her little Loretta Lynn songs. But he told me he’s gonna stretch me some, so we’ll see.”
White fronts three alternative rock bands – the White Stripes, the Dead Weather and the Raconteurs – so he remains perpetually busy, even if you don’t count the producing tasks. White told MTV.com that new Dead Weather and White Stripes albums are in progress.
“It’s gonna take as long as it takes … if it takes three months to do a Dead Weather record, we’ll take that long,” White told MTV.com. “The White Stripes record is going to be these two guys (Dead Weather bassist Jack Lawrence and guitarist/keyboardist Dean Fertita) dressed as me and Meg (White, his duo partner and ex-wife), so we’ll see if something interesting comes out of that.”
But the busy White won’t be doing one project – performing on guitarist Slash’s solo album.
“I don’t even remember that request, but I love Slash — ‘Appetite (for Destruction)’ is one of the best rock albums of the past 20-30 years,” White told MTV.com. “I don’t remember exactly what that request was, but, you know, I don’t really like those albums where every song is a different person — that Santana thing, that’s not interesting to me. But I think he’s a really interesting guitar player.”
Catching up with White is always interesting, but I’m most intrigued by the idea of him working with Oklahoma City’s “sweet lady with the nasty voice,” Wanda Jackson.
-BAM
Jack White of White Stripes to produce Oklahoma rockabilly star Wanda Jackson’s new album
Wanda Jackson performs in Bricktown earlier this year. (Photo by Jim Beckel/The Oklahoman Archives)
Jack White (Associated Press photo)
Wanda Jackson, the “Queen of Rockabilly” and “First Lady of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” was en route to Nashville, Tenn., on Friday to meet in a recording studio with alternative rock star Jack White.
The Oklahoman’s Entertainment Editor Gene Triplett spoke with Jackson by phone as she was waiting for a flight connection at Denver International Airport.
Jackson is set to record a new album with White as the producer. They first will record a single for digital release before completing an album.
“One of the biggest stars on the planet I guess right now,” she said of White during her phone interview with Gene.
A singer-songwriter, pianist, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer, White is one-half of the garage rock revivalist duo The White Stripes, which he founded in 1997 with then-wife Meg White. He also leads two other alternative rock bands, the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather.
White produced country legend Loretta Lynn’s critically lauded 2004 album “Van Lear Rose.”
“They had a super album, but he didn’t have her do anything different, you know,” Jackson told Gene. “She just did her little Loretta Lynn songs. But he told me he’s gonna stretch me some, so we’ll see. We’ll talk later.”
Jackson may be 72, but this isn’t her first time to work with new-generation musical talents; she has previously worked with Dave Alvin, The Cramps, Rosie Flores, Lee Rocker, the Cadillac Angels and Elvis Costello.
A Maud native and Oklahoma City resident, Jackson was inducted earlier this year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her next OKC show will be at 8 p.m. Nov. 21 at 66 Bowl, 6810 NW 39, at a 50th anniversary celebration for the Route 66 landmark.
Click here to read the rest of Gene’s interesting scoop.
-BAM
Wanda Jackson special premieres tonight on OETA
Wanda Jackson (Photo by Jim Beckel/The Oklahoman)
“A Conversation With … Wanda Jackson,” an intimate, in-depth interview with the Queen of Rockabilly, will premiere at 9 tonight on OETA.
Hosted by Dick Pryor, “A Conversation With …” features up-close and personal discussions with the state’s history makers.
Jackson, who turns 72 this month, was there at the beginning of rock ‘n’ roll, and she’s still going strong. From the time she was young, Jackson wanted to be a “girl singer.” She regularly sang on a radio show in her hometown of Oklahoma City while in junior high school and had her first hit record by the time she was 17.
Jackson sang country songs until Elvis Presley encouraged her to try a new form of music called rockabilly – a combination of country, rhythm and blues, gospel and swing. She toured with Elvis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly and became the “Queen of Rockabilly” and the “First Lady of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” In April, 2009, this music pioneer and native Oklahoman was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Oklahoma City officials last week dedicated Wanda Jackson Way, an alley running parallel to Reno and connecting Oklahoma Avenue and Mickey Mantle Drive, in the singer’s honor.
Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Dick Pryor, “A Conversation With …” features discussions with the state’s prominent residents. Guests have included former Principal Chief of the Cherokees Wilma Mankiller, Gov. Henry Bellmon, Gov. George Nigh, civil rights activist Clara Luper and producer/promoter Lee Allan Smith.
-BAM
Photo gallery: Wanda Jackson Way dedication
Wanda Jackson smiles and waves to crowd during outdoor ceremony Wednesday afternoon honoring the rockabilly legend and Oklahoma City resident with the official naming of a Bricktown alley Wanda Jackson Way. Holding the new sign are Mayor Mick Cornett, right, and Council members Skip Kelly, left, and Pete White. (Photos by Jim Beckel/ The Oklahoman)
Jim Beckel, one of the skilled photographers at The Oklahoman, was on hand Wednesday to cover the dedication of Wanda Jackson Way in Bricktown. As you can see, Jim took several great shots of the event.
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett hugs Wanda Jackson during the ceremony.
The Queen of Rockabilly speaks during the dedication. “I’m not worthy of all the acclaims and accolades, but I’m very grateful for them,” Jackson said during the ceremony. “I’ve lived like a fairytale life. Every year of my life has truly been wonderful and exciting. I feel like Cinderella still, but … 2009 has really been memorable for me.”
Jackson performs with a band from the nearby Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma.
She proved she still has her distinctive powerhouse voice, belting out her hits “Mean Mean Man,” “Right or Wrong” and “Let’s Have a Party.” After covering Jackson for a couple of years now, hearing her perform live was a real thrill for me.
After the ceremony and performance, Jackson signed autographs and posed for photos for several fans. (Among those who waited in line to get their picture taken with the singing legend were Derek and Raechel Brown of local band Crocodile.)
-BAM
Wanda Jackson gets her Way in Oklahoma City
Wanda Jackson holds her copy of the Wanda Jackson Way street sign Wednesday in Bricktown. (Associated Press photo)
A version of this story also appears in Thursday’s The Oklahoman.
After building a 55-year music career spanning three genres, garnering an international fan base and earning a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Wanda Jackson is getting her way in Oklahoma City.
“I think I’ve always had my own way, really. I keep fighting until I get it,” the Queen of Rockabilly said with a laugh said after Wednesday afternoon’s dedication of Wanda Jackson Way.
About 150 elected officials, musicians and fans gathered in Bricktown for the ceremony. Wanda Jackson Way runs parallel to Reno Avenue and connects Oklahoma Avenue to Mickey Mantle Drive.
“I’ll just say follow Mickey Mantle; he’ll take you right to me. He was a country music fan, you know. He used to come out … when I had my band and we worked dances around the country,” Jackson said after closing the ceremony with a performance.
The Oklahoma City Council voted unanimously in July to name the alley for Jackson, a longtime Oklahoma City resident who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April. She is the fourth music star to have a Bricktown roadway named for her; Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill, legendary guitarist Charlie Christian and Grammy-winning alternative rockers The Flaming Lips are the previous honorees.
Mayor Mick Cornett called Jackson, 71, a “true Oklahoma City legend.” The singer broke into the music business as a teen with a 15-minute daily show on local radio station KLPR.
The mayor and Ward 7 Councilman Skip Kelly presented her with a full-size copy of the street sign and helped her cut the red fringed ribbon, which matched her snazzy blouse. Ward 4 Councilman Pete White shared stories of listening to Jackson at high school assemblies and praised her for never forgetting her roots.
“She was always the star of those shows, and I remember that very well as someone who grew up listening to KLPR,” he said. “She didn’t move someplace else, she didn’t go to some other town, or some other state, she’s right here in Oklahoma City.”
While she also performed country and gospel, Jackson became a rock pioneer in the 1950s. At the urging of rising star Elvis Presley, she became the first woman to sing in the emerging style.
“I’m not worthy of all the acclaims and accolades, but I’m very grateful for them,” Jackson said during the ceremony. “I’ve lived like a fairytale life. Every year of my life has truly been wonderful and exciting. I feel like Cinderella still, but … 2009 has really been memorable for me.”
Jill Simpson, Oklahoma Film and Music Office director, read a governor’s proclamation declaring Wednesday Wanda Jackson Day in the state. When Cornett apologized that she had already missed half her day, Jackson, who turns 72 next month, proved as witty as ever.
“I don’t get up ‘til noon anyway,” she quipped.
The singer, who continues to tour, also proved she still has her distinctive powerhouse voice, belting out her hits “Mean Mean Man,” “Right or Wrong” and “Let’s Have a Party,” backed by a band from the nearby Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Sitting in the grass in front of the small stage, Oklahoma City resident Marilyn Owens recalled a childhood trip to KLPR to see Jackson perform.
“This is wonderful, couldn’t happen to a more perfect performer,” Owens said. “It’s amazing that she’s still going strong.”
Paula Warlick of Tulsa extended a business trip to Oklahoma City to see Jackson perform live for the first time.
“My parents listened to her when I was a kid, so you hear something all your life and you don’t realize that somebody lives in Oklahoma. … I didn’t know she was from Oklahoma until I was older,” she said. “She’s a woman in rock who paved some ground for women, so I’m a big fan.”
As Jackson signed autographs after the ceremony, Wendell Goodman, her manager and spouse, said the landmark honor is particularly special since it comes from their hometown.
“Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County and the state have just bent over backward to pay homage to her … and we are so pleased,” he said.
He added with a laugh, “She’s had her way with me for 48 years.”
-BAM
OETA to premiere Wanda Jackson special Tuesday, Oct. 6
Wanda Jackson (Associated Press photo)
“A Conversation With … Wanda Jackson,” an intimate, in-depth interview with the Queen of Rockabilly, will premiere at 9 p.m. Tuesday on OETA, the network announced today.
Hosted by Dick Pryor, “A Conversation With …” features up-close and personal discussions with the state’s history makers.
Jackson, 71, was there at the beginning of rock ‘n’ roll, and she’s still going strong. From the time she was young, Jackson wanted to be a “girl singer.” She regularly sang on a radio show in her hometown of Oklahoma City while in junior high school and had her first hit record by the time she was 17.
Jackson sang country songs until Elvis Presley encouraged her to try a new form of music called rockabilly – a combination of country, rhythm and blues, gospel and swing. She toured with Elvis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly and became the “Queen of Rockabilly” and the “First Lady of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” In April, 2009, this music pioneer and native Oklahoman was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Today, Oklahoma City officials dedicated Wanda Jackson Way, an alley running parallel to Reno and connecting Oklahoma Avenue and Mickey Mantle Drive, in the singer’s honor.
Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Dick Pryor, “A Conversation With …” features discussions with the state’s prominent residents. Guests have included former Principal Chief of the Cherokees Wilma Mankiller, Gov. Henry Bellmon, Gov. George Nigh, civil rights activist Clara Luper and producer/promoter Lee Allan Smith.
-BAM
Wanda Jackson Way to be dedicated today
Wanda Jackson (Photo by Jaconna Aguirre/The Oklahoman)
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett will be joined by city and state leaders to officially dedicate Wanda Jackson Way in Bricktown with a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. today.
The event will be highlighted by a very special live musical performance by the Queen of Rockabilly herself. The event is free and open to the public. Wanda Jackson Way is located north and parallel with East Reno Avenue and extends from South Oklahoma Avenue to South Mickey Mantle Drive.
Oklahoma City Council voted unanimously on July 21 to name a Bricktown alley after Jackson for her lifetime musical achievements.
The internationally acclaimed musician and longtime Oklahoma City resident was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4. Mayor Mick Cornett proclaimed March 24, 2009 Wanda Jackson Day in Oklahoma City.
Jackson was America’s first major female rockabilly singer. When she began touring as a teenager in 1955 she was placed on the bill with rising star Elvis Presley.
A few of Jackson’s hits include, “You Can’t Have my Love,” “Fujiyama Mama” and “Let’s Have a Party.”
Jackson was born in Maud in 1937. Her family moved to California during the depression in 1941 and returned to Oklahoma City when Jackson was about 12 years old. While attending Capitol Hill High School she won a local talent competition and was offered a 15-minute daily show on radio station KLPR. Country singer Hank Thompson heard her perform and encouraged her to record with the Brazos Valley Boys. “You can’t have my Love” became a national hit in 1954, when Jackson was just 17 years old.
Jackson continues to tour world wide, singing country, rockabilly and gospel. She has been nominated for two Grammys, and in 2008 was the subject of a documentary, “The Sweet Lady with the Nasty Voice.”
The dedication is being coordinated in conjunction with the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, the Bricktown Association, Downtown OKC, Inc., the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.
-BAM
