The Future of Our Past
The OKPOP Foundation has officially completed the $18 million Heart & Soul Campaign, and the State Treasurer has now approved and certified the pledges, releasing the state’s matching funds. This milestone marks the beginning of OKPOP’s next chapter: exhibit design, fabrication, and the build-out of Oklahoma’s first museum dedicated to the global creative impact of its people.
Hello Friends and Potential Donors,
“You know, this whole campaign wasn’t just about raising $18 million – it was about backing a mission that means something. OKPOP is here to celebrate the crazy amount of creativity that comes out of Oklahoma, to tell the stories of the folks who shaped music, film, and art, and to fire up the next generation to chase their own big dreams. The way people showed up to support this blows me away. Oklahoma should be proud of what’s coming.”
Honorary Campaign Chair
Today we celebrate the birthday of Roy Milton (1907–1983)—a pioneering drummer, singer, bandleader, and one of the architects of rhythm & blues.
Before becoming an R&B legend, Milton honed his craft in Oklahoma as a member of Ernie Fields’ Royal Entertainers. He later moved to Los Angeles, formed The Solid Senders, and launched one of the most successful careers in early R&B.
With 19 Top 10 R&B hits, including classics like “R.M. Blues” and “Hop, Skip and Jump,” Roy Milton helped bridge the worlds of swing, blues, and the emerging sound of rock and roll. His energetic performances and infectious rhythms influenced generations of musicians and helped define the sound of postwar American popular music.
From Oklahoma stages to the national spotlight, Roy Milton’s legacy continues to echo through the history of American music.
#OKPOP #RoyMilton #RhythmAndBlues #OklahomaMusic #MusicHistory
In honor of #NationalGoldenGirlsDay here is a photo from our collection featuring two Okies on the Tonight Show: Rue McClanahan and Roy Clark!
On August 25th, 1977, Roy Clark was the guest host, stepping in for Johnny Carson, with actress Rue McClanahan as one of the guests. This was a few years before she would star as Blanche Devereaux on the hit sitcom, Golden Girls. #goldengirls #ruemcclanahan #royclark
Today, on his birthday, we remember Charlie Christian—an Oklahoma City-raised musical revolutionary who didn’t simply play the electric guitar. He transformed what the instrument could be.
Before Christian, the guitar was largely confined to the rhythm section. Through amplification, fluid single-note lines, and a horn-like approach to improvisation, he brought it to the front of the band as a powerful lead voice. In doing so, he helped establish a musical vocabulary that generations of jazz, blues, rock, and popular guitarists would inherit.
Christian developed his gifts in Oklahoma City, attending Douglass High School and growing within the remarkable musical culture of Deep Deuce. After joining the Benny Goodman Sextet in 1939, his sound reached audiences across the country and helped point jazz toward the emerging language of bebop.
His national recording career lasted only a few years, and he died at just 25. Yet few musicians have ever changed the role of an instrument so completely—or in so little time.
Charlie Christian’s influence extends far beyond jazz. He helped make the electric guitar a defining voice of modern popular music, opening possibilities that musicians are still exploring today.
Happy birthday to one of Oklahoma’s most important and influential musical innovators.
#CharlieChristian #JazzGuitar #OklahomaMusic #JazzHistory #OKPOP
Today, OKPOP remembers Tulsa-born filmmaker Blake Edwards on his birthday.
Born in 1922, Edwards became one of Hollywood’s most versatile directors, writers and producers, moving effortlessly between sophisticated comedy, romance and deeply human drama. His celebrated films include Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Days of Wine and Roses, The Great Race, 10, Victor/Victoria and the beloved Pink Panther series. He also created the influential television series Peter Gunn, beginning a memorable creative partnership with composer Henry Mancini.
In 2004, Edwards received an Honorary Academy Award recognizing his extraordinary body of work as a writer, director and producer.
From Holly Golightly to Inspector Clouseau, his films continue to make audiences laugh, think and fall in love with the movies.
What’s your favorite Blake Edwards film?
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We so enjoyed connecting with Native artist and performer Randy Kemp for a video interview to be preserved in the Oklahoma Historical Society’s state archives and shared through future OKPOP exhibits.
Randy reflected on his Muscogee, Choctaw and Yuchi heritage; his journey through painting, design, film, theater and music; and the quiet power of the river-cane flute. He also shared how eight years of playing for palliative-care patients revealed art’s ability to create comfort, connection and space for healing.
His advice to the next generation of Oklahoma creators:
“Practice your instrument, your art, your craft. Do it when people are not looking. Do it because you love to do it.”
Thank you, Randy, for sharing your creativity, wisdom and story with us.
#RandyKemp #OKPOP #OklahomaArtists #NativeArtists #OklahomaCreativity @randykemp.artist
Happy birthday to Kristin Chenoweth! 🎂✨
Born in Broken Arrow, Kristin has brought her unmistakable voice, humor, and larger-than-life talent from Oklahoma to Broadway, television, film, and stages around the world. From Wicked to Pushing Daisies and beyond, she continues to show just how far an Oklahoma dream can travel.
Join us in wishing her a wonderful birthday! 💗
#KristinChenoweth #HappyBirthday #OklahomaProud #OKPOP #Broadway @kchenoweth
A big thank-you to our wonderful summer interns: Zoey Hughes (The University of Tulsa), Regan Vann (The University of Tulsa), and Ally May (the University of Central Oklahoma)!
Throughout the summer, they worked across every OKPOP department, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a museum while it is still in development.
Along the way, they gained hands-on experience creating custom housings for objects, working with collections-management and cataloging software, conducting exhibit research, supporting museum operations, and helping curate media.
We’re grateful for their curiosity, creativity, hard work, and willingness to jump in wherever they were needed. Thank you, Zoey, Regan, and Ally, for being part of Team OKPOP!
Join us for OKPOP-IN: The Creative Impact of Stephen Hillenburg at OKPOP on Friday, August 7, 2026, as we celebrate the Oklahoma-born creator of SpongeBob SquarePants and his enduring influence on animation, storytelling, humor, and popular culture.
Special guests will include Tom Kenny, the Emmy Award-winning voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, and Derek Drymon, longtime SpongeBob SquarePants creative collaborator, writer, director, and producer. Additional guests will be announced soon.
Guests will receive a first look at selected materials from The Stephen Hillenburg & SpongeBob SquarePants Collection & Archive at OKPOP, followed by a public conversation exploring Hillenburg’s creative life, the making of SpongeBob SquarePants, and the roles imagination, collaboration, curiosity, and humor play in the creative process.
EVENT SCHEDULE
5–7:30 p.m. | OKPOP
Panel discussion featuring Tom Kenny, Derek Drymon, and additional guests, followed by a meet-and-greet opportunity.
Special event merchandise is also planned, including a limited-edition commemorative poster.
9:30 p.m. | The Vanguard
The celebration continues just down the street with a performance by Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas. Led by Kenny, the band brings a high-energy mix of rock, soul, rhythm and blues, and party music to the stage.
Concert tickets will be sold separately.
Public ticketing information, media credentials, additional guest announcements, concert details, and merchandise availability will be released soon.
#OKPOP #StephenHillenburg #SpongeBobSquarePants #TomKenny #DerekDrymon @tomkennyog @derekdrymonart
Donate
Your charitable donation directly contributes to OKPOP’s future, we are grateful for your support! Donations to support the OKPOP Museum may be made to the OKPOP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Donations may be made through the secure online donation form or mailed to:
OKPOP Foundation
422 North Main Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
If you have questions about additional gifting options, please contact Abby Kurin at akurin@okpopfoundation.org
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