🎸 Happy Birthday to the Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson! 👑

Before rock & roll had found its footing, a young woman from Maud, Oklahoma, was helping change the sound of American music forever.

With her unmistakable growl, fearless stage presence, and a whole lot of Oklahoma grit, Wanda Jackson broke barriers in an industry dominated by men and helped define a new era of rock & roll.

Her journey began on Oklahoma City radio while she was still a teenager. Soon, she was performing alongside country great Hank Thompson, touring with Elvis Presley, and electrifying audiences around the world with unforgettable recordings like “Let’s Have a Party,” “Fujiyama Mama,” and “Funnel of Love.”

From her signature fringe dresses to her fiery vocals, Wanda wasn’t interested in following the rules. She was busy rewriting them.

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Wanda’s influence continues to echo through generations of musicians who followed in her footsteps.

Today, we celebrate more than a legendary voice. We celebrate an Oklahoma original who proved that creativity, courage, and a little rebellion can change the world.

Happy 89th birthday, Wanda! ❤️

#WandaJackson #QueenOfRockabilly #Rockabilly #RockAndRoll #OKPOP @wandajofficial ...

It was a pleasure to connect with Tulsa native and Broadway performer Ben Thompson for a recent OKPOP video interview about his life, career, and creative journey!

From his first stage role as a Boy Munchkin in Theatre Tulsa’s The Wizard of Oz to the bright lights of Broadway, Ben’s remarkable career has included productions of American Idiot, Matilda, Waitress, and more.

During our conversation, Ben reflected on the family, teachers, and Oklahoma arts community who helped shape his journey, along with the persistence, hard work, collaboration, and courage it takes to build a life in the performing arts.

One of our favorite takeaways from Ben was his reminder to aspiring creatives:

“Other people’s successes are not your failures. There’s enough success out there for everyone.”

We’re grateful to Ben for sharing his story, his wisdom, and his encouragement for the next generation of performers and storytellers. His journey is another wonderful reminder of the creative talent that comes from Oklahoma and the many people who help make those journeys possible.

Thank you, Ben, for being part of the OKPOP story!

#OKPOP #OklahomaCreativity #BenThompson #Broadway #Tulsa @itsbenthompson ...

🎶 Remembering Vida Chenoweth (1928–2018)

Today, on her birthday, we remember Enid, Oklahoma native Vida Chenoweth, a groundbreaking musician who helped transform the marimba into a respected classical concert instrument.

Beginning her musical journey in Oklahoma, Chenoweth became one of the world’s most celebrated marimba virtuosos. In 1959, she made history at Carnegie Hall, performing Robert Kurka’s Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, a work written especially for her. Her extraordinary talent, innovative techniques, and dedication to the instrument helped establish the marimba as a serious voice in classical music.

But her creative journey didn’t end on the concert stage. Chenoweth later became a pioneering ethnomusicologist and linguist, traveling to Papua New Guinea to study, document, and preserve traditional musical cultures.

Inducted into both the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame, Vida Chenoweth left a remarkable legacy of music, curiosity, and innovation.

Today, we celebrate her life and the extraordinary musical possibilities she helped bring to the world.

#OKPOP #VidaChenoweth #OklahomaMusic #Marimba #OklahomaHistory ...

Remembering Barney Kessel, born on this day in 1923 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. 🎸

Long before he became one of the most influential jazz guitarists of the 20th century, Kessel was a kid in Muskogee, absorbing music from the movie theaters where he worked and from the city’s vibrant Black business and entertainment district. He began playing with bands around Oklahoma while still young, developing a musical vocabulary rooted in swing, blues, and the sounds around him.

One of the most important influences on Kessel was fellow Oklahoma jazz innovator Charlie Christian. As a teenager, Kessel had the extraordinary opportunity to meet and play with Christian, an experience that helped push him toward finding his own voice on the electric guitar.

That voice would eventually be heard around the world.

Kessel performed and recorded with an astonishing range of artists, including Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Oscar Peterson, Artie Shaw, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand, and many more. He became one of Los Angeles’ most sought-after studio guitarists while continuing to build a celebrated career as a jazz artist and bandleader. From bebop and West Coast jazz to film scores and some of popular music’s most familiar recordings, his guitar became part of the sound of an era.

And it all began in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Today we remember Barney Kessel not only as an extraordinary guitarist, but as another reminder of just how far Oklahoma creativity can travel.

#BarneyKessel #OKPOP #OklahomaMusic #OklahomaHistory #JazzHistory ...

We recently connected with Muppet performer Deena Al-Saleh for a video interview about her remarkable creative journey, from childhood performances in Kuwait to Sesame Street Egypt, international work with Sesame Workshop, and her life today in Tulsa.

Deena shared how an unexpected audition in Cairo opened the door to puppetry and eventually led her to perform Khokha, a character created especially for Egyptian children. She talked about the research, community outreach, rehearsal, and time spent performing for children that helped shape Khokha’s voice and personality.

She also reflected on the unique power of puppetry to create connection. A puppet can sometimes reach people in ways another person cannot, opening space for imagination, trust, empathy, and wonder. One of her most meaningful memories came while working with a blind child during a segment about Braille, when the child reached out to experience the puppet through touch.

Deena also shared stories from her work with Sesame Workshop and children affected by displacement near the Syria-Jordan border, along with some wonderful advice about creativity, curiosity, and holding onto the childlike part of ourselves.

“It’s okay to be a kid, you know, even when you’re this size.”

And perhaps our favorite piece of advice:

“Don’t be stagnant. Don’t be still water, be moving water.”

From Kuwait to Cairo to Tulsa, Deena’s journey is a beautiful reminder of how creativity can cross borders, connect people, and help us imagine what might be possible.

Thank you, Deena, for sharing your story with OKPOP. We’re honored to preserve it. 💛

#OKPOP #DeenaAlSaleh #Khokha ...

What a great day celebrating Jim Halsey with friends here at OKPOP! 🎶

Today, we gathered to honor Jim’s extraordinary legacy and celebrate the official unveiling of Jim Halsey Way in downtown Tulsa.

For decades, Jim has championed artists, opened doors, built careers, and helped carry Oklahoma’s creative spirit around the world. We’re proud that his name will now have a permanent place right outside our doors.

And we especially love saying this: OKPOP now sits at the corner of Main Street and Jim Halsey Way. ❤️

Congratulations, Jim, and thank you for a lifetime of believing in artists, music, and the power of big ideas.

#JimHalsey #OKPOP #Tulsa #OklahomaMusic #MusicHistory ...

Remembering Lillian Gish on her birthday! 🎬

Born October 14, 1893, Gish helped shape the art of screen acting, showing how a glance, a gesture, or a moment of stillness could tell a powerful story. Known as the “First Lady of American Cinema,” her film career spanned an extraordinary 75 years.

Her story also includes a meaningful chapter in Oklahoma. As a teenager, Gish spent time living with her aunt and uncle in Shawnee and attended Shawnee High School, coming to Oklahoma to reconnect with her ailing father before her film career began.

At OKPOP, we’re proud to preserve part of her story in our Lillian Gish archive, which includes her personal typewriter. It’s a tangible connection to the person behind the performances and a remarkable creative life that reached across generations.

Today, we honor her lasting influence on filmmaking and Oklahoma’s place in her story.

#OKPOP #LillianGish #OklahomaHistory #FilmHistory #Shawnee ...