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
🎬✨
It was an honor to connect with Tulsa artist Diana Folsom, wife of the late William F. Matthews, alongside production designer James Spencer, to reflect on William’s life and creative legacy.
A production designer, art director, and set designer, William helped shape the worlds of iconic films and television, including Poltergeist, The Karate Kid, Gremlins, Lost, and more. His work reminds us that the magic we see on screen is built by visionary artists behind the scenes.
After a celebrated Hollywood career, he later made Tulsa home — bringing a lifetime of creativity and experience back to Oklahoma.
🎨 Storytellers. World-builders. Oklahoma originals.
#OKPOP #TulsaArts #FilmHistory #ProductionDesign #OklahomaCreativity
Today we’re remembering “The Godfather of Steel Guitar,” Speedy West, on his birthday. 🎶
Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and later retiring in the Tulsa area, Speedy helped redefine what the pedal steel guitar could be — not just a background instrument, but a bold, front-and-center voice.
Through his legendary partnership with guitarist Jimmy Bryant, he brought speed, humor, and jaw-dropping technique to country and early rock recordings in the 1950s, influencing generations of players across country, rock, and beyond. His inventive playing and custom Fender steel setups pushed the instrument into entirely new territory.
From the OKPOP collections: a few highlights from our Speedy West archive, which includes thousands of photos and materials preserving his remarkable legacy.
🎸 A true original. A pioneer. An Oklahoma legend.
#OKPOP #OklahomaMusic #SteelGuitar #CountryMusicHistory #TulsaMusic
❄️🎬
We’re braving the snowstorm here in Oklahoma and wishing we could go sledding like our friend Rex Linn in Iron Will (1994).
Before the film and TV career, Rex grew up in OKC, attending Heritage Hall and Casady School, and later graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1980.
From Oklahoma winters to the big screen — stories like his remind us how far Oklahoma creativity travels.
Stay warm out there, friends. 🤍
#OKPOP #OklahomaStories #RexLinn #FilmInOklahoma #PopCultureHistory @rexlinn13
🎨 Remembering Fred Peters
Born on this day in 1923 in Avant, Oklahoma, Fred Peters built a career in classic hand-drawn animation, contributing to the golden age of cartoons and helping bring characters like Disney’s Pluto to life through expressive, hand-painted cels.
His work reflects the artistry and craftsmanship behind early animation—frame by frame, brushstroke by brushstroke.
Featured here: an original 1940s Pluto animation cel from the OKPOP collection, connecting Oklahoma creativity to one of the most iconic characters in film history.
From Oklahoma to the world.
#OKPOP #OklahomaCreatives #AnimationHistory #DisneyAnimation #PopCulture
🎶✨ We recently connected with Mary Reynolds and Louise Goldberg to talk about their musical journeys—from Oklahoma City to New York City, Austin, and back again.
Our conversation explored the influence of Woody Guthrie and the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, the role of spaces like The Blue Door, the Oklahoma City songwriter scene, and the power of music education.
We also dug into their individual paths—and their shared creative journey as partners and collaborators in Miss Brown to You.
#oklahoma #songwriter #okc #missbrowntoyou #okpop
Happy Birthday, George Grantham 🎂🥁
Born January 20, 1947, in Cordell, Oklahoma, George Grantham is a drummer and singer best known as a founding member of Poco—and a key voice in shaping country-rock.
Grantham began his professional journey at just 18, joining the Denver-based folk-rock group Boenzee Cryque, where his musicianship and harmony singing stood out. After that band dissolved, he followed guitarist Rusty Young to Los Angeles, where sessions with Richie Furay and Jim Messina led to the formation of Poco. Across more than a dozen albums, Grantham’s drumming and distinctive harmonies became central to the band’s sound.
Beyond Poco, he played drums on Neil Young’s 1969 self-titled solo debut and recorded with artists including Ricky Skaggs, Richie Furay, Ronnie McDowell, and Steve Wariner. After leaving Poco in 1978, he later returned for reunions and recordings—including Legacy (1989) and Running Horse (2002).
From Cordell to the world stage—celebrating an Oklahoma original whose rhythm and voice helped define an era. @officialpocoband #poco #georgegrantham #okpop
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reflect on the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by recognizing those who stood beside him and carried his work forward— including Xernona Clayton, a trailblazing civil rights leader, broadcaster, and Oklahoma native, born and raised in Muskogee in 1930.
Clayton was a close associate and trusted ally of Dr. King, working alongside him during the Civil Rights Movement and helping advance key efforts for justice and equality. After his assassination, she continued his mission by championing civil rights, representation, and opportunity—especially through the power of media.
In broadcasting history, Xernona Clayton broke barriers as one of the first Black women executives in American television, shaping public-affairs programming in Atlanta and opening doors for more inclusive storytelling on air. She later founded the Trumpet Awards, honoring excellence and leadership in the Black community.
From Muskogee to the national stage, her story reflects how the movement extended beyond one leader—and how Oklahoma-connected voices helped carry Dr. King’s vision forward.
#MLKDay #XernonaClayton #OklahomaHistory #BroadcastPioneers #OKPOP
Before the flaming skull. Before the motorcycle.
There was a cowboy.
The original Ghost Rider debuted in 1949 in Magazine Enterprises’ Tim Holt #11, created by writer Raymond Krank and artist Dick Ayers. Inspired by the hit song “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky,” the character turned a traditional Western into something supernatural.
In that first story, Rex Fury survives being thrown into the “Devil’s Sink” and returns wearing a glowing white costume—no mask at first—using the idea of a “ghost rider” to frighten outlaws into surrender.
The Western Ghost Rider ran through the early 1950s before fading away, but the idea lived on. Marvel later revived the name in 1967 with a new Western hero, Carter Slade, long before the biker version most fans know today.
And the Oklahoma connection:
Western star Tim Holt later lived in the Shawnee area and is buried in Harrah, Oklahoma.
#OKPOP #TimHolt #GhostRider #oklahoma
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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