The Oklahoma Arts Council and Oklahoma Historical Society send this information as posted below:
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 3, 2025) – The annual Bob Wills Day celebration at the Oklahoma State Capitol will take place on Monday, March 10. Presented by the Oklahoma Arts Council, Oklahoma Historical Society, and the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP), with support from state Senator Jo Anna Dossett and state Representative Jay Steagall, the event will feature live music performances by Western swing musicians throughout the day, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., in the Capitol’s second-floor rotunda. The public is invited to attend. There is no cost.
Taking the stage in the rotunda this year will be Jay Steagall and the Part Timers, Bob Wills Texas Playboys under the direction of Jason Roberts, Georgia Parker, Kyle Dillingham, Jana Jae, and Oklahoma Swing. Parker, a rising act in Western swing from Texas who has already garnered numerous awards in her young career, will perform at Bob Wills Day at the Capitol for the first time. Oklahoma State Poet Laureate Jay Snider, known nationally for his cowboy poetry, will present poetry readings between sets by the musical acts.
A new addition to the event this year, adding to the spirited atmosphere, will be a Western fashion contest. Attendees are invited to come dressed in their Western attire for the chance to earn prizes in categories including boots, shirts, ties (bolo/bow), and Western swing skirts. Embellishments such as embroidery are encouraged. Prizes for the contest are being provided by the Oklahoma Film & Music Office.
Among the events of the day will be special recognitions of Wills—who passed away in 1975—in the Oklahoma State Senate and Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Bob Wills Day at the Capitol commemorates the life and legacy of the “King of Western Swing” who helped popularize the music genre during the 1930s and 40s. Wills’ band, the Texas Playboys, had a daily program on the Tulsa radio outlet KVOO and were regular performers at the venerable Cain’s Ballroom.
Bob Wills Day at the Capitol was started in the 1980s by state Senator John Dahl. The celebration took place every spring until the Capitol restoration project began in 2014. It was brought back in 2023. In 1988, Bob Wills’ song “Faded Love” was designated as Oklahoma’s official country and Western song by the state Legislature.
Bob Wills Day at the Capitol is presented through a partnership of the Oklahoma Arts Council, Oklahoma Historical Society, and OKPOP. The event is made possible in part with support from the Oklahoma Film & Music Office and the National Endowment for the Arts.
About Bob Wills
Bob Wills is considered the founder of Western swing music, a genre of dance music popular from the 1930s through the 1950s that combined elements of swing jazz, Dixieland jazz, Mexican folk music, blues, polka, and more. Born in Texas in 1905, Wills moved to Oklahoma with his band in 1934 to expand their opportunities. Wills’ popularity in music led to roles in Western musical films during the 1940s. In 1968, Wills was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 1999, Wills and the Texas Playboys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His imprint on popular music can still be heard today.
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