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Hear the Ancient Drums
Though Muskogee may best be known for the song “Okie from Muskogee,” this is hardly the full extent of Muskogee’s musical heritage. Traces of song wind through our history from the time of the ancient drums of Native Americans who built their mounds along our rivers over 1,000 years ago. The haunting melody of a Native flute carved from river cane still plays here among the more modern vibes of gospel, country and jazz.
You could say jazz runs through our land like the steel ribbons of the railroad that once carried renowned musicians from gigs in Dallas to Kansas City. And the halfway stop was always Muskogee bringing smoky blues to the “jujoints” that once lined South Second Street. Such heady company inspired Muskogee’s own youth and produced jazz greats such as Jay McShann, Don Byas, Claude Williams and Barney Kessel.
Jazz and blues are kept alive at the Down Home Blues Club in nearby Rentiesville where Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee D.C. Minner conducts clinics on how to do the blues. The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and its museum is located in Muskogee and provides music enthusiasts with a glimpse of Merle Haggard’s autographed guitar along with the memorabilia of other musical inductees.
Most Muskogeeans sing if at no other time than each Sunday morning in church. The great influences of gospel music still echo across our landscape producing such diverse talents as composer Dennis Jernigan and the widely-traveled Cherokee Youth Choir. The Choir keeps their native language alive by singing the hymns that were translated into Cherokee over a hundred years ago.
Church still inspires our young talent and many who grew up playing or singing in the Sunday morning choir now occupy a larger stage. Broadway conductor Linda Twine grew up keeping two Muskogee churches supplied with piano accompaniment and American Idol superstar Carrie Underwood debuted in a church in nearby Checotah. Local groups such as the Swon Brothers keep the tradition of church-produced talent alive in Muskogee today.
Muskogee is so proud of its musical heritage the city celebrates it with a public art display. Over twenty 8-foot fiberglass guitars, painted by local artists, are scattered around the city. Come count how many guitars you can spot while visiting the Music Hall of Fame, catching a concert at the restored Roxy Theater or enjoying live entertainment at Max’s Garage (Yes, really. It’s a hip restaurant and club located in a renovated tire shop.) And if you listen closely while you’re in Muskogee you might hear those ancient drums pulsing across the prairie or the melody of the flute singing on the wind.
- Jonita Mullins
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