“Oklahoma Balladeer” to Perform at SOSU Arts Gala
Press Release Date: 11-08-2006
Les Gilliam—the “Oklahoma Balladeer”—will perform at the 2007 Southeastern Oklahoma State University Arts Gala, scheduled for Thursday, March 1, 2007, at the Visual and Performing Arts Center at SOSU. This performance will coincide with the celebration of Oklahoma’s state centennial in 2007.
The SOSU Arts Gala presents an opportunity to hear outstanding artists while providing scholarship assistance for deserving students. This will be the second opportunity for patrons to enjoy Gilliam’s performance as he appeared at the Arts Gala in 1999 to an appreciative audience.
Les Gilliam is the official “Oklahoma Balladeer,” so designated by the Oklahoma State Legislature in 1998. He is a native of Gene Autry, Oklahoma, and is a singer, songwriter, and recording artist.
In 2005, Gilliam received the Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City for his album, “It’s Time to Sing a Song.” The Wrangler is considered to be the most prestigious award in western music. In 2006, he was nominated for the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Gilliam is currently based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and entertains both as a solo act and with his band, The Silver Lake Band.
Gilliam grew up in southern Oklahoma, where Gene Autry owned a ranch next to the Gilliam home place and Gene would often come to visit them. Meeting Mr. Autry and enjoying his movies and radio show certainly created in Les Gilliam a love for western music. Attending the wedding of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in Oklahoma, and later becoming friends with both Rex Allen, Sr. and Jr. as well as Johnnie Western and Roy Rogers, Jr., further deepened Les’s love for cowboy music.
Gilliam has recorded 10 albums and made two videos.
This is the 11th year of the Arts Gala program, which brings top talent to the SOSU campus. The series began in 1997 with the Rhythm and Brass Ensemble of Dallas, Texas. Previous performers have included Gail Farrell, the Platters, Gene McFall in the “Witty World of Will Rogers,” The Five Americans, Guy Lombardo’s Royal Canadians with Al Pierson, The Four Freshmen, The River City Ramblers, and Aurora Consort.
Kay Chinn is serving as chair of the 2007 Arts Gala.
Tickets for the dinner/concert at the Visual and Performing Arts Center are priced at $100 each with proceeds going to the scholarship fund. Sponsorships are available for $1,500 and this includes a table for eight. Dinner begins at 7 p.m., followed by the concert at 8 p.m.
For more information, contact Kim Lisenby in the School of Arts and Sciences at 580-745-2634.
