Oklahoma Swing

as “a young fiddler who can play the Bob Wills’ style”. That style only comes naturally, as Blair comes from a high pedigree of Western Swing music, being the youngest son of Ramona Reed, former featured vocalist with Bob Wills and his Texas Pl***oys. Prior to joining Wills’ band in 1950, Reed also portrayed “Martha White” on WSM radio and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Johnie B grew up hanging out backstage at Texas Pl***oy reunion shows with the likes of Johnny Gimble, Leon McAuliffe, & Leon Rausch, among many others who are all his musical heroes. He and his brother Jim traveled extensively with the Oklahoma City based band “City Moon” including opening for the Texas Pl***oys, Moe Bandy, and a European tour in 2004. Blair has been fortunate to have shared the stage many times with his mother and his brother, but also with the late Tommy Allsup, Merle Kilgore, and Byron Berline. He is also a proud former member of the “Spirit of Oklahoma State” OSU Cowboy Marching Band. Johnie B currently resides in Richmond, Virginia with his wife Heidi and has two children, Hayley & Ben who are both students at Oklahoma State University

Joe Settlemires is one of Oklahoma’s most prolific and celebrated musicians. Joe began playing guitar professionally at the age of 14. He began his career in local bars around the Oklahoma City Stockyards and by 15 years old, you would find Joe on the road with the Ozark Jubilee band. Joe landed one of country music’s most prestigious gigs, playing with the legendary Bob Wills and the Texas Pl***oys, at the age of 19 when friend and regular guitarist Tag Lambert fell ill with pneumonia and couldn’t go out on the road. At Lambert’s suggestion, the Pl***oys’ tour bus rolled into Guthrie to pick up the young string slinger and the rest, as they say, is history as Settlemires became known as “The Youngest Texas Pl***oy.” In the years that followed, Settlemires played with a “Who’s Who” of country music legends including Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Red Foley, Tex Ritter and many others. When not playing country, Joe would be playing in the jazz clubs. Joe is known across the world for his jazz expertise and is currently restoring a recording of Joe Settlemires and Joe Pass, 1966, to be released in the future. He has also worked with Howard Roberts, Harold Bradley, Pat Martino, Chester Thompson (Tower of Power), Jamie Aebersold, Marian McPartland, Della Reese, Frankie Lane, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, Ray McKinley Band, and many others. Joe was also a guest artist with the Oklahoma City Orchestra. Though he is well known for his technical prowess on the guitar, Joe is complete musician, having written arrangements for thousands of songs and passed his musical legacy along to hundreds of aspiring guitar players down through the years through private instruction. Joe's students have gone on to play with musicians and groups like Merle Haggard, George Strait, Neil Diamond, Restless Heart, the Judds, Charlie Hall, Hayes Carll and others. Joe Settlemires has recorded two jazz albums, Canadian Sunset and Sugarfoot Rag. Sugarfoot Rag was nominated for two Grammy awards in 2008. Joe and Andy Reiss are currently completing their album to be released in the near future. The western swing albums are Remember Me and Northfield Swing which features Hank Adam Locklin. Settlemires’ unmistakable contribution to American music has been recognized by 9 halls of fame across the country and in 2006, the Oklahoma State Legislature recognized him for his 50 years of contribution and dedication to both the Oklahoma music industry and music education in the private and public sector. Joe is a member of the Western Swing Hall of Fame. Bobby Baker’s 50 years as a professional musician and his obvious talent and love of Western Swing music have allowed him the opportunity to play with many remarkable musicians in several outstanding bands, including the Texas Pl***oys and Leon McAuliffe’s last band, the New Cimarron Boys. For his talent and dedication to Western Swing music, Bob has received the following awards: The Western Swing Hall of Fame in Sacramento CA-2000, Cowtown Society of Western Music in 2007, Western Swing Society of the Southwest in 2013, the Northwest Western Swing Society in 2015. The Academy of Western Artists has nominated Bob 5 times for “Western Swing Instrumentalist of the Year”. Bob makes his home in Claremore Oklahoma. Richard Sharp feels at home on the left-handed upright bass. He grew up listening to all kinds of music from Hank Williams to Bill Monroe and The Beatles, and has toured and recorded with Harlow Wilcox, including his Grammy nominated album "Groovy Grubworm." Sharp has shared the stage with Hank Thompson, the Texas Pl***oys, Chris Hillman, Vince Gill, Alan Munde, John Anderson, Boxcar Willie, Wanda Jackson, Colin Raye and Les Gilliam. Richard is a member of the Western Swing Hall of Fame. Sharp's showmanship and vocal contributions bring a nice variety to the band. Steve Short started playing drums at an early age with his parents' family band. Since then, Steve has recorded and played with every big name imaginable, including three years touring with Reba Mcintyre. Steve is a highly successful recording and sound engineer who has engineered several of the Byron Berline Band albums, including the One-Eyed Jack album and Swinging with the Byron Berline Band. Steve undoubtedly is the most popular session drummer in the Oklahoma area. Steve is a member of the Western Swing Hall of Fame. Greg Burgess has been playing guitar and fiddle for over 40 years. Starting as a child, Greg cut his teeth on Western Swing under the mentorship of Famous Amos Hedrick (fiddler for Hank Thompson) as well as many other local fiddlers such as, Ace Sewell, Russell O'Neal, Herman Johnson, Dick Barrett, Orville Burns, Merle David Greg’s Western Swing fiddle hero is Keith Coleman. Of course, his friend and boss Byron Berline, helped form Greg's fiddling style of the 20 years he was in his band. Greg has won the Oklahoma State Fiddle Championship several times and has been ranked in the top 10 at many national level fiddle contests. Greg has recorded and/or shared the stage with several musical greats including Hank Thompson, Leon Raush, Jody Miller, Mel Tillis, Moe Bandy, Billy Walker, Wanda Jackson, Becky Hobbs, Red Stegall, Suzy Boggus, Asleep at the Wheel, Wade Hayes and more. Greg also has been included in the Folk Life section of the Oklahoma History Center and is a member of the Western Swing Hall Fame. Bo Posey began his music career late in life. He always enjoyed singing and listening to KVOO when he was younger and working on local farms and ranches. One evening, 14 years ago, Bo was at one of his friend’s house and he picked up a fiddle. He thought to himself that he just might be able to play a fiddle. Little did he know what God had in store for him. Bo plays the fiddle by ear. He practiced diligently and was sent to the barn by his wife for about 4 months while learning. She now lets him play in the house and loves hearing him play the fiddle and sing. Bo was inducted in the California Western Swing Society Hall of Fame, Male Vocalist & Entertainer of the Year at the McSwain Theater in Ada, Oklahoma and was recently inducted into The Western Swing Society of the Southwest. He was also fortunate enough to be invited by Gloria Miers to play at the Legends of Western Swing in Wichita Falls, Texas. Bo has opened for Mel McDaniel, Mel Tillis and Eddie Raven. Bo owns his own construction company and ranch. He and his wife have 2 children and reside in Wetumka, Oklahoma. Henry Byron Burgess, named after Byron Berline, is a 18-year-old Oklahoma native. He has developed a love and passion for all styles of music including bluegrass and western swing. The son of Greg Burgess, music has always been a significant part of Henry’s life. He began playing fiddle at age 10. At age 11 he witnessed Byron Berline recover his beloved Gibson Loar Mandolin from a safe that survived the fire that destroyed Byron’s Double stop Fiddle Shop and Music Hall. This event was instrumental in Henry turning his focus to playing mandolin. Henry’s musical ability has been encouraged and influenced by his father, Byron Berline, and the members of his band and other musicians in the Oklahoma music scene. Henry had the great privilege of learning at the knee of Byron Berline and is now mastering Western Swing Mandolin. For bookings, call (405) 627-0263 or email [email protected]