Folk musician to perform in Norman concert series

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Published: November 11, 2009

NORMAN — Oklahoma native Steve Weichert, whose music has been described as "soulful folk ballads with a jazz twist,” will be the featured artist at The Performing Arts Studio’s Sunday Winter Wind concert.

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If you go

• The performance is at 7 p.m. at the Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Ave.

• Tickets are $15.

• For more information, call 307-9320.

Weichert is a University of Oklahoma alumnus who lives in Austin, Texas.

"Returning to Norman is always special to me — so many memories,” Weichert said in a news release announcing the concert. "Some parts of Norman are still the same as when I went to school there, and I love that.”

Growing up in Tulsa, music was always a part of Weichert’s home environment. "We listened to old-time gospel, big-band swing, folk and country, as well as stage and screen musicals, the Beatles and Johnny Mathis,” he said.

Weichert began his musical training on the clarinet. When he was a junior in high school, he received a Gibson acoustic guitar and wrote his first song less than a year later. His early influences included Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Pete Seeger.

As an OU student, Weichert and two housemates formed a folk trio called The Lid. Later, he started his first dance band, Alsace Lorraine, whose music style ranged from Led Zeppelin to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. The band reformed in 1972 as The Great Potempkin and Weichert’s songwriting expanded into jazz-influenced rock, love ballads and folk/country.

His first album, "Steve Weichert and The Five Dollar Band,” was released in 1975. Others include "Oklahoma Bossa Nova,” (1979), "If You’ve Ever Been in Love,” (1984), "Abide by the Light,” (1994) and "Between the Lines,” (2003).

Seating is limited. Tickets are available at The Performing Arts Studio or TicketStorm outlets, including Guestroom Records and Party Galaxy stores in the metro area.