Rockabilly weekend in Oklahoma City
EVENTS: Stark Weather Boys front man finds rock ’n’ roll pioneer Clyde Stacy for history center

BY ROBERT MEDLEY Comments 7
Published: October 23, 2009

In a Tulsa record store in December, a modern-day rockabilly singer and guitarist stumbled on a rare piece of vinyl.

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Rockabilly Weekend

"Rockabilly Weekend” begins tonight at the Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N Laird Ave., as part of an ongoing series of events recognizing the state’s rock and roll roots.

Doors open at 7 tonight. Performances will begin with The Beltline and then the Stark Weather Boys, who also will perform with headliner Clyde Stacy.

A ’50s fashion show will be presented by The Velvet Monkey Salon.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, a classic car show will take place outdoors, and games for children such as hula hoops, jump rope and bubble-blowing will be offered inside. People who want to register a car can call the center and get a free ticket for tonight’s concert.

Admission to the Friday night show is $15 at the door. The Saturday events, including museum admission, are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for children younger than 5. For more information, call 522-0780.

J.D. McPherson of Broken Arrow, the front man of The Stark Weather Boys, sensed he’d found a lost treasure. On his turntable at home, his suspicion was confirmed.

The record he’d found was by Clyde Stacy, a McIntosh County native who gained brief but widespread airplay in 1957 with the Candlelight Records songs "Hoy Hoy” and "So Young,” two songs McPherson had never heard.

McPherson, 32, listened to the record and soon looked for more of Stacy’s early rock and roll music. He even tracked down Stacy, who lives in rural Muskogee County.

With McPherson’s help, Stacy, 73, will headline the Oklahoma History Center’s "Rockabilly Weekend” show tonight on a stage under the replica of the Winnie Mae airplane at the center.

McPherson’s band will back Stacy following opening act The Beltline.

Earlier this year, McPherson told the center’s historian Larry O’Dell about Stacy. O’Dell had heard of Stacy through research, and plans were made for tonight’s show.

"I couldn’t believe Stacy was still around, and I was just glad to find him,” McPherson said. "Now I’m getting to play with him.”

In 1954, Stacy arrived on the Tulsa music scene and was discovered by radio announcer Don Wallace. Wallace later would host a hunting and fishing show in Oklahoma City on WKY-TV called "The Wallace Wildlife Show.” In 1957, Wallace helped Stacy sign with Candlelight Records in New York.

Stacy also sang the radio hit, "I Sure Do Love You Baby,” with the tremolo guitar work of John D. Levan. Stacy is truly "live” history, said O’Dell, who has worked on a rock and roll history exhibit at the center and organized the rockabilly weekend.

Stacy, who said he has been resurrecting 50-year-old songs for the show, says he is happy people are still interested in rockabilly. He said it’s been decades since he sang some of the songs he plans to perform, and he’s learning them again. It’s like the first time, he said.

"I sure hope we can have a great show and enjoy it. I think the music part of it, the people will really enjoy,” Stacy said. "I hope to have a really great time. That’s what I’m going to do — have a good time and great fun.”

Stacy is significant in the history of rock in Oklahoma because he was part of what would be known as the "Tulsa sound,” O’Dell said.

"It’s thrilling to find Stacy. Most of the time in history, we can’t go back and talk to them, but now to actually get to see him play is exciting,” O’Dell said. "It’s history, and it brings it alive.”