I thought I should preface this entry just to say this isn’t
going to be a normal old time Oklahoma story this Oklahoma history comes from a
little later in statehood but is history none-the-less. I hope you enjoy it and
again learn something you didn’t know.
On a cold Tulsa night in March my father and I got a chance to see a
local legend of the Tulsa Sound. The venue wasn’t your typical concert hall or
smoky bar room. This one was far more intimate, located at a woman’s house
around 15th and Delaware in midtown Tulsa. I had never been to a
concert at someone’s house and still question the legality of the occasion,
considering tickets were sold and alcohol was present, but regardless the night
kicked off without a hitch and made for some great memories. As I sat there
listening I couldn’t help but think how cool it will be to take my kids, that I
don’t have yet, to this house years from now and paint them a picture of the
night me and their grandpa saw Don White there. Now, I am sure I will seem old
as dirt, saying I went to a concert in a house but that’s a ways away.
On to the show, in this small midtown house 15 or so people
gathered to listen to the music and stories of Don White and his son Steve
White. Don White, which he says everyone
calls him since his name is so short, may not be as famous as the countless
other musicians that line the walls of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame but he deserves his place right
alongside them. He is as classic country as they come with his well-worn light
brown cowboy hat, “Okie Grown” t-shirt with complimentary pearl snap, blue
jeans, and boots. You see, Don White was one of the originators of the Tulsa
Sound playing in a band with the late J.J. Cale.
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| Don White (right) with son Steve March 5th 2015 |
He told story after story from
drinking and playing with The Crickets, of Buddy Holly fame, playing with Buddy Knox, to playing guitar
with Eric Clapton. He told of the first time he played with singer and fellow
Tulsan Gus Hardin. Saying, the first time she sang with anyone was at a band
practice when one of his bandmates brought his wife to sing with the band.
Never hearing Gus sing White recalled thinking “Oh great his wife is going to
come sing.” She then got up on the mic stiff and nervous but she knocked their
socks off. Don White was there the last time Gus Hardin would perform as well
in 1996 he drove her home after a show, to her home in Salina, Ok, she died
the next morning in a traffic accident. My favorite story of the evening was about him drinking with
The Crickets after Buddy Holly had died. After what he portrayed to be having a
few too many drinks he asked one of the band members, (I’m paraphrasing here as this is all from memory) “Do
you think if Buddy had known what kind of legacy and influence he was going to
leave behind with his music if he still would have chosen to play music and die, or work
at the post office and live to be 85?” After a laugh the band member simply said, “Post
Office.” It was a great light hearted moment about a musical icon.
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| Don White (left) with Rockabilly musician John D. Levan |
There were too many great stories to talk about here including Tulsa radio DJ “Rockin” John Henry and Don White doing a radio show himself in Vinita, Ok called “Not Necessarily Nashville.” Overall it was a wonderful evening of many great songs and the many great stories behind them.
As my dad reminded me, because somehow I forgot, Don White used to practice in my grandfathers house when my dad was just a kid. It made the memories of that night that much more important to hold onto. So if you’re from Oklahoma or anywhere for that matter and you see Don White on the bill, get there because you will get a great show and maybe even here some great stories. People like this aren't going to be around forever to tell stories of when music was raw and real.
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| Don White show in 1975 |
Learn more about Don White here:Don White
Follow me on Twitter @OkieHistoryPics
Photo Source: Don White and John Levan : http://www.rockabillyhall.com/johndlevan.html
Photo Source: Cains Ballroom Poster: http://www.posterchild.com/posterproject/docs/75-2.htm
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