Oklahoma Voices

Real people.
Lifelong music.

An oral history project to preserve Oklahoma
musicians’ experiences, memories, and stories.

About the Oral History Project Explore Oklahoma Music
Interviews forthcoming.Completed oral histories are not yet available.
A Salute to Black American Jazz at the state capitol, 1981.
Jimmie NelsonA Salute to Black American Jazz at the state capitol, 1981.Oklahoma Historical Society / The Gateway to Oklahoma History · Original source

The faces and places behind the music.

Explore the photographs →

Photographs preserve names, places and moments. Follow each image into its source account and the wider musical history.

Nancy Smith, Bertha Gascar and Sherry Chambers with guitars at the Guthrie center, 1968.
New instruments, new possibilitiesNancy Smith, Bertha Gascar and Sherry Chambers with guitars at the Guthrie center, 1968.Oklahoma Historical Society / The Gateway to Oklahoma History · Original source
Gene Thrailkill and Bert Gillespie prepare percussion equipment, 1977.
Behind the Pride of OklahomaGene Thrailkill and Bert Gillespie prepare percussion equipment, 1977.Oklahoma Historical Society / The Gateway to Oklahoma History · Original source
A Chilocco Indian School band musician with his euphonium, June 13, 1905.
Moses Iron MoccasinA Chilocco Indian School band musician with his euphonium, June 13, 1905.Oklahoma Historical Society / The Gateway to Oklahoma History · Original source

The Oral History Project

The stories behind a musical life.

The project will invite musicians to reflect on the people, places, turning points, and everyday experiences that have shaped their musical lives.

Making music together

Exploring the relationships, communities, and shared experiences that keep music alive.

Memories worth preserving

Capturing the moments, challenges, and inspirations that shape a lifetime in music.

Gene Thrailkill and Bert Gillespie prepare percussion equipment, 1977.

Supporting History

Explore Oklahoma Music

Explore musicians, ensembles, photographs, and places while the oral history collection takes shape.

Stories held in the sources.

Browse musicians & ensembles →

Find music in a place you know.

Follow the map from an Oklahoma county to the stories, photographs, and documents associated with it.

Explore Oklahoma →
Adair County · 4 recordsAlfalfa County · 3 recordsAtoka County · 8 recordsBeaver County · 4 recordsBeckham County · 9 recordsBlaine County · 10 recordsBryan County · 15 recordsCaddo County · 31 recordsCanadian County · 50 recordsCarter County · 17 recordsCherokee County · 9 recordsChoctaw County · 114 recordsCimarron County · 2 recordsCleveland County · 270 recordsCoal County · 3 recordsComanche County · 35 recordsCotton County · 4 recordsCraig County · 5 recordsCreek County · 11 recordsCuster County · 19 recordsDelaware County · 8 recordsDewey County · 3 recordsEllis County · 6 recordsGarfield County · 55 recordsGarvin County · 11 recordsGrady County · 19 recordsGrant County · 5 recordsGreer County · 24 recordsHarmon County · 3 recordsHarper County · 2 recordsHaskell County · 3 recordsHughes County · 6 recordsJackson County · 26 recordsJefferson County · 4 recordsJohnston County · 15 recordsKay County · 23 recordsKingfisher County · 9 recordsKiowa County · 18 recordsLatimer County · 5 recordsLe Flore County · 5 recordsLincoln County · 11 recordsLogan County · 108 recordsLove County · 2 recordsMajor County · 4 recordsMarshall County · 5 recordsMayes County · 2 recordsMcClain County · 10 recordsMcCurtain County · 11 recordsMcIntosh County · 19 recordsMurray County · 8 recordsMuskogee County · 41 recordsNoble County · 5 recordsNowata County · 3 recordsOkfuskee County · 12 recordsOklahoma County · 3964 recordsOkmulgee County · 6 recordsOsage County · 11 recordsOttawa County · 8 recordsPawnee County · 11 recordsPayne County · 94 recordsPittsburg County · 25 recordsPontotoc County · 13 recordsPottawatomie County · 32 recordsPushmataha County · 2 recordsRoger Mills County · 2 recordsRogers County · 22 recordsSeminole County · 7 recordsSequoyah County · 6 recordsStephens County · 21 recordsTexas County · 5 recordsTillman County · 11 recordsTulsa County · 88 recordsWagoner County · 6 recordsWashington County · 5 recordsWashita County · 4 recordsWoods County · 14 recordsWoodward County · 51 records

Our Public Promise

No sponsors. No sales. No implied endorsement.

A noncommercial teaching and research website. An independent, personally funded volunteer project. No exchange of money. Our YouTube channel will not be monetized.

Read our public promise