Because Tulsa is — as I’m fond of saying on the show — the place where western swing grew up, each episode of SWING ON THIS is likely to feature a good number of artists from T-town and its environs.
This Saturday, however, I’ve got more than the usual array of area stars. It’s a Tulsa-centric set that begins with Bob Wills, of course, and ends with another Tulsa music great, Roy Clark, singing with the Tulsa Playboys. In-between, you’ll hear great Oklahoma instrumentalists like Jana Jae, Steve Ham, Mike Bennett, Eldon Shamblin, Spencer Sutton, Glenn “Blub” Rhees, and Mike Moore, as well as their singing counterparts, including Janet Rutland, Rodney Lay, Roy Ferguson, Billy Parker, the Bagsby Brothers, and more. Longtime bandmates Johnnie Lee Wills and Curly Lewis make the scene as well, with a cut from Johnnie Lee’s classic REUNION album.
All that and more this Saturday night, 7 p.m. Tulsa time, over radio station KWGS, 89.5 FM and live-streaming at publicradiotulsa.org. It’s SWING ON THIS — now in its 19th big year!
1. “Don’t Fence Me In,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys(for GENE CASEY)2. “Lovesick Blues,” Janet Rutland
(for BARRY HENSLEY)
3. “Hollywood and Wine,” Rodney Lay
(for DENIS KITCHEN and the GLASS LIFTERS)
4. “Stay All Night,” Bagsby Brothers
5. “You’re A Hum-Dinger,” BR5-49
(for JAY & CHERYL IDE)
6. “How High the Moon/Ornithology,” Brazos Valley Boys
7. “Long, Tall Texan,” Roy Ferguson
(for BILLY & JERRI PARKER)
8. “Right or Wrong,” Jana Jae
9. “The Good, the Band, and the Ugly,” Hot Texas Swing Band
10. “(Who’s Gonna Sing) The Last Country Song,” Billy Parker w/Darrell McCall
(for JACK & CAROLE BENDER)
11. “If I Had Another Chance,” Johnnie Lee Wills w/Curly Lewis
(for CAROLE LOKEY RUFFIN)
12. “Stardust,” Nashville Swing Band
13. “Red’s Tight Like That,” Tune Wranglers
(for STEVE CLEM and JOHN HAMILL)
14. “Maiden’s Prayer,” Caravan Swing Band
15. “Bubbles in My Beer,” Tulsa Playboys w/Roy Clark