BACKGROUND: Blues on the Move
 

D. C. Minner worked out of Oklahoma City all thru the late 50's and the 60's as the bassist and bandleader with Larry Johnson and the NEW BREED. This group was the top OKC blues/R&B band and they were a 'pick-up' band who traveled with and backed many national acts on parts of their tours. They did this with Freddie King for two years, moved to Memphis and did this for O. V. Wright. Also out of OKC for Eddie Floyd (Knock on Wood), Chuck Berry and Bo Didley and many others.   

D. C. moved to Witchita KS in different formations of this group, Denver, and later to Los Angeles. There he had a band with Tony Mathews, someone he grew up with as Tony was from Checotah. In the 70's he moved north to Berkeley and the Redwoods (Whale Gulch, Whitethorn), and switched from bass to guitar. After this he grouped with Selby who had moved to Berkeley after finishing art school in Providence RI at RISD. She had traveled and performed her way west with Jim Donovan (guitar, vocals), as Home Cookin'. D. C. found himself using the ODDYSSEY bar on San Pablo Ave. as a lab for his new songs and new instrument. Selby was holding down some Saturday night spots there, and with the encouragement of friends they formed BLUES ON THE MOVE in 1976.
 

HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL

Twelve years on the road performing, and D. C. and Selby Minner were ready to move back to Oklahoma - DC's birthplace - in RENTIESVILLE and re-open his grandmother Lura's Cozy Corner as the Down Home Blues Club. That was in 1988.

The Festival grew out of the all-night club. DC enlarged the place, and the first Festival filled the enlarged club up two weeks after it was finished.Seven bands with Little Johnny Taylor as the headliner. They were hoping for 350 people, and when 700 came thru the door that Sunday afternoon they figured they were onto something good.

The next year Big Ray came down with his bulldozer for two weeks, they put up a fence and built the outdoor stage and went to two days. Two nights, really as the nights are cool in rural Rentiesville, even if it is hot in the daytime. 

The couple had met so many friends scattered across the country from the 12 years of touring, that they figured if they had one weekend a year with a great reason to get here (try 30 bands!!) the friends might get to meet each other. Also they knew lots of great musicians who weren't playing festivals and who were sure qualified.

The Rentiesville Fest has turned into a reunion of sorts, both for musicians and fans. A showcase for great regional blues bands - headed up by 5 international stars - many on the move up through the ranks, and proud to be included in the Rentiesville tradition - and a focus for the music loving community across the state and beyond.

As the Festival has grown many people have come on board to help make it happen; it's far too much for two people to do. So we are grateful to these wonderful people who help make this three night event happen. 

Number 12 was a great year. Diva night got such rave reviews in 2001 that the Divas were spread across the entire Fest in 2002- hence the DUELING DUDES AND DIVAS, with a woman in every second or third group!

2003 was RAINED ON BUT NOT RAINED OUT!  It was a great Dusk til Dawn Festival here in Rentiesville, and D. C. and I want to thank all of you who came and supported the event!
People are telling me they had the best time EVER! I guess the rain had a bonding effect, pulling people together... even the bands that opened the shows at 6 pm were great - probably the most solid group of bands we've ever had. They all played within 30 minutes of their scheduled time, they all got paid...Great press this year, too. Thanks again to our loyal friends, one and all!!

2004 was a great year, we had great help from the Friends of Rentiesville Blues INC- the Golf Tournament and Poker Run were great fundraisers which put us back on our feet before the Fest began. Eddie Bagwell from the Blues Soc of Tulsa wrote:
"If you want to discover what the blues is really all about, you'll make plans for this one next year. ....It was so beautiful and pure, I wish you were all there" 

We are working on putting number 15 together right now (May 2005), and will put the schedule of bands on the site in June. Please check back!
 

Past Performers

Little Johnny Taylor, Preston Shannon, Sonny Rhodes, Tutu Jones, Johnny Rawls     
     Don Shipps, Shawn Pittman, Roger Hurricane Wilson, Jenn B and the Groove Kings, Karen Vance, Little Miss Peggy, Will Williams, Buz and the Soul Senders, Rickey Preston, Harry and Debbie Blackwell, Smilin' Bob Lewis, Polly Ess, Joanna Connor, Rosie Ledet, Blues Boy Willie, Glen Lane, Guitar GG Amos, Larry Johnson, Johnny Adams, Hubert Sumlin, Big Bad Smitty,
     Magic Slim, James Peterson, Kenny Neal, Micheal Burks,Nappy Brown   
Miss Blues, Drink Small, Eddie C Campbell, Deborah Coleman, Flash Terry
Leon Blue, Miss. Amy, Linda Shell, D.C.Bellamy, Lighting Lee McWaters
Lem Sheppard, Smokey Wilson, Little Eddie Taylor Eddie Kirkland
Wanda Watson, Three Wheel Drive, Bar-B-Q Bob, Cary Bell, Rudy Love
      Chris Cameron, Blues Express, Berry Harris, James Walker, Buzzards
      Blackhawk,  Jimmy D. Lane, Lurrie Bell, Pinkie & Snakeshakers
      Indigenous, James Peterson, Lucky Peterson, Blackhawk Blues Band,
JimmyD Lane, Claude Williams, Joanna Connor, Barbara Dane, Jesse Cahn
Kelly Joe Phelps, Smokn'Joe Kubek, B'nois King, Ted Cash, Lady B.

2004 Line-Up:

Johnny Rawls (MN) TRIBUTE to O.V.Wright
DC Minner (OK) and his All-Star REVUE (new!)
Tony Mathews (CA) TRIBUTE to Ray Charles!
Cookie McGee (TX)  TRIBUTE to Freddie King!
Flash Terry Band (OK)  TRIBUTE to FLASH!
Bronko TRIBUTE to Big Dave (Bigfoot) Carr
James Peterson (FL, Ar, Fl, NY)
Wanda Watson (Tulsa)
Berry Harris  (Wichita, OK)
Little Miss Peggy (OKC)
Roger Hurricane Wilson (GA)
Lem Sheppard  (KS)
Harold Aldridge (Taft, OK)
Watermelon Slim  (MA, OK)
Donald DD Dunn
Levee Town (KC, KS)
Red Dawn Blues Band (Tahlequah, OK)
Alicia Bennett  (OKC)
Miss Blues (TX, OKC)
Miss Amy and her Sho' Nuf Blues Men with Lee McWaters (McAlester, OK, OKC)
Jenn B and the Groove Kings (Fayatteville, AR)
Chebon Tiger (OKC)
235 Band  (Henryetta, OK)

2003 lineup:
James Peterson,FL, AR, NY;
Joanna Connor,Chicago;
DC Bellamy, Kansas City, Chicago, 
Don Shipps, Springfield, ILL
Karen Vance, Tulsa;
Berry Harris,Stringtown, Wichita;
Smilin' Vic, OKC;
Pure Silk, Tulsa;
Tony Mathews,Hollywood, Checotah;
DC and Selby Minner, Rentiesville; 
Lightnin' Lee McWaters, McAlester; 
Shawn Pittman, TX, OK
Will Williams,  San Francisco;
Dog Hill, Norman;
Harry & Debbie Blackwell, CA;
Chebon Tiger, McAlester;
Polly Ess, Tulsa;
Little Luke, Caspar, WY;
Jahruba, Norman OK
Loose Shoes, OKC
Roger Hurricane Wilson, GA;
Gravy, Wichita;
Jennifer B & the Groove Kings, Fayatteville;
 Ricky Preston,Tulsa (with the Uptown Horns)
Little Miss Peggy, Barbara Martin; OKC;
Alicia Bennett, OK
Smilin' Bob Lewis, Ft Smith AR;
Matt Walsh, Wichita, KS;
Buzz and the Soul Senders, Bisbee AZ;
GOSPEL SHOW - Rev Sam Harper, Eufaula and 
the Pierce Family, Tulsa 
ART TENT- 
Glenna McBride, Eufaula
Domenica Lovera, Krebs
Flying Heart, Joann McMillan, Eufaula
 

Click here for 2005 line-up!