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BACKGROUND:
Blues on the Move
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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.
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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!
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Remember:
this Festival brought you
WATERMELON SLIM years ago, Jimmie D Lane
in ’94, Rosie Ledet and Kelly Joe Phelps in ’95, Deborah Coleman
in ‘96, Indigenous and BlindDog Smokin’ in ‘97 and
Michael Burks
in ‘98(!!!) …Way before anybody else even knew who they
were...SO...Check out this year's music - the stars of
tomorrow!!
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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. |
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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)
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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
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Click here for 2005 line-up! |
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