Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock & Roll Story

Plug in and crank up Oklahoma's rock 'n' roll history at a Thursday book signing of "Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock & Roll Story."

A companion to the Oklahoma History Center's ongoing rock music exhibit, the book was published to chronicle all the data that researchers uncovered while preparing and assembling the museum feature, said Jerry Church, a contributor to the title and a former Oklahoma Gazette music writer.

The book was supposed to be released with the exhibit's opening in May, but center director Bob Blackburn delayed publication to expand its content and scope, Church said.

The book is separated into categories of Oklahoma rock, such as the music scenes in Tulsa and Norman, and has sections devoted to red dirt, radio and state record stores, said Church, who wrote about bands that performed in Norman in the 1990s who have a big stake in the music industry, such as Chainsaw Kittens, The Flaming Lips, The Nixons and Radio Spangle.

"I started really understanding how much work and effort they were putting into their craft. Then I really started to fully understand and respect them. I think the exhibit and the book sort of summarizes their contributions," he said.

Church said many existing articles or books recognize the state's contributions to country music, but the book is probably the first really focused collection of writing devoted to Oklahoma rock. Contributors include History Center researchers, Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne, Okie singer/songwriter Jimmy LaFave and Ryan LaCroix, who owns and operates a statewide music blog at www.oklahomarock.com.

The 6 p.m. book signing is $5 and will feature a performance by Hosty Duo at the museum, 2401 N. Laird. For more information, call 522-0765.

"?Jamie Birdwell

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