Music forms a major part of Oklahoma Kid. I have imagined the music that Carl/Carlos would have listened to, and which would have influenced his world view, so I might as well tell you about it, and give a hint at the levels of research that I’ve put in.
Music is one of the main points where Carl’s thoughts and my own converge. The tunes that I reference have all got intent to them, the kind of sounds that I listen to regularly. They may not have the back beat or the driving bass that I crave, but they are driven by something, whether it’s the lyrics or the melody line.
Music would have been freely available in 1955. 45s had taken the US by storm (the advert says it ‘sounds better, plays easier and costs less’) and everyone would have had an ear tuned into the radio stations that were able to broadcast to more than the local area.
Post war, Rock ‘n’ Roll had been slowly emerging as a distinct musical genre, as evidenced by the likes of ‘All She Wants to do is Rock’ by Wynonie Harris (1949), ‘Rocket ‘88’ by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats (1951) and ‘Money Honey’ by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters (1953), and it was just about to go mainstream, and become a world changing phenomenon.
In the first chapter, Carl is on his way back from Altus after seeing Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore and Bill Black in concert. It’s the culmination of a two-day road trip that’s seen him and his cousin witness three shows in all, including two in Lawton the previous day. Elvis played an extraordinary number of concerts in 1954 and ‘55, mainly around Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas and then Oklahoma. They had definitely put the hours in and it was just about to pay off.
There’s nothing like a road-trip to see your favourite band, and even better, to discover a new band that are about to become the next big deal. I’ve never forgotten that buzz of hitch-hiking 300 miles to see a band about to go supersonic or persuading a mate that they had to drive me across the country to see a group that I knew would change their life forever.
I’ve projected these experiences onto Carl, to bring out his excitement at witnessing Elvis and the boys in Lawton and Altus. Who wouldn’t want to have experienced the raw energy of the Tupelo Tornado before he hit the big time? And of course there’s another reason why Carl will never forget seeing those nights.
To increase this connection with the music of the era, there are music references at the start of most chapters, where I’ve included a quote from a songs lyrics and a QR code leading the reader to its source.
CHAPTER THREE
Hold back the dawn, Stop all the clocks
I just got the news that my baby wants to rock
All she wants to do is rock
My baby don't go for fancy clothes, High-class dinner an' picture shows
All she wants to do is stay at home
And hucklebuck with Daddy, all night long
All She Wants To Do is Rock - Wynonie Harris (1949)
Written by Wynonie Harris & Teddy McRae
Shane Brady had all the right moves and one of the best haircuts I’d ever seen. He had perfected the art of the quiff, with just the right amount of pomade so his mop of blonde hair would stay up and never look over-greased. It was a work of art. Not surprisingly, there was a group of people who followed in his wake. Guys that I imagined wanted to be him, and girls I thought he must be rocking. In Enid, he stood out a mile.
To me it’s mind blowing to have taken part in that same musical exploration that Carl must have undertaken, to discover new music that still feels vital nearly three quarters of a century later. I hope that the readers will share that excitement. Other artists that I’ve referenced include Floyd Jones; Cowboy Copas; The Clovers; Webb Pierce; The Carter Family; Sister Rosetta Tharp; Earl Robinson and Fats Domino, to name just a few.
This is, of course, my version of the book. We’ll see if a publisher will agree that it’s a valuable part of the narrative, but I believe it is a vital to Carl’s world. In one of my other jobs, as a documentary producer, I’ve had to clear music with publishing houses, so I know that it’s achievable.