Carrie Makes Her 1st Hall of Fame

TULSA, Okla. – 2009 ACM Entertainer of the Year, 4-time Grammy winner and Oklahoma music icon Carrie Underwood will be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in September, along with Oklahoma artists and performers Rocky Frisco and Ramona Reed.

The Class of 2009 Inductees will join other music performers and artists who have been recognized by the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame since 1997, including Vince Gill, Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, Wanda Jackson, Hank Thompson, The All American Rejects and David Gates.

The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame announced its newest inductees at a news conference at the Tulsa Press Club. The three will perform at the 13^th Annual Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Concert Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. The event is at the Muskogee Civic Center, 405 Boston Street.

“All three of this year’s inductees are worthy recipients of this honor. Each is recognized world wide for their musical talent, and we are proud that each calls Oklahoma home,” said Max Boydstun, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Board Chair.

“We are especially proud to induct our own Oklahoma idol Carrie Underwood and to offer the public a chance to experience the performances of all three inductees to celebrate their contribution to Oklahoma music history and culture,” he added.

To date, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum has honored more than 50 individuals or groups for their talents and contributions to the music industry, including inductees into the prestigious Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

In addition to the Class of 2009 Inductees, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame announced it will present C.H. Parker with the coveted Governor’s Award, an honor given only three times in the past.

Reserved seats for the Concert & Induction tickets will be on pre-sale to existing members of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame between Aug. 18 and 21. If you would like to join the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and participate in early ticket sales, go to www.omhof.com or www.oklahomamusichalloffame.com to complete an application form. Or call 918-687-0800 for membership information.

Tickets for reserved seating will be offered to the public starting Aug. 22. Tickets will be available online at www.omhof.com and at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum office by calling 918-697-0800. Ticket prices range from $39.95 to $79.95, plus handling charges.

VIP tickets, which include an invitation to a VIP reception prior to the Concert & Induction ceremony, also are available. Call the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame at 1-918-687-0800 for details. Sponsorship packages are also available.

About the 2009 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Carrie Underwood, the reigning ACM Entertainer of The Year, 3-time reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of The Year and 4-time Grammy winner, will release a new album on November 3 on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville with producer Mark Bright, who helmed 2007’s hit-filled Carnival Ride, as well as seven tracks including four #1’s from Underwood's blockbuster 2005 debut, Some Hearts.

Earlier this year, Underwood became the first country artist in history to achieve 10 #1 singles from their first two albums when “I Told You So” became the fifth consecutive chart-topper from Carnival Ride, which also included the smash, “Just a Dream,” and three hits Underwood co-wrote: “So Small,” “All-American Girl,” and “Last Name.” To date, Underwood is the U.S. best-selling American Idol winner with album sales over 10 million.

Rocky Frisco is a 1955 graduate of Central High School in Tulsa, where he met singer-songwriter J.J. Cale. Frisco has played piano for some of rock’s most lauded visionaries, including the great and hugely influential Cale. He played in Cale’s band throughout his life. He also has played with Flash Terry, the Gene Cross Band, Clyde Stacy, Danny McBride, Tom Skinner’s Science Project and many others. He had a limited movie career, which included appearing in the 2003 remake of Where the Red Fern Grows. He once rode a Schwinn bike from Tulsa to Killeen, Texas, as a publicity stunt for KOME Radio to do an interview with Elvis Presley. He also jammed privately with Elvis Presley while there.

Ramona Reed was raised on a ranch near Talihina and was yodeling by the time she was talking. From an early age, Reed knew she wanted to have a career in music. In 1947, Reed participated in the Ted Mac Amateur Hour television program, perhaps the American Idol of its day. She earned a spot in the semi-finals and eventually earned 5^thplace.

Using the stage name Martha White, Reed began her career on the Grand Ole Opry where she worked with such greats as Hank Williams Sr, Roy Acuff, Red Foley and Minnie Pearl.

She started working for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys in 1951, and performed at the Bob Wills Ranch House and toured with Bob Wills on a regular basis. Reed is the only female singer to record a duet with Bob Wills, MCA’s “Little Girl, Little Girl.” Reed continues to perform with the Texas Playboys and has been invited to share the stage with Asleep At the Wheel on numerous occasions.

Reed has been honored by the Western Swing Hall of Fame the and was designated as a Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame Pioneer.

About the 2009 Governor’s Award Recipient

C.H. Parker is a longtime music instructor and director at Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah. For years, he coordinated its summer country music program Downtown Country, a regular live-music event featuring student performers that included Carrie Underwood. It was during that time that she and Parker came to know each other. Parker has produced the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Concert & Induction ceremony since its inception in 1997.

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About the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame

Oklahomans have always had a rich and profound impact on the world’s music culture. In 1995, recognizing the need to educate the public about the influence Oklahomans have had in the music industry, the vision for the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame was born.

On an annual basis since 1997, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame has been honoring some of the world's most notable talents whose gifts and musical styles are as breathtaking and diverse as the Oklahoma landscape. The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum is a 501c (3) nonprofit organization. For more information, visitwww.oklahomamusichalloffame.com.