Living on Tulsa Time
I'm reading Eric Clapton's autobiography and came across Jamie Oldaker's name. Oldaker is a drummer who played with Clapton for 10 years or so (post-Layla).
He was a year ahead of me in high school in Tulsa. I knew he had played as a session man with Leon Russell there, but hadn't known he toured with Clapton. Then I read that Carl Radle, bass player on Layla, graduated from the same school -- Edison -- albeit many years before I was there. Impressive enough.
Drawn to the computer, I discovered a Wikipedia entry on the Tulsa Sound. It reminded me of Dwight Twilley, who we knew as an artist; he drew the cover of the student phone book at Edison. I think I knew he was in a band, but wouldn't have predicted he would become a Top 20 artist. (His bandmate Phil Seymour was at Edison, too, a year younger than me.)
That then led me to Tuck Andress, Scott Musick and David Tanner, all of whom were in my class.
Unfortunately, I played the clarinet, which did nothing wonders for my cool factor. (Thanks, Sue.) The rest is history.
Comments (2)
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Beg to differ. Clarinetists are very cool here (A-, E-flat and a couple of B-flats). Throw in a bass and you have jazz! (BTW: President Clinton always referred to himself as the 'fat kid in the bad' so we band parents are used to self-dissing and ignore it completely).
Do you ever pick up a horn nowadays? I hear it's therapeutic. And the gigs pay well.
Posted on November 17, 2007 10:46 AM
Hi Mr. Robinson,
I'm a Tulsa native, and I found this quite by accident, looking for a Tulsan named Robbie Perkins. It appears Yahoo took me to the wrong Robbie, but I saw your blog about Tulsa Time. What great memories.
I graduated later than you, from one of your rivals, Nathan Hale in '74. I'm still the ever loyal Tulsan, and living out on the deserts of New Mexico has convinced me I shouldn't have left the lakes of OK and a fun boat business.
I wanted to send kuddos, that you remember the names such as Dwight Twilley and the Tulsa Sound. I worked at Peaches Records, and had the occasion to meet most of the above named musicians. I was young then, but we spent most likely too much time at the Nine of Cups, Whiskers and the Paradise Club, Tulsa had, and still does, a great music base. Thanks for being a true blue Tulsan, it's a cool thing to see in this day and time.
My older brother, the smart one in the family, is now a Veterinarian over there in Kannapolis. He loves NC, as do I, and my visits there have been good ones.
good luck to you and yours, an ex Okie
Posted on July 21, 2008 6:39 PM