Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Flamenco guitarist to heat up USAO stage
Although flamenco guitarist Ronald Radford has traveled the world over, he is returning to his Oklahoma roots Nov. 6 to perform at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma as the third installment in the annual Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series.
A protege of the legendary Carlos Montoya, Radford lived and traveled in Spain, where he immersed himself in the music of the gypsy guitar masters. Today, he tours the globe, weaving a musical tapestry recognized the world over as the heartbeat of Spain.
Radford, a Tulsa native, has logged more than 1,000 performances in Oklahoma communities. His November concert is part of an Oklahoma Centennial event as Radford tours state universities, schools and performing arts centers.
The DWPAS concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Te Ata Memorial Auditorium.
Ironically, his performance marks a 22-year reunion with Chickasha. In October, 1985, Radford performed for Chickasha Pro Musica Friends with Louise Waldorf, a music instructor for nearly 40 years at the Oklahoma College for Women after whom the Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series is named.
Tickets for the show are on sale now in the USAO Business Office or by phone at (405) 574-1213. Tickets are $10, with discounts available for seniors 60 and above, students and children under 18 and USAO faculty, staff and students. Tickets are $1 for Chickasha public school students of all ages.
A special 10 a.m. performance the same day is open to local students in the Te Ata Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are free for Chickasha public school students of all ages and are $1 for all other students.
More information is available online at www.usao.edu/news.
Though his music takes listeners on a gypsy joyride through the mysterious hillsides of Spain, Radford said his centennial concerts and informal workshops are a celebration of Oklahoma values. In addition to his stirring music, he tells the story of his rise from humble beginnings in Tulsa. He followed his dream and became a true Oklahoma success story.
“The success and happiness I've achieved in my life is the direct result of the core values of hard work, respect and responsibility I learned as a child growing up in Oklahoma,” Radford said.
“Wherever I travel, I continue to identify myself as an ‘Okie’ and I still wear the gold ‘Okie’ pin Governor Boren gave me to prove it,” he said.
Radford grew up in Tulsa where, at the age of eight, he played his ukulele and sang on local television. He attended the Tulsa public schools and graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1962. That year, Radford was discovered backstage by legendary flamenco guitarist Carlos Montoya, who invited Radford to become his protege in New York City. Two years later, Radford's performance at Carnegie Hall launched his concert career which has now spanned 15 countries on four continents.
Radford served in the U.S. Army at Fort Sill in Lawton and later in Vietnam, where he took his guitar into hospitals, schools and orphanages. He was a Fulbright Scholar to Spain, representing the state of Oklahoma during a performance at the U.S. bicentennial ceremonies at the Kennedy Center. He toured with the Oklahoma Arts Council and Mid-America Arts Alliance.
His performances promoted Oklahoma at the Governors Mansion, the Oklahoma State Legislature and the Mid-Western Governors Conference. He has been a musical ambassador to Mexico and other Latin American countries as well, where he is known as the “gringo flamenco virtuoso from Oklahoma.”
A former student at the University of Tulsa, Radford has been inducted into the Tulsa Will Rogers High School Hall of Fame. A group of fans currently is proposing that he be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
Known internationally as the American Master of the Flamenco Guitar, Radford now resides in St. Louis, Mo., where he continues his career as one of the most successful ambassadors of flamenco music in the world.
More information about Radford is available online at www.RonaldRadford.com.
The Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series is celebrating its seventh season, thanks to the support of the USAO Foundation and KOOL 105.5 radio with generous underwriting by the Oklahoma Arts Council, Mid-America Arts Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts and the Kirkpatrick Family Fund and foundations, corporations and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
Additional support is made possible by the Chickasha Public School Foundation, First National Bank & Trust Company, Alliance Oil & Gas Company, Chickasha Bank & Trust Co., Arvest Bank, Best Western, Mosley Insurance Agency, Livingston Machinery and several other local businesses, organizations and individuals.
- Local News
-
-
Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
-
GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Transformations
