The father of red dirt music, legend Bob Childers, will be posthumously inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame at its annual Gala on Oct. 8, it was announced at a press conference on Thursday.

Four other acts will also be honored, including multi-platinum Stillwater rock act All-American Rejects, with the “Rising Star” award. Oklahoma City rock band Hinder took home the honor at last year’s gala.

The Cherokee National Youth Choir will receive the coveted Governor’s Award, a prestigious honor given only twice before. The choir performs traditional Cherokee songs in the Cherokee language to increase awareness of the Cherokee culture.

Chick Rains and the late Bob Childers will be inducted in the Songwriters’ Category. Songwriters from Oklahoma or writers who write songs about Oklahoma are eligible to be inducted in this category.

The Wichita & Affiliated Tribe will be this year’s inductee into the American Indian Tribal Music Traditions category. With recording of Wichita music made as early as 1902, the tribes’ singers are some of the earliest recording artists in Oklahoma music history.

Oklahoma country music singer Wade Hayes, who took two of Rain’s songs to No. 1, will perform Chick Rains’ songs at the induction concert. Members of the Red Dirt Rangers will perform Bob Childers songs with backup music provided by Tom Skinner and the Science Project. The Cherokee National Youth Choir will perform under the direction of Mary Kay Henderson and The All-American Rejects will wrap up the night’s events with a live performance.

To date, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum has honored 53 individuals or groups for their talents and contributions to the music industry. Among those awards are 46 inductees including Vince Gill, Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, Wanda Jackson and more from all genres of music. Also five Rising Stars awards have been given, including Oklahoma acts Carrie Underwood, Hinder and Keith Anderson.

OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME
Induction Ceremony and Concert
When: 5 p.m. Oct. 8, Reception begins at 5 p.m. and ceremony and concert at 7 p.m.
Where: Muskogee Civic Center, Fifth and Boston Street in Muskogee
Admission: VIP tickets are $150 and include VIP parking, buffet reception and VIP seating on the arena floor. Gallery tickets will range from $19 to $39. Members may purchase tickets Aug. 12-20 and tickets will be available to the public beginning Aug. 25. Purchase tickets from tulsaworld.com/ClickNPrint and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 401 S. Third St., Muskogee, or call the ticket hotline at (918) 687-0800. Online: tulsaworld.com/OMHOF

INDUCTEES:

Governor’s Award
Cherokee National Youth Choir
Founded in 2000, the Cherokee National Youth Choir performs traditional Cherokee songs in the Cherokee language. It has recorded six CDs. The goal of the Cherokee National Youth Choir is to increase awareness of Cherokee culture both within the Cherokee Nation as well as among the dominant culture

Rising Star Award
All-American Rejects
This multi-platinum Stillwater-based band includes Tyson Ritter: Bass, Vocals; Nick Wheeler: Guitar, Backing Vocals; Mike Kennerty: Guitar, Backing Vocals; Chris Gaylor: Drums. The Rising Star Award from Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame was presented to the All-American Rejects at D-Fest in late July.

American Indian Tribal Music Traditions
Wichita & Affiliated Tribe
Based in Anadarko, and with recording of Wichita music made as early as 1902, and again in the 1930s and 1950s, the tribe’s singers are some of the earliest recording artists in Oklahoma music history. The tribe’s current music includes lullabies, ceremonial songs, war dances, friendship songs and Baptist hymns.

Songwriters’ Category
Bob Childers (1946-2008)
Childers graduated from Ponca City High School and studied music in Berkeley, Calif. He began playing guitar at age 16 and is heralded as the father of Red Dirt music, an eclectic blend of folk, country, blues and rock music which originated in Green Country. He emerged in 1979 with his song, “I Ain’t No Jukebox,” and has been integral in the national and regional music scenes ever since.

Chick Rains
Born in Muskogee, he graduated from Muskogee High School and attended NEO A&M, Muskogee Jr. College., NSU, UC Santa Cruz, Ca., and Cabrillo Jr. College. He served Vietnam with the US Army from 1969-70. He’s famous for the number one songs recorded by Eddy Arnold, Oak Ridge Boys, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Roy Clark, Micky Gilly, Johnny Lee, Janie Fricke, Laurie White, Lone Star, Wade Hayes, Gary Morris, Michael Martin Murphy, Reba McEntire and Holly Dunn.