USAO ShowBand Features Guest Guitarist Nov. 30

CHICKASHA – Pop, blues, big band and lounge music converge when the USAO ShowBand whips up a lively mix of songs for its annual fall concert Nov. 30. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Te Ata Memorial Auditorium.

Special guest steel guitarist Charlie Archer, who performs regularly with Loretta Lynn, is scheduled to join the 18-member student band, which features brass, rhythm section, drums and five vocalists. Past guests have included fiddle player Monte Gaylord, Nashville guitarist and recording legend Harold Bradley and country trumpeter Mike Moore.

Under the direction of guitarist Joe Settlemires, the youngest surviving member of the Texas Playboys, the ShowBand has performed across the state as ambassadors to USAO over the past five years. A noted musician in his own right, Settlemires has been inducted into four musical halls of fame, including three western swing organizations. Settlemires arranges all the music and directs the ShowBand with the assistance of his wife, Donna.

“This semester, we’re going from one extreme to the other,” she said. “From Blues Brothers to Roy Rogers to Glen Miller to Dean Martin.”

This spring, the ShowBand released its first CD, an album recorded and produced in Nashville by Bradley.

Guest steel guitarist Archer is no stranger to Chickasha. Originally from Stratford, Archer performed in Chickasha’s old Saddle Club many times during his youth. When country swing ace Bob Wills came through Oklahoma, Archer backed him up on guitar in Smiley Weaver’s band.

A true-blue musician, Archer traveled to Las Vegas, where he performed for a few years before joining Conway Twitty on lead guitar for 20 years.

“I worked for Conway Twitty from 1973 until his death in 1993,” Archer said. “We worked every state and several other countries. Conway liked to work.”

During his years with Twitty, Archer hit the television screen with performances on shows like “Hee-Haw,” “The Tonight Show,” “Wolfman Jack Show,” “Today Show” and others.

In 1997, he moved back to Oklahoma to be closer to his family. Today, he plays regularly with country music star Loretta Lynn.

Though he’s played all over the country and parts of the world, Archer attributes part of his success to the ShowBand’s leader.

“Another fortunate thing that happened to me back in the early days is when I met Joe Settlemires,” Archer said. “He taught me things on a guitar that I would play in front of other players to impress them. I don't think there is any end to his musical knowledge and talent.”

 

PHOTO CUTLINE

USAO’s ShowBand rocks the Te Ata Memorial Auditorium Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. with its annual fall concert. Special guest steel guitarist Charlie Archer, musician for Loretta Lynn, joins the band for an evening of live, energetic music. The concert is free and open to the public.

NEWS RELEASE November 20, 2007
UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA - CHICKASHA
CONTACT MICHAEL BENDURE, News Bureau, 405-574-1362, mbendure@usao.edu
RANDY TALLEY: Public Relations, 405-574-1337, rtalley@usao.edu
FAX: 405-574-1377