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Les Gilliam Comes Home To Poncan

From the Ponca City News, October 27, 1999

 

Les Gilliam, a Ponca City resident who has ascended to fame as "The Oklahoma Balladeer," will return home to the Poncan Theatre after performances in such wonderful places as Austria and Washington, D.C. The concert includes his Silverlake Band, and will be in the Poncan Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

The Silverlake Band features three legends in the country music field. Fiddler J.C. Broughton, guitarist Smiley Weaver and keyboard player Clarence Boyd will join bassist Larry Broughton and Ponca City's own Don Long on drums. Gilliam's impressive associations in country music always allow him to bring the finest players on stage, as he has again with this concert.

J.C. Broughton is a national champion fiddler who has played many rousing tunes with Gilliam. When Broughton is on stage, he's irresistible. The audience just always seems to tap their toes. Smiley Weaver is a famed steel guitarist who has worked with such legends as Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys and with both the Johnnie Lee Wills band and the Miller Brothers band. Clarence Boyd is a Western Swing Hall of Fame member, who played keyboard for Leon McAuliffe and the Cimarron Boys. Like Weaver, he also played with Johnnie Lee Wills.

Gilliam entertains both as a solo artist and with the Silverlake Band. Les has been nominated for "Male Vocalist of the Year" by the Academy of Western Artists and by the Western Music Association. He has recorded three albums and two videos. More and more Americans are hearing Gilliam's wonderful celebration of fabled cowboy-country artists. More and more Americans have learned about the lore of Western music. More have learned wholesome, healthy values from Les Gilliam's touching, memorable concerts.

Gilliam's presentation of country or cowboy music includes fascinating stories about songs and artists who performed them. He also includes original songs and comedy material. Audience participation is customary and standing ovations are the norm. Kids love the cowboy stories and songs, and older adults particularly enjoy the touch of nostalgia frequently found in his shows.

Tickets sell for $8 in advance, $10 at the door, general admission. They are available at the Poncan Theatre at 104 East Grand. The box office is open Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, patrons can call the theatre at 580-765-0943.