Oklahoma Musicians

Payne County

Musical history, people, ensembles, photographs, and source material from the Oklahoma Musicians Library.

The musical history of Payne County.

Payne County contains one of Oklahoma’s strongest documented collegiate and community-band histories. `(high)` The first Oklahoma A&M College band was organized in Stillwater in 1905 by student Harry Dunn, consisted of 22 members, and supplied its own instruments, music, and uniforms. `(high)` Oklahoma State University’s official timeline records the later development of male and female concert, marching, ROTC, pep, summer-session, and community bands, including statewide concert tours and a 1955 combination of the male and female bands. `(high)` The Stillwater Community Band reports an original July 4, 1906 formation and reorganization in 1992. `(medium)` Stillwater High School’s 1952 yearbook directly documents a band, a band shack, Harry Wheeler as director, instrument sections, and a band performance connected with a school production. `(high)` Cushing and other county communities have yearbook and newspaper sources requiring deeper extraction.

Read the county history →

Read the full account, chronology, named ensembles and people, source links, and research notes. These library reports reflect their original research passes; related records below may add later evidence.

Explore the county collection

94 linked records. Connections follow county names and communities documented in the sources; they do not establish a birthplace, exact historical boundary, or continuous residence.

Photographs and visual sources.

Penitentiary Band, Oklahoma State.
Penitentiary Band / Okla State /.Penitentiary Band, Oklahoma State.Oklahoma Historical Society / The Gateway to Oklahoma History · Original source
Photograph taken for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "A band of ambitious Episcopalians here has formed an unusual subsidiary to help sell salvation."
[Photograph 2012.201.B0252.0185]Photograph taken for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "A band of ambitious Episcopalians here has formed an unusual subsidiary to help sell salvation."Oklahoma Historical Society / The Gateway to Oklahoma History · Original source
Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Lara hoggard - Southeastern Teachers College"
[Photograph 2012.201.B0260B.0329]Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Lara hoggard - Southeastern Teachers College"Oklahoma Historical Society / The Gateway to Oklahoma History · Original source
Photograph taken for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "at Oklahoma State University are, from left, Christeen Sheets, Tulsa education major; Kathy Lauderdale of Yale, majoring in clothing and textiles merchandising, and Linda Davis, education major from Oklahoma City."
[Photograph 2012.201.B0295.0129]Photograph taken for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "at Oklahoma State University are, from left, Christeen Sheets, Tulsa education major; Kathy Lauderdale of Yale, majoring in clothing and textiles merchandising, and Linda Davis, education major from Oklahoma City."Oklahoma Historical Society / The Gateway to Oklahoma History · Original source
The reviewed Oklahoma band history identifies Stillwater Band in Stillwater and gives the evidence date as 1900s.; A contemporary report supplies the Cornet Band form; no continuity with the modern Stillwater Community Band is asserted.
Stillwater BandThe reviewed Oklahoma band history identifies Stillwater Band in Stillwater and gives the evidence date as 1900s.; A contemporary report supplies the Cornet Band form; no continuity with the modern Stillwater Community Band is asserted.Community and Municipal Bands · Original source
Oklahoma A&M organized a 22-member band in 1905; the program developed military, concert, marching, jazz, clinic, alumni, and touring traditions and became the birthplace of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Oklahoma State University BandsOklahoma A&M organized a 22-member band in 1905; the program developed military, concert, marching, jazz, clinic, alumni, and touring traditions and became the birthplace of Kappa Kappa Psi.College and University Bands · Original source
Archive source

Cushing, OK

Unknown in captured visible metadata.

Musician

Wyatt Flores

current or recent activity documented by 2024-2026 sources