OMHOF 2024 inductees reflect diverse genres

Dec. 20—Longtime Muskogee music director Jerry Huffer adds a new honor to his lengthy resume — inductee into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

"I'm kind of overwhelmed they're even considering me for this," he said. "I don't know what to say other than they're being very kind."

Huffer, who was Oklahoma Music Educators Association executive director for 50 years, is one of seven OMHOF inductees to be honored at a ceremony and concert Feb. 17 at Muskogee Civic Center.

Other inductees are:

* The country band Ricochet.

* Singer-songwriter Bryan White.

* Orchestra leader and music director Timothy Long.

* Singer-songwriter Verlon Thompson.

* Record producer and play producer David Webb.

* Fiddler Shelby Eicher.

Huffer said he thought OMHOF induction was for "a different class of musicians."

"I thought it was for the artists who perform," he said. "I was surprised."

He said he hasn't had much time to think about the honor because he has been so busy with concerts.

Huffer was music director at Muskogee Public Schools for nearly 20 years before retiring in 1987. In 2012, he worked with MPS to help rebuild the district's music program. He also established and directed the Muskogee Community Band.

"I've tried through our community band experience, plus all the schools' experience, to serve the community" he said. "We try to do the military things, Christmas concert, Symphony in the Park."

OMHOF Executive Director Tony Corbell said he's delighted with the inductees' different backgrounds and styles.

"Since I've been around, this is the most diverse group of inductees we've had, and I'm very excited about that," he said.

"Verlon Thompson ought to be the most fun," Corbell said. "He's just a great storyteller and one of the coolest guys ever."

Long, a Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen, is artistic and music director of opera at Eastman School of Music. He also is active with the Plimpton Foundation, which promotes work of Native and underrepresented performing artists. Each year, an outstanding Cherokee student of voice teacher Barbara McAlister is awarded the Timothy Long Prize.

The Governor's Award is to go to David Webb, executive producer of the musical "Nanyehi."

"David has been a record producer, he has been vice president of the Grammy board of directors, he has managed bands all over the world," Corbell said. "He was part of the Jim Halsey stable."

"Nanyehi" is based on the life of Nancy Ward, Cherokee leader and peacemaker in the 1700s and 1800s.

Eicher has played fiddle with the Roy Clark band for 15 years and made numerous appearances on "Hee-Haw" and "The Tonight Show." He is education director of the National Fiddlers Hall of Fame.

Ricochet calls itself "The Hardest Working Band in Country Music." The country band's debut single, "What Do I Know" was the highest charting debut single of 1996.

Bryan White of Lawton is a country music artist and songwriter. He earned Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music and Grammy awards.

Corbell said inductees are nominated from OMHOF board members, members of the music press, venue managers, and past inductees.

"We send out a lot of ballots," Corbell said "They come back and they are arranged according to how balloting come out."