05/20/2026
EDIT: More names have been added to this years Keeping the Blues Alive Awards. Cant help ourselves recognize so many in this incredible Blues community that DC and Selby built...
Well folks, the Inductions are this weekend and we are getting really excited for the chance to recognize these inductees !! Their contributions to the music continue to keep the Blues Alive and flourishing.
That said, this has been a huge year for ALL of us, learning how to adapt and keep DC and Selby's legacy of Love, Light and Blues going on into the future.
What Selby knew and we can see is that volunteers are the life blood of everything that we do here. It is amazing that with little monies we altogether want and keep pushing our founders, DC and Selby into perpetuity. Selby would be so proud of all that we are and have accomplished with love and respect....
DC and Selby honored those who consistently focused on moving the Festival and events forward like the Inductions on Saturday. The Board can do little without all the love, support and volunteering.
While we apologize for not being able to let you know individually, (just ran out of time) we hope you will humbly accept this award to show how very much you are appreciated.
The following people are being presented with the "Keeping the Blues Alive" Award thru out the Inductions, Saturday. If we missed anyone, it was not intentional. These people have been nominated:
Mary Kirksey, Food/Bar Coordinator
Beth Pruden Tucker, Year-Round Volunteer
Bunny Fletcher. Year-R Volunteer
Shelly Knapp. Year-Round Volunteer
Rodney Stover / Mr. Printy. All Things Printed
Evan Clayburg. Videographer Extraordinaire
Jeff Kos. Video/Media
Brenda Carter. Headquarters/ Yr-Round Volunteer
Sharon Woodruff. T-shirts/Yr-Round Volunteer
Ron Hill. Groundskeeper/Yr Round Volunteer
Frankie Curran. Construction / Yr-Round Volunteer
Wiley Jones. Music/Festival/Yr-Round Volunteer/ Construction
Homer Johnson. All Star Band/Music Committee/Construction
Bronko Carr. All Star Band/ Music Committee/ construction
Tony Mathews. All Star Band
Nevaeh Knight. All Star Band/Volunteer
John Denault. All Star Band/Music
Ma*****na Mike Boese. All Star Band
James "Stretch" Moon. All Star Band
Crystal Lacey. All Star Band
Josie Coin. Music Production
Hoimaha Coin. Music Production
Lou Lou Renshaw. Volunteer/Sponsor
Shelly Zaikis. Volunteer/Sponsor
John Winkle. Music Production
Tommy Merrill Construction
Peggy Hill. Festival / Yr-Round Volunteer
Lee Mayo. Festival Volunteer
Pat Ford. Festival Volunteer
LaDonna Rhodes. Media, Yr Round Support
Wendy Love. Festival Volunteer/Sponsor
Charlie Butcher. Festival Volunteer
Gannon Benerstein. Festival Volunteer
Jason Chandler. Year-Round Supporter, Special Advocate
Sanford Nero. Good Neighbor/Grounds
June's Restaurant. Sponsor Yr round
Green's Elevator. Sponsor Yr Round
Dick Jones. Lifetime Volunteer/In-Memoriam
Walter Taylor III. Year-Round Supporter/ Music
Brenda Cordoba. Media
Rhonda Williams. Festival Volunteer
Sherry Barnes. Festival volunteer/ Music
Jeannie Ehrhardt. Festival /Music
Shelly Reynolds. Yr-Round volunteer/Music
Hydro Jerry Broyles. Painter
Larry Jones. Campground supervisor/BBQ/Yr-Round Volunteer
Lenore Bechtel. Journalist/Music
Marsha Hair Reynolds. Yr-Round support
Harry Williams. Board Member / Sound/Yr Round Support
Codel Thomas. Sound Engineer
Donnie Woods Red Cat Productio s
Oklahoma Arts Council. Festival Support
Oklahoma Historical Society. Museum Support
Senator Connie Johnson. Festival Support
Jessica Mulkey. Historian/Photography
Nancy Smith. Media/Photography
Arlene Winfrey. Media/Photography
Sharon Ray. Festival MC. / Videographer
Oscar Ray. Videographer
Joan Duffy Board Member/Sales
Alfred Gilyard. Board Member / Fundraiser
DW Moore. Board Member / Historian
Nanette Robertson Carr. Board Member / Media
Harold Aldridge. Board Member / Music / Historian
Donna McGirt. Board Member
Jayne Hutt. Board Member
Hilary Conley. Year-Round Supporter
Ron Conley. Year-Round Supporter
Laura Poole. Festival Kids Village
Joanne McMillian. Festival Kids Village
Tray Carr. Year-Round Volunteer
Eric Carr. Year-Round Volunteer
Chris "Tank" Carr. Music/Year-Round Volunteer
Vince Wilmoth
Yr Round Volunteer, Festival Sponsor
Angie Lawson
Festival Volunteer
Greg "Clutch" Lawson
Music
Robert Glass and Mr. Glass
Music/Festival support
Chris "Cece" Craig
Music/Festival Support
Smilin' Bob Unrah
Festival support
Congratulations ALL. Please let everyone know !!
This has been a difficult year for US ALL. Never has the Keeping the Blues Alive award ever included this many people but each and everyone nominated truly stepped up and showed out how much DC and Selby are loved and honored.
From the Friends of Rentiesville Blues much Love, Thanks and Respect Always
PS...We will be presenting everyone with their framed KBA Award Saturday thru out the event.
Congratulations to All !!
