Bob Childers

Stillwater, Oklahoma
Origin = Ponca City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Instrument = Vocals
Guitar
Genre = Red Dirt
Country
Folk
Bluegrass
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Guitarist
Years_active = 1978 — 2008
Label = Binky Records, Smith Music
Associated_acts = Woody Guthrie, Jason Boland, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Randy Crouch, Red Dirt Rangers, No Justice
URL = [http://www.binkyrecords.com/artists/childers Binky Records]

Robert Wayne “Bob” Childers (born November 20, 1946, in West Union, West Virginia - died April 22 2008, Stillwater, Oklahoma) [Stillwater NewsPress. [http://www.stillwaternewspress.com/archivesearch/local_story_115114050.html Robert Wayne “Bob” Childers.] April 28, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2008.] was an American country/folk singer-songwriter who has achieved widespread critical acclaim since the late 1970s. Childers was known alternately as the "father" "grandfather" or "godfather" of the regional scene known as Red Dirt music. [Wooley, John. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/entertainment/spot/article.aspx?articleID=021231_En_D4_Omnip Godfather of Red Dirt music returns with disc, a Tulsa show.] "Tulsa World", Dec. 31, 2002. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2008.] Childers renown as a songwriter led to the comparisons to both Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. Childers contribution to the art of songwriting has been acknowledged by many critics but also his artistic peers.

Biography and Works

Childers, the son of Howard and Rhea (Gaskins) Childers, moved with his family from West Virginia to Ponca City, Oklahoma when he was seven years old.Mack, Joe. [http://www.currentland.com/Portals/0/archives/The%20Current%20-%20May%202008.pdf A final farewell to the rainbow rocker.] "The Current", May 2008, p. 24.] He developed an interest in music and started playing guitar at age 16. After graduating from Ponca City high school he moved even further west and studied music in Berkeley, California.Payne County Promotions website. [http://www.paynecountyline.com/interviews/bob_childers_2004.htm Texas Troubadours Interview with Bob Childers.] Retrieved Aug. 4, 2008.] After a stint in California, Childers returned to Oklahoma - this time to Stillwater - where he found "people interested in the natural and supernatural aspects of life and love, and folks not afraid to sing about it."

Childers emerged in 1979 with his debut album titled "I Ain't No Jukebox" which he recorded with help from friend Jimmy LaFave. The album received many positive reviews and led Childers to begin touring nation-wide. His second album, "Singing Trees, Dancing Waters", was released in 1982. Success in the music industry lead Childers to relocate to Nashville, Tennessee.

In 1986 Childers released two albums "Four Horsemen", and a collection of instrumental works, "King David's Lament". While many of his peers had success in Nashville, Childers chose to relocate to Austin, Texas. He then released "Circles Toward the Sun" (1990). By 1991 Childers had relocated again, back to Oklahoma where he released "Nothin' More Natural" (1996), "Hat Trick" (1999) [Galvin, Mark. [http://www.poncacitynews.com/NewsArchives/0799folder/lo070499.html#Bob%20Childers%20Releases%20New%20CD Bob Childers releases new CD.] , "Ponca City News", July 5, 1999. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2008.] and a fan club collection of rarities "La Vita e Bella - Outtakes, Demos and Jams 1980 - 1988" (2000.) His return to Oklahoma facilitated collaboration with other Red Dirt music artists including "Dirt & Spirit" with The Great Divide (1999), "Two Buffalos Walking - Live At The Blue Door" with Terry "Buffalo" Ware (2003), "Kindred Spirits" with Randy Crouch (2004) and "Ride for the Cimarron" with Jason Boland and the Stragglers (2006.)Binky Records website. [http://www.binkyrecords.com/artists/childers Bob Childers.] Retrieved Aug. 4, 2008]

In 2003 Jimmy LaFave produced a Woody Guthrie tribute show called Ribbon of Highway, Endless Skyway. The ensemble show toured around the country and included a rotating cast of singer-songwriters individually performing Guthrie's songs. Interspersed between songs were Guthrie's philosophical writings read by Childers, sometimes called the "Dylan of the dust", [Ribbon of Highway website. [http://www.ribbonofhighway.com Ribbon of Highway website] Retrieved Aug. 2, 2008.] who served as the show's narrator. [Propaganda Media Group, Inc. [http://www.propagandamediagroup.com/artists/ribbon_of_highway_endless_skyway/bio.htm Ribbon of Highway - Endless Skyway: Concert in the Spirit of Woody Guthrie] . Retrieved Aug. 2, 2008.]

By 2004 Childers health was in decline. A long time smoker, Childers suffered from numerous lung-related ailments including pneumonia and COPD, sometimes known as "lung disease." To help Childers with his medical bills, Chris Maxwell of Binky Records spearheaded an effort to raise funds. The result of that effort is a three-CD compilation, "Restless Spirits: A Tribute to the Songs of Bob Childers", released in 2004. The collection features tracks from over 50 performers who donated versions of Childers' songs, recorded at their own expense. [Binky Records website. [http://www.binkyrecords.com/artists/childers/#spirit Restless Spirit: A Tribute to the Songs of Bob Childers.] Retrieved Aug. 4, 2008.]

Tributes and Legacy

Five years prior to his death, Childers was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Awards Red Dirt Hall of Fame along with Steve Ripley and Tom Skinner. [Cranke, Jared F. [http://www.stillwaterscene.com/issues/pdfs/nov03.pdf A True Celebration of Stillwater Music.] "Stillwater Scene", Vol. 3, #6, November 2003. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2008.] In an interview with "The Current" in 2007, Childers said of his songwriting, "I just keep it honest and keep it simple. There really is no secret to writing a song."Even before the release of the tribute box-set "Restless Spirts", Childers influence on other song writers was pervasive. The "Tulsa World" reported that Bob Childers songs have been recorded by more than 200 artists. [Conner, Thomas. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=L101599005 The nominees for Spot Music Award "Best Oklahoma Sound Act" are...] . "Tulsa World", Oct. 15, 2999. Retrieved Aug. 2, 2008.] Many musicians have stated that Childers served as a mentor. Bassist-guitarist Bob Wiles said of Childers, "He was the first older, respected musician to take us seriously, probably when we didn't deserve it. And he encouraged us to take ourselves seriously. He's done that with a lot of bands. Bob is that common thread through us all." [Wooley, John. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=L121500002 Red Dirt's music's like a present. You gotta open it up to know what it is.] Dec. 15, 2000. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2008.] When asked what it was like to be a mentor to so many aspsiring singer-songwriters, Childers said, "I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. It makes me try a little harder, knowing that people are being influenced. It makes me try to do right a little bit more." [Allen, Tony. [http://ocolly.com/1997/05/06/bob-childers-natural-music-makes-latest-album-soulful Bob Childers’ natural music makes latest album soulful.] "The Daily O'Collegian", May 6, 1997. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2008.]

Childers was a regular at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival held every July in Guthrie's hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma. At the 10th annual festival in July 2007, seven "10-year artists" - artists who have participated every year since the festival's inception - performed at a benefit show titled "In the Spirit of Woody Guthrie". Those artists were Jimmy LaFave, Don Conoscenti, Ellis Paul, Joel Rafael, Terry "Buffalo" Ware, the Red Dirt Rangers, and Childers. [10th Annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. July 11-15, 2007. (Program booklet.)] In 2008, a special pre-festival Childers tribute show was held at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa on July 8, 2008, the evening before the official start of the festival. Performers at the tribute included Jimmy LaFave, The Burns Sisters, The Red Dirt Rangers, Mike McClure, Joel Rafael, Stoney LaRue and Tom Skinner. [Transcript Staff. [http://www.normantranscript.com/archivesearch/local_story_179112221 July 8 tribute to Bob Childers to kick off 11th annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival.] "Norman Transcript". June 26, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2008.] In addition, the festival program booklet included a special Bob Childers Memorial Page, and quotes made by his songwriting friends were interspersed as tributes throughout.11th Annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. July 9-13, 2008. (Program booklet.)] The "Tulsa World" announced that Childers would be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in October 2008 at a gala to be held in Muskogee, Oklahoma. [Chancellor, Jennifer. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080807_11_Its324750 Bob Childers to be inducted into Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.] "Tulsa World", Aug. 7, 2008. Retrieved Aug. 9, 2008.] The induction ceremony, held at the Muskogee Civic Center, took place on October 8, 2008. The Red Dirt Rangers and Tom Skinner accepted the award on behalf of Childers. [Lang, George. [http://www.newsok.com/hall-of-fame-names-rejects-08-rising-stars/article/3309073?custom_click=pod_headline_music Hall of Fame names Rejects ’08 rising stars.] "The Oklahoman", Oct. 9, 2008. Retrieved Oct. 9, 2008.]

References

Further reading

* Galleywinter discussion forum. [http://galleywinter.com/main/Forums/viewtopic/t=91755/highlight=%22bob+childers%22.html Rest In Peace Bob Childers the grandfather of Red Dirt Music.] April 22, 2008.

* Wooley, John. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/entertainment/spot/article.aspx?articleID=020103_En_sp16jimm Jimmy LaFave, Red Dirt's Austin Ambassador.] "Tulsa World", Jan. 4, 2002. Retrieved Aug. 5, 2008.

External links

* [http://www.binkyrecords.com/artists/childers/ Bob Childers on Binky Records Website]
* [http://www.smithmusic.com Bob Childers on Smith Music]