Show on field west of Tribal Complex is open to public Sept. 18
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. —Legendary Country artist Charley Pride and “The Voice” standouts, the Swon Brothers, perform a free concert Sept. 18 at the Cherokee Nation.
The show starts at 5:30 p.m. at the field west of the W.W. Keeler Complex in Tahlequah. It is open to the public.
“We’re truly blessed to have one of country music’s greatest, and Muskogee’s finest, playing here at the Cherokee Nation, where we know their popularity will fill up chairs on every inch of tribal land,” Principal Chief Bill John Baker said. “We wanted to bring this great lineup to our employees, and our greater community, as a way to say thanks for being so good to us all these years.”
At 14, Pride bought a guitar out of a Sears Roebuck catalog and taught himself to play while listening to the radio. The Memphis Red Sox pitcher would eventually entertain his teammates on the team bus. In 1966, he was signed to RCA Records and quickly broke down barriers as country music’s first African-American superstar.
The Grammy Award-winner, Grand Ole Opry member and CMA “Entertainer of the Year” is known for hits such as “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone” and “Just Between You and Me.”
Pride, of Dallas, performs about 40 concerts per year, choosing the Cherokee Nation as a 2013 stop.
Zach and Colton Swon became overnight sensations as finalists on NBC’s “The Voice,” mentored by Blake Shelton. Their bluesy, soulful blend and brotherly love resonated with millions of fans.
The Oklahoma natives, however, started performing at the ages of 9 and 11, traveling with their parents’ southern gospel group, Exodus. They soon created a following, singing everything from Elvis to Frank Sinatra at a variety show in Wagoner. The duo most recently packed crowds at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa and Northeastern State University.
Shawn Crittenden, a country singer from Stilwell, will open the show.
The public is invited to bring blankets or lawn chairs for the outdoor show. No ice chests or alcohol is permitted. Food vendors will be on site, and carpooling is encouraged.
