Les Gilliam
Career: Musician
Les Gilliam is proud to have been inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, having
been inducted on November 4, 2010. He is the official “Oklahoma Balladeer”, so designated
by the Oklahoma State Legislature in 1998. He is a native of Gene Autry, Oklahoma
and is a singer, songwriter, and recording artist. He was recently included in a new
book “Distinguished Oklahomans”. In 2005, Les received the most prestigious award
in Western Music by receiving the coveted “Wrangler Award” from the National Cowboy
and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In 2006 Les received the Governor’s
Arts Award from the Governor of the State of Oklahoma for his many years of entertaining
Oklahomans and keeping western music alive. In 2008, he received the “Lifetime Achievement
Award” from the Gene Autry, Oklahoma Museum. In 2010, Les received the Academy of
Western Artists award for Western Swing Song of the Year for his composition and recording
of “Oklahoma 1955”..
He is currently based in Ponca City, Oklahoma and entertains as a solo act with his
guitar. His concerts of cowboy, western swing, country and/or gospel music include
fascinating stories about the songs and the artists who performed them. He always
includes original songs and humorous material, adding a touch of nostalgia and good
ole fashion patriotism.
Les grew up in southern Oklahoma where Gene Autry owned a ranch next to their place
and Gene would often come to visit them. Meeting Mr. Autry and enjoying his movies
and radio show certainly created in Les a love for western music. He was a contributor
to the recent book on cowboy music “Singing in the Saddle”, written by his friend
Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky. He was also a contributor to the newly published
official biography of Gene Autry, titled “Public Cowboy # 1”.
Les has recorded eighteen albums. He is a member of the Oklahoma Arts Council Touring
Program as well as the Mid-America Arts Alliance based in Kansas City. Some of his
recent noteworthy performances include the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; Silver
Dollar City in Branson, Missouri; The International Country Music Festival in Vienna,
Austria; The Gene Autry Film and Music Festival in Gene Autry, OK; Rex Allen Days
in Wilcox, AZ; Prairieville Farm Days in Michigan; The Bakersfield Opry in California;
Western Music Festival in Tucson, AZ; The Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City; The
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee, OK; and many others.