FLASH SITE 


2005

Formed in 1969, OKOLONA melds three decades of country music legacy into a classic roots sound that is at once honky tonk, rock-a-billy, country rock, with a strong tinge of blues. OKOLONA has finished production on their tenth CD, Made From Scratch, a compilation of in your face original music that reflects their history as a leading regional country music band. 

Spawned in the same south Atlanta honky tonk tradition that produced Jerry Reed, Roy Druskey, Pete Drake, and other Atlanta country music legends; OKOLONA provides a driving show that is pure Americana. 

OKOLONA has been seasoned by years of club performance and has headlined regional venues such as the McIntosh Opry and Wiregrass Opry. Performing for a crowd of thousands, in clubs, or live on regional radio, OKOLONA exudes energy and enthusiasm that connects with the audience immediately. 

Their songs include evocative ballads such as Take Me Back to Good Old Days Again, honky tonk anthems such as Hello Bottle, and swing tinged Nobody Knows the Trouble I’m In. OKOLONA is ready to impart a walking, talking honky tonk history lesson any time and is truly world class. Read more about OKOLONA on the news page.

In the history of country music, the blending of diverse ethnic influences has sometimes created entirely new genres.  Bill Monroe melded southern mountain music with African American blues and the gospel music heard in his youth to give the world Bluegrass.  Bob Wills blended New Orleans jazz, big band swing, and Texas fiddle: so was born Western Swing. 

Now, in the wake of the departure of their former bassist and good friend Osama Kheir, it just may be OKOLONA's turn. Ready for this? From Chicago’s southside, welcome sisters Linda Malone and Joy Malone. 

Linda, a vocalist raised on the likes of Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, and Nina Simone, has performed in both rock and jazz ensembles.  She’s got the total improvisational ability of a  pure jazz singer to take apart melodies and recreate them in exciting new levels of over-the-top energy. With many of the same musical influences, Joy adds an amazingly rich vocal harmony. She’s a gifted natural artist on the bass guitar, too. 

Uh--WOW. What a high-energy musical collision this is: OKOLONA's raw honky-tonk country and Linda and Joy’s slick, urbane Chicago jazz/rock. Now is formerly good-ole-boy OKOLONA not only sexually but culturally and ethnically diverse!  For a country music band, it’s incredibly rare if not  just, well, downright unprecedented. First reports by OKOLONA insiders have been wildly effusive with praise for the new sound. 

Now with a few month's innovation, they have it all under control. Now they’ll be back (again)  with more energy than ever before. And more importantly with a unique new sound that blends the jazz/rock of diverse cultures and experience with honky-tonk roots.  Hold onto your seats and rejoice.  Booking info.

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