Les Gilliam

"The Oklahoma Balladeer"

Les Gilliam 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. In 2005, Les received the Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City for his album “It’s Time to Sing a Song”. The Wrangler is considered to be the most prestigious award in western music. Les has been voted one of the top five male performers in western music by the Western Music Association. He was recently included in a new book “Distinguished Oklahomans”.   He is currently based in Ponca City, Oklahoma and entertains both as a solo act and with his band, The Silver Lake Band.

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. Attending the wedding of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans there in Oklahoma, and later becoming friends with both Rex Allen, Sr. and Jr. as well as Johnnie Western and Roy Rogers, Jr. further deepened Les’s love for cowboy 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.

While growing up in Oklahoma, Les also fell in love with western swing music. In those days, they would tune in on the radio to hear Bob Wills, his brother Johnnie Lee Wills, Leon McAuliff, or the Light Crust Doughboys. And later when TV came in, they would watch Hank Thompson and his Brazos Valley Boys.

Les has recorded ten albums as well as two videos. He is a member of the Oklahoma Arts Council Touring Program as well as the Heartland 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. He has entertained with some of the top names in Western Music including Riders in the Sky, Rex Allen, Jr., Roy Rogers, Jr., Johnny Western, Don Edwards, Red Steagall and the Sons of the Pioneers. He has been featured with many top Country Music Acts including Johnny Cash, Bill Anderson, Hank Thompson, Sonny James, Cal Smith, Billy Parker, Jack Green, Jan Howard, Jett Williams, and others.
 

Les’ concerts of cowboy, country and/or gospel music include fascinating stories about the songs and the artists who performed them. His country dances feature great western swing music and fun activities for the audience. He always includes original songs and humorous material, adding a touch of nostalgia and good ole fashion patriotism.