By Travina Coleman
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) — While Rollin’ Phattys has labeled itself Red Dirt music’s stepchild, they have a sound all their own.
“We’re just a bunch of country boys who like to rock,” said Jeffrey Parker of Tahlequah, guitarist for the band.
Caught between rock blended with blues the band’s music is influenced from more of an Austin perspective.
“We have a ride range of influences from Louisiana to Texas,” Parker said.
Rollin’ Phattys is based out of Tulsa.
The band’s set list features some “phat” original tunes as well as renditions of blues and rock covers from artists like Eric Clapton, J.J. Cale, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Delbert McClinton, and great Southern rock from the Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule and Marshall Tucker Band.
“We play it all,” Parker said. “We’ve been doing this for a long time and we love it.”
Parker, originally from Newkirk, said his musical roots go as far back as his birth.
“My dad was a drummer and a member of a barbershop quartet. My mother was an elementary music teacher in Moore. His mother, Julia Ann Parker, of Norman taught Toby Keith when he was in school, Parker said.
The Phattys’ band members helped frame the Red Dirt music scene in Stillwater from the ground up, Parker said.
“We were there during the beginning of the Red Dirt music thing in Stillwater in the mid-’90s,” he said. “It was quite a scene back in those days.”
They worked in the studio and on the road with artists like The Hickodelics, Tom Skinner and Farmboy, Bob Childers, Medicine Show, Red Dirt Rangers, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland, The Great Divide and others.
“I taught guitar at Daddy O’s in Stillwater,” he said. “I taught Cody Canada from Cross, Jason Boland, and Nick Wheeler, who is with the All-American Rejects. Nick is a really sweet kid. I had him from sixth grade all the way through high school. I go to his shows and he always says thank you.”
Since the band got back together in July of 2007, they found a surprise with newest member Dixie Weathers.
“Dixie is a really gifted musician,” Parker said. “She was originally supposed to be temporary, but now she is just one of the guys. But she’s much prettier than any of us.”
With more than 35 years of musical experience, Parker said great things are happening fast for the band.
“Everything is great,” he said. “Our first order of CDs have just about sold out. The sales are primarily European. They have a huge interest in American roots music. They eat it up.”
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