The Poncan Opry returns to the stage at the Poncan Theatre Saturday, September 11 at 7:30 pm for the 1st show of second half of the 2010 season. The Poncan Opry is northern Oklahoma’s version of Branson style entertainment with music, comedy and ventriloquism all together in a family friendly show. The Poncan Opry features professional musicians and seasoned entertainers as well as a few budding talents thrown in. Each month the Poncan Opry offers a unique show with an ever-changing lineup of guest talent, all backed up by the Poncan Opry All-Star Band, a large professional show band along with four back up vocalists and singers.

The Poncan Opry All-Star Band consists of Dale Eisenhauer (rhythm guitar), Bucky Fowler (lead guitar), Bill Brown (bass), Rob Loren (fiddle), Kurt Graber (steel), Chuck Case (drums), Kathy Brown (vocalist), Kristine Saner (vocalist), Kelcy Mohr (vocalist), and Karla Fowler (vocalist).

This month’s guest talent is Les Gilliam "The Oklahoma Balladeer", Sherry Wheatley, and April Warren.

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. He was recently included in a new book “Distinguished Oklahomans”.

Les’ concerts of cowboy, western swing, 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.

In his career, Gilliam has recorded 16 albums and 2 videos. Of all his work, one of Gilliam's personal favorites was his album titled "Memories of TV Westerns," a collection of various hits from both Hollywood and radio Western songs, including the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans classic "Happy Trails," as well as "Bonanza," "Rawhide" and of course, the Gene Autry hit "Back in The Saddle."

His other personal favorite was an album he composed as a tribute to Autry, the greatest of all singing cowboys. "I Remember Gene" contains many of the Autry favorites, such as "Mexicali Rose" and "Yellow Rose of Texas." His favorite Gene Autry song is "Blue Canadian Rockies."

Now Ponca City's Own 'Oklahoma Balladeer' will soon be awarded by being inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Les Gilliam, the official "Oklahoma Balladeer," will join three other musicians at the 14th annual Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 4, at the Muskogee Civic Center.

Gilliam cites his upcoming induction as one of the highlights of his career but he is no stranger to winning awards. In 2005, Gilliam was awarded the coveted "Wrangler" award, the most prestigious award in Western music, for his album "It's Time to Sing a Song." In 2006 he earned a nomination to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame as well as the Governor's Arts Award. In 2008, he earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Gene Autry Museum in his hometown and his picture and profile are listed in the book "Distinguished Oklahomans" by Victoria Lee.

When inducted, Gilliam will join a line of past inductees, including Vince Gill, Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, Leona Mitchell, Roy Clark, Woodie Guthrie, Carrie Underwood and Gilliam's own Western inspiration, Gene Autry. The other three members of the Hall of Fame's Class of 2010 include Sam Harris, Jamie Oldaker and Jean Shepard.

He has performed at many noteworthy locations such as The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo., the Gene Autry Film and Music Festival in Gene Autry, Rex Allen Days in Wilcox, Ariz., the Bakersfield Opry in California, the Western Music Festival in Tucson, Ariz., the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, the International Music Festival in Vienna, Austria and right here in Ponca's own Poncan Theatre.

Gilliam's performances are known for their wonderful mix of cowboy, Western swing, country and gospel music, along with fascinating stories about the songs and the artists that performed them. He includes original songs and humorous material and always adds a touch of nostalgia and patriotism.

Sherry Wheatley from Ardmore, OK remembers church as the beginning of a lifetime commitment to music. A Sunday school pianist since age 12, Sherry was also usually called upon to sing a special almost every Sunday morning.

In high School, Sherry was the lead singer in the gospel band “The Believers”.

During college, Sherry began performing at various Opry houses in Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, and Nashville. She became a regular guest on The Johnny High Show, the Louisiana Hayride, the Yellow Rose, the Oil Patch Jamboree, Jollyville Opry, and many others.

The Oklahoma Opry became a second home for Sherry during this time. She was one of the Opry Angels for a summer. In 1984, Sherry was voted the Oklahoma Opry Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year.

Sherry was selected from thousands of applicants to appear on the Nashville Network’s “You Can Be a Star” television show. Making it to the semi-finals (top 4) was a dream come true.

It was also here where Sherry met and has an amazing memory of time spent with Porter Wagner and Whisperin’ Bill Anderson. Mae Axton invited Sherry to a special visit and encouraged her to always pursue her career.

During the past five years, Sherry has been a member of the house band for The Washington Theatre Music Revue in Ardmore, Oklahoma, serving as backup singer as well as lead vocals. The genre spans classic country, fifties, gospel, classic rock, and new country.

Being privileged to meet great artists, Sherry has had the opportunity to open for such performers as Joe Stampley, T.G. Shepherd, Chubby Checker, Shelly West, and Shenandoah.

In the past year, Sherry has been able to fulfill a life-long dream of making a CD of some of her favorite musical selections.

She will always remember being at the Opry shows and being the “young one” that the older female singers encouraged and helped so much. She hopes that she can be that same encouragement for the “young ones” of today.”

April Warren, from right here in Ponca City, works at Air System Component, running a 90 ton break press, she enjoys riding her motorcycle and singing whenever and wherever she gets a chance.

She has competed going all the way in state karaoke competitions. She has even had the opportunity in being in the movie "Eye of Go" and in the movie "Twister"; her part in "Twister" was used later in a music video.