Amplify: Edmond Historical Society & Museum presents the new exhibit, Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road: America’s Musical Ambassadors, from May 2 thru Dec 31, 2022
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- June 14, 2022
About Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road
Kyle Dillingham, who has performed in 41 different countries and on the Grand Old Opry stage, is known as America’s Violin Wizard. He can play with soul-wrenching passion or electrifying speed––even while riding on a skateboard!
Dillingham’s band, Horseshoe Road, includes Peter Markes and Brent Saulsbury. Together, they perform a blend of music that includes jazz, country, swing, gospel and rock, which they call ‘Heartland Americana.’ Horseshoe Road, formed in 2005, has shared the stage with country legends and pop superstars, performing throughout the world as musical ambassadors representing Oklahoma.
Exhibit Details
Edmond Historical Society & Museum is proud to present America’s first full exhibit dedicated to Kyle Dillingham, Peter Markes and Bent Saulsbury. This exhibit explores the musical expression of these three performers through their lives, travels and vast repertoire of music.
Highlights of artifacts on loan include concert and tour memorabilia from Horseshoe Road, the first musical instrument of each band member, handwritten scores and recordings, Dillingham’s purple performance suit designed by Manuel Cuevas, and Dillingham’s skateboard. Dillingham headlined on the Grand Ole Opry, July 24, 2019. He entered the stage on his skateboard. Spinning a perfect 360° circle, he stopped, raised his fiddle in one hand and hoisted his skateboard into the air with the other—revealing the image of Dolly Parton on the bottom!
Dillingham, Markes and Saulsbury toured the exhibit for the first time on April 30th, sharing stories and memories about the artifacts on display. The video is available on YouTube on the Edmond Historical Society page, titled “Exhibit Tour with Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road”
Kick-Off Concert
The Grand Opening of the exhibit included a kick-off concert on April 30th by Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road. The musicians presented a sampling of musical styles, performing best loved gospels music such as Amazing Grace and folk favorite, Orange Blossom Special. Peter performed his original piece, I Have a Dream. Brent Saulsbury plugged his electric guitar into a Marshall amp in the exhibit and played a hard rock tune.
Mayor Darrell Davis presented a proclamation declaring April 30, 2022 as “Kyle Dillingham, Peter Markes and Brent Saulsbury Day” in Edmond, Oklahoma. Dr. Bob Blackburn, historian, spoke on Oklahoma’s musical legacy, and sketch artists, D.G. Smalling and Jerry Bennett were invited as special guests, because their original portraits of the band members are showcased in the exhibit. Instead of a traditional ribbon cutting, a “guitar string cutting” was conducted to ceremonially open the exhibit to the public.
A short video* of the concert highlights is available on YouTube on the Edmond Historical Society page, titled “Homa the Fiddle” or the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP6BZWqE_GA&t=3s
*Videos were made possible by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council.
Upcoming
A variety of events with Dillingham, Markes and Saulsbury are being planned during the year. Details will be released on EdmondHistory.org as they develop.
Museum Information:
Edmond Historical Society & Museum is open 10:00-5:00 Tuesday – Friday and 1-4:00 Saturday. Please visit the museum website at www.EdmondHistory.org
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