WRITING

Along with being out there as a songwriter since his first release with Slapout in 2005,
Hugh Foley has an extensive commercial, creative, historic, and scholarly writing
background.

Like many developing writers, his first focus was journalism in college, where he was
the editor of the student newspaper, The Open Door, at DeKalb College in Clarkston,
Georgia while also working for NBC News in Atlanta. While at New York University, he
focused on creative writing, especially poetry, and won the Raymond Ford Poetry Prize
presented by Avon Books in 1987. While at NYU, he also served as the poetry editor of
the student literary journal, The Minetta Review, and later as the poetry editor for
Cooweescoowee, the journal of arts and letters at Rogers State University in
Claremore, OK.

After moving to Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1993 to work on his Ph.D., Foley began writing
more scholarly work, contributing to multiple encyclopedias, journals, books of essays,
and, finally, his own books, Oklahoma Music Guide and Oklahoma Route 66 Music
Guide. Oklahoma Music Guide is considered the go-to source for information about
Oklahoma’s music history and has been quoted many times in local and national media.
Most recently, he wrote historical markers for the Merle Haggard Statue in Muskogee,
Oklahoma and for the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame to commemorate the song, “Okie
from Muskogee.” He also wrote and assembled text for markers of significant musical
figures for the Stillwater Music Walk of Fame at Block 34 in Stillwater.
He continues working on the revision and update of the next edition of Oklahoma Music Guide.

Selected Bibliography

Book: Oklahoma Music Guide III (New Forums Press, 2021). (In Revision)
Encyclopedia Entries: “Jim Halsey,” “DC Minner,” “Hanson,” “Bob Bogle,” “Nokie
Edwards,” “Jimmy Nolen” for Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (Oklahoma
Historical Society, 2016 -2019)
Magazine: Route 66 Arts and Entertainment Magazine (Sept. 2019) “Current State of
Red Dirt Music”
Book Chapter: “Shifting Perspectives: American Indian Children’s Literature,” Childrens
YA Books in the College Classroom, edited by Emily Dial Driver, et al. (McFarland,
2015)
Book Review: “Arapaho Stories, Songs, and Prayers: A Bilingual Anthology” by Andrew
Cowell. Published in Chronicles of Oklahoma, Volume XCIII, 2, Summer 2015.

Magazine Essay: “Oklahoma’s Impact on American Roots Music” Oklahoma Humanities
Magazine (2013).
Encyclopedia Entry (EE): “The Music of Route 66,” Music and American Culture, (ABC-
Clio, 2013).
Book Chapter: “From Bliss to Barking Water,” Oklahoma at the Movies (Oklahoma
History Center, 2012)
Essay: “Thinkin’ About Woody: Woody Guthrie’s legacy in 2012” – Oklahoma Gazette,
Vol. 34, No. 8, 7/11/2012
EEs: “Dust Bowl,” “Governments, Tribal,” “American Indian Movement,” “John E.
Echohawk,” “Oklahoma” (sidebar): “Black Towns and Civil Rights,” “Chief Illiniwek”, and
“UND Fighting Sioux” entries for Encylcopedia of Politics of the American West (CQ
Press, 2012)
EEs: “Caddo,” “Huron,” “Iowa,” “Modoc,” “Pawnee,” “Ponca,” “Kiowa,” and “Muscogee
(Creek)” entries for Native Peoples of the World (Mesa Verde: San Marcos, CA, 2011)
Book Chapter: “History of the Electric Guitar in Oklahoma” – Another Hot Oklahoma
Night (OHS, 2009).
EE: “Oklahoma Tribal Literature.” Encylopedia of American Indian Literature (CQ Press,
2012).
EEs: “Chitto Harjo,” “Leaford Bearskin,” “Muskogean Language,” “Baptist Church.”
Encyclopedia of American Indian History (ABC-CLIO: Santa Barbara, CA, 2007).
Instructor’s Resource Manual for music appreciation textbook: The World of Music
(McGraw-Hill, 2007).
EEs: Wrote entries for actors and actresses Rue McClanahan, Vera Miles, Dale
Robertson, Dan Rowan, Wes Studi, Alfre Woodard, and director Blake Edwards.
Musical entries for The GAP Band, Bob Dunn, Leon Russell, Barney Kessel, JJ Cale,
Patti Page, Chet Baker, Lowell Fulson, Elvin Bishop, and the subject entry for “Blues in
Oklahoma.” Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. (Oklahoma Historical
Society, 2007).
EEs: “Steely Dan,” “Velvet Underground,” “Lou Reed,” “Ramones,” “Duane Eddy,”
“10,000 Maniacs & Natalie Merchant,” The Encyclopedia of New York State: (Syracuse:
Syracuse UP, 2007).
Book: Oklahoma Route 66 Music Guide. New Forums Press, Stillwater, OK, 2004, (2nd
edition, 2005).

EE: “Atoka Agreement (1897)” for Encyclopedia of Native American Treaties. (ABC-
CLIO: Santa Barbara, CA. 2004.
Book: Oklahoma Music Guide. New Forums Press, Stillwater, OK, 2003.
Book Chapter: From Stomp Dances to Dew Songs: American Indian Music in Oklahoma
at the Turn of the 21st Century.” Sounds of People and Places. 3rd ed. Rowan and
Littlefield Press, 2003.
EEs: Entries for “Nirvana,” “Red Hot Chili Peppers,” “Kool and the Gang,” “Blondie,”
“Earth, Wind and Fire,” “? Mark and the Mysterians,” “Prince,” and “Alternative Music, ”
for Encyclopedia of US Popular Culture. (Bowling Green: Popular Press, 2001).
Map of Oklahoma-Born Musicians. (Muskogee: Friends of Oklahoma Music, 2000).
Transcribed Interview: “Down Home Blues with DC and Selby Minner.” Living Blues.
May/June, 1998. (#139).
Recorded Interview: Pete Townshend: An Eye for an Eye (Atlantic Records Promotional
Disc, 1989)

Creative Writing Publications

Poem: “Waiting for Willie,” Western Carolina University Literary Journal. Fall, 2005.
Poem: “Up to the Door and Endlessly Knocking.” Pisgah Review, Spring, 2005.
Poem: “Poetry Reading on a Football Saturday.” Flint Hills Review. Fall, 2002.
Poem: “Ship Talk.” Blue Collar Review. Fall, 2001.
Poem, Salt Fork Review. Fall 2000.
Poem. “Disjointed July.” Midland Review, 1997.
Two poems, Phoenix, 1997.
Poem, The Santa Fe Sun, 1996.
Two poems: “After My Mother-In-Law Recites ‘Invictus’ While Holding Our New Son” &
“Dollars and No Sense.” Midland Review, 1995.
One Poem: “Faith Bites the Dust.” Polluted Poems: An Anthology of Environmental
Poetry, 1994.
Two poems: “Morning Behind the Jalousies” & “The Last Letter.” Midland Review, 1994.
Poem, “Sermon at Clear Creek.” Santa Clara Review, 1992.
Poem: “Sight of Blood.” Toad Highway, 1992.

Poem: “Fulton Fish Market, 5 a.m.” Without Halos, 1992.
Poem: “Saw Your Cervix Tonight.” Kumquat Meringue, 1992.
Poem: “Dots and Dashes.” Lucidity, 1991.
Poem: “Summer Session.” Ark, 1990
Two Poems: “Vacancy” & “Nursery.” Minetta Review, 1987.
One Poem: “News Hooks.” The DeKalb Literary Arts Journal, Summer/Fall, 1986.