Doug Hill, The Norman Transcript Journalist Profile

Articles

A/E: Strong, powerful, fierce and fun

6 days ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

Songs serve as vehicles for a variety of human emotion. Some artists find a songwriting groove where they’re most accomplished and it’s magical. They recognize it and their audiences do too. The songs may be humorous, lovey-dovey or involve personal introspection. Whatever the lyrical theme, when well-written the composition’s authenticity can’t be denied. Tulsa’s Casii Stephan has found her songwriting and live performance groove.
A/E: 2025 Norman Music Festival presents Jabee

1 week ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

In a recent social media message to his friends Jabee Williams opened a conversation that was truly desired by many. He wrote that he didn’t know who needed to hear it, but everything is going to be all right.
A/E: OU scholar Alan Levenson compares scripture to imagery

2 weeks ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

Like most art museums, OU’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art has countless works inspired by Biblical scripture. Compared against the written text these paintings and sculpture are often full of ambiguity. Little children learn that David brought down the giant Goliath using a sling and stone. Possibly the most famous statue of the Jewish shepherd and harpist was completed by Michelangelo in 1504. David is holding a sling over his left shoulder. kAmx? 2 =6DD6C <?@H? D4F=AEFC6 @7 s2G:5 :? ~&’D 4@==64E:@?
A/E: Okies bring talent to 2025 Folk Alliance International

3 weeks ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

Folk Alliance International (FAI) gets an Oklahoma infusion of culture and energy every year at its annual conference. The 2025 event marked its 37th iteration last month at a downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada hotel. FAI is an arts non-profit based in the USA whose mission is to keep the tradition of folk music thriving through preservation, presentation, and promotion. It’s evident from the enthusiasm of those in attendance from around the world that’s a popular undertaking.
A/E: Grounded in Wichita and Affiliated Tribes culture

1 month ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes are unique among Oklahoma’s 38 federally recognized tribes because they were not forced to come here. They have thrived in these central and southern plains since prehistoric times and are still here. The Wichita, Waco, Keechi and Tawakoni tribes became known as People of the Grass House because of the distinctive residential structures they built from perennial Bluestem grass. Tasha R. Mousseau J.D. was born into this proud and productive culture.
A/E: $30 coronet led to international acclaim

1 month ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

It wouldn’t happen this way in the 21st century. What few door to door salespeople there are don’t sell musical instruments. Even fifty or more years ago when they did, not many would have wasted the time for a sales pitch on a 12 year old boy. But that’s what happened in Ada when now distinguished Norman music educator John Clinton was 12 years old.
A/E: Color her ‘Kingdom’ Kelley

1 month ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

A woman’s visage that’s lime green with ruby red lips. Day of Dead style skulls weeping a continuous flow of azure, shocking pink and emerald tears. A medieval sword with bedazzled blade surrounded by a curling wisp of hot pink smoke. Sea green and black crocheted checkerboard with two dozen magenta and violet flower power checkers facing each other in a gentle standoff. One all-seeing enormous red eye with safety vest orange lashes gazing from the center of a skateboard deck.
A/E: Okie by way of Spokane

1 month ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

There’s eighteen hundred long miles between Norman and the Pacific Northwest. The differences geographically and culturally are vast. Norman-based singer/songwriter Desiree Abba aka Desilu grew up in Eastern Washington State’s Spokane near Couer d’ Alene, Idaho.
A/E: Pop culture burnished by Native tradition

2 months ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

Knowledge about Native history and culture is not commonly taught in public schools even here in Indian country. How many are aware that in 1896 the Carlisle Indian School’s inaugural football team was robbed of a victory over the mighty Yale Bulldogs by one referee’s bad call. Possibly even fewer know that often little Native children are warned by their mothers to behave or Deer Woman will get them. She’s a righteous revenge figure in Native lore.
A/E: A decade of Norman hip hop

2 months ago | normantranscript.com | Doug Hill

Late last year marked thirty years on the planet for Norman rapper Shawn Reidy II. For the last ten of those he has been making music, recording it and performing live here and around the nation. During that time he hasn’t just been focused solely on his own career. Reidy is a hip hop artist who touches other people’s lives in a variety of ways. His fans are moved by his words and rhymes that touch on some of life’s most difficult challenges.