Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture to Display Collection of Items Featuring Legendary Musician Leon Russell

The OKPOP Museum will be a 75,000-square-foot, four-story building dedicated to the creative spirit of Oklahoma's people and their influence on popular culture around the world. The theme of the museum will be "Crossroads of Creativity" in the fields of music, film, television, theatre, pop art, comic books, literature or humor.

"The Oklahoma Historical Society has 32 museums and historic sites in Oklahoma, but none of the museums and sites are in Tulsa," Bartlett said. "The OKPOP Museum is the perfect project for the city of Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma, and we need both private and public partners to work together to make this museum a reality."

In order for the museum to become a reality, the Oklahoma Legislature must approve a $42.5 million bond issue. It will be located in the Brady Arts District of Tulsa. Bank of Oklahoma has offered to donate a 90,000-square-foot block of land, contingent on the authorization of the bond issue and the construction of an adjoining parking garage by OHS. George Kaiser Family Foundation has committed a $1 million challenge grant to raise funds for the museum.

Born in Lawton, Okla., Russell began his musical career in Tulsa before moving to Los Angeles, Calif. He has worked in a variety of musical genres as a songwriter, collaborator, performing and recording artist. He has performed and collaborated with other notable artists throughout his career, including George Harrison, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. His song, "This Masquerade," won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1976, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

With approval of the bond issue, the OKPOP Museum could open as early as 2017.

SOURCE George Kaiser Family Foundation