Straight Shooter, a country and rock band from Oklahoma was formed in July 1996 by the Duggins Brothers.

They played small clubs until they got their first break and landed the house band job at the Cimmaron a country show case in Oklahoma City . Playing there they entertained as many 1500 people a week with their shows , humor and original music. Wanda Jackson ( Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ) spent her birthday there watching the guys just like the half million others who came from all over the country every week for seven years.

After releasing a successful CD the band hit the road playing venues all over the southwestern united states. They are still based out of Oklahoma City ands still going strong.

The band consists of some pretty impressive musicians,

Dr. Bud Kurtz is a professor at OCU and sings lead and plays guitar and mandolin. A prolific recording artist Bud has shared the stage with members of the Blues Brothers, BB Kings Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top and countless well known Texas and Oklahoma musicians. He has a three octave range and sings songs most bands can’t. He is also a virtuoso guitar player and the bands rock and roll guitar god.

Mike Duggins is a medical technician and plays acoustic guitar, keyboards and sings lead .Jim and Mike Duggins have been playing music since they were old enough to stand, and trace deep musical roots to their cousin the great music star, Conway Twitty. Mike has a smooth baritone voice that gives an authentic flavor to the country songs he sings and adds a bottom to the bands three part harmonies. He may know the words to every country song ever written .

Charlie “Hotrod” Hutson plays drums and percussion Charlie has been a DJ for KEBC and has drummed for many top bands throughout the years. Charlie is the bands engine and probably it’s hardest working member. He arrives early and is the last to leave. If you have a problem he is the fixer. He is also a great announcer with a DJ voice if needed.

Dave Tichenor has played behind many well known artists and is a member of the Oklahoma Porsche Club. He probably drives too fast but his bass playing is right on time. Dave has a huge voice and sings rock like it was meant to be sung.

Jim Duggins has a degree in pharmacy from SWOSU. He plays lead guitar and sings back up. He is a country picker with no equal. Jim is in a state of semi-retirement from performing but continues to play a few gigs and does the booking and scheduling. Call him to book the band and to talk with a musical treasure.

Airplay:

The band continues to be noticed in the US. And Disc Jockeys who have heard the bands CD have been impressed. One Norman Talk show host has been playing some cuts from the CD and Al Escbach plays the Beer Song from time to time on the Spots Animal They have been featured on Twang Town USA out of Nashville, Nitewolf Radio in Wisconsin and Music Spotlight in California. The cd has received rave reviews from Linda Fryer, BMI and songwriter, Downeast Records and Deborah Minters, Australia.

The bands original songs are solid and there are more in the box waiting to be released. Cuts from the CD go over so well with live crowds that one local bar owner said that Straight Shooter is the most played CD on the juke box.

The Beer Song:

It all got started when the band played a few cuts written by singer / songwriter Bud at a live gig. Three different people the band had never met offered to pay for the studio time if they would record their original music. One song “the Beer Song” a story about a group of guys who just came to drink beer is a particular favorite.

Band Quotes: It makes me feel good that ……….

“We have done interviews with radio stations playing our stuff all over Europe “.

“The Oklahoma Country Music Association” and The Oklahoma OPRY asked us to serve house band duties and to back up other talented Oklahoma bands. “

” At a recent concert in Noble for around 2000 people the band played 5 songs not even on their play list including one, we had never done before.”

A Crowd Pleasing Band

During the show Bud loves to flip picks to kids in the crowd. Straight Shooter is always willing to pose for pictures or sign a copy of their CD or a poster. They work hard to please and people appreciate their enthusiasm. After each show they shake each other’s hands and say goodnight after a rendition of Happy Trails. They are a bunch of good old boys who care about people. In the near future the band intends to keep gigging and they have been approached about doing a European tour. Eventually they will be releasing their new cd “Shake Your Country”.