Louisiana’s Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, on behalf of the Louisiana Office of Tourism, and The Oxford American Magazine have partnered to present five Louisiana Soundtrack Experience events around the state.  The inaugural event, “From Elvis to Hank to Johnny: Celebrating 65 years of the Louisiana Hayride,” will take place Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport.

It will begin with a 2 p.m. panel discussion moderated by Alex Rawls, guest editor of The Oxford American Magazine. Speakers for the discussion will include blues/southern soul expert and historian Ron Hardy, musician and music history enthusiast Dan Garner, radio host and Murco Records recording artist Eddie Giles, The Louisiana Hayride Band’s Maggie Warwick, concert promoter and former DJ Ken Shepherd, and Dirtfoot vocalist J. Bratlie.

The panel discussion will be followed at 4 p.m. by a showing of the Louisiana Public Broadcasting film Sunshine by the Stars, highlighting the history of Louisiana music.

At 7 p.m., the concert will begin with opening act Dirtfoot, followed by a special tribute to Frank Page, famed announcer for the Louisiana Hayride. The Hayride, popular between 1948 and 1960, was a CBS radio music broadcast on KWKH and launched the careers of stars like Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Sr. and Johnny Horton.

The headline performance of the evening is the Louisiana Hayride Band featuring Maggie Warwick and special guests.

“From Elvis to Hank to Johnny: Celebrating 65 years of the Louisiana Hayride” is free to the public.