Founded May 8, 2009
BuzzFest, how did we get here? What started out as two life-long friends Jimmy Music and Michael Gibbens planning a small get together has come along way. Early 2009, Jimmy was traveling across the country and Michael was living in the San Francisco when they decided "let's call a few of our childhood friends (15 or so) and all meet in Tulsa at the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Resort".
We were completely shocked when over 80 of our friends showed up during the evening. Since then, we've grown to an annual party expecting more than 300 in attendance for 2014 from Eugene Oregon, West Palm Beach, Milwaukee, Chicago, Southern California, Kansas City, Dallas and Houston.
Our event has became known as "THE Hale Party" which now approaches 450 former students of Tulsa Nathan Hale High School attending and golfing every Mother's Day weekend!
BuzzFest got its name similar to that of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd; a mocking fun tribute to classmate and friend Karen Busby Thomson coming to Oklahoma all the way from Oregon when she heard of our get together.
Our annual golf tournament started as a group of old buddies in 09 (Paul Coury, Chris Jackson, Curtis Wiesman, Ted Andress and Michael Gibbens). In 2012 and 2013 we had 96 golfers with 18 sponsors donating gifts and prizes for all participants to help fund our event and ensure continued success!
Also in 2012 and 2013,Tom Dittus (Class of 76) hosted our event at his renowned joint, Blue Rose nestled in Tulsa's River Parks. Great food. Cold Beer. Live Music. Musical guests included the Soul'D Out Trio and Barrett Collins Band featuring Rick Huskey (Class of 79) and JDG (formerly Pegasus and Lion Tamers) featuring David Chapman and Jim Dittus (Class of 79), Kelly "Thumper" Real, (Class of 80) and Brian Garrett (Class of 75). On the Elwoods stage we had Wayne Garner and the Smokin' Okies playing all night long followed by the Black Kat Benders featuring Bruce Jones and Bob Bledsoe (Class of 79) and Blair Raguse (Class of 77).
In 2013, we lost our dear friend and co-founder Jimmy Music. RIP Jimmy
During the Summer of 2013, we also lost lifelong friends Barbara "Barb" Dexter Richardson and Mark "ETB" Montanes. One of the most difficult Summer's for all our friends of BuzzFest. They will all three be forever missed and loved. Much buzz...
As we continue to grow annually, we moved BuzzFest5ive back to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino where we held a Jimmy Music Jr. Scholorship fundraising and the Barbara Richardson Memorial BuzzFest Golf Tournament with over 120 golfers/volunteers and friends filling up the course at Cherokee Hills and our biggest BuzzFest to date!
We're getting so big, Bob Dylan is playing BuzzFest6; well, he's playing the Joint Saturday May 9th, maybe he'll stop by and ask "How does it feel?"
Thanks to everyone for making the beginning of each May special.
Much Buzz and cheers!
We were completely shocked when over 80 of our friends showed up during the evening. Since then, we've grown to an annual party expecting more than 300 in attendance for 2014 from Eugene Oregon, West Palm Beach, Milwaukee, Chicago, Southern California, Kansas City, Dallas and Houston.
Our event has became known as "THE Hale Party" which now approaches 450 former students of Tulsa Nathan Hale High School attending and golfing every Mother's Day weekend!
BuzzFest got its name similar to that of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd; a mocking fun tribute to classmate and friend Karen Busby Thomson coming to Oklahoma all the way from Oregon when she heard of our get together.
Our annual golf tournament started as a group of old buddies in 09 (Paul Coury, Chris Jackson, Curtis Wiesman, Ted Andress and Michael Gibbens). In 2012 and 2013 we had 96 golfers with 18 sponsors donating gifts and prizes for all participants to help fund our event and ensure continued success!
Also in 2012 and 2013,Tom Dittus (Class of 76) hosted our event at his renowned joint, Blue Rose nestled in Tulsa's River Parks. Great food. Cold Beer. Live Music. Musical guests included the Soul'D Out Trio and Barrett Collins Band featuring Rick Huskey (Class of 79) and JDG (formerly Pegasus and Lion Tamers) featuring David Chapman and Jim Dittus (Class of 79), Kelly "Thumper" Real, (Class of 80) and Brian Garrett (Class of 75). On the Elwoods stage we had Wayne Garner and the Smokin' Okies playing all night long followed by the Black Kat Benders featuring Bruce Jones and Bob Bledsoe (Class of 79) and Blair Raguse (Class of 77).
In 2013, we lost our dear friend and co-founder Jimmy Music. RIP Jimmy
During the Summer of 2013, we also lost lifelong friends Barbara "Barb" Dexter Richardson and Mark "ETB" Montanes. One of the most difficult Summer's for all our friends of BuzzFest. They will all three be forever missed and loved. Much buzz...
As we continue to grow annually, we moved BuzzFest5ive back to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino where we held a Jimmy Music Jr. Scholorship fundraising and the Barbara Richardson Memorial BuzzFest Golf Tournament with over 120 golfers/volunteers and friends filling up the course at Cherokee Hills and our biggest BuzzFest to date!
We're getting so big, Bob Dylan is playing BuzzFest6; well, he's playing the Joint Saturday May 9th, maybe he'll stop by and ask "How does it feel?"
Thanks to everyone for making the beginning of each May special.
Much Buzz and cheers!
