Notes on the Oklahoma Corridor by Rick Reiley

NOTES

ON THE OKLAHOMA CORRIDOR

with RICK REILEY

The Shawnee Music Trail THE KUPPERS and THE GUITAR VAULT

On West Moses street here in Cushing, at the S.W. corner of Kings Highway, there used to be an historical marker that called attention to the location of what was known as the West Shawnee Cattle Trail. As we all know history has a way of fading from view and that trail marker is gone now. Just like the cattle trail and that particular Cushing/Shawnee connection.

But I recently discovered a more recent Cushing/ Shawnee connection; The Guitar Vault- owned and operated by Tyler and Karly (Murphree) Kupper of Shawnee. The connection? Karly was raised in Cushing and graduated from CHS in 2014.

Tyler and Karly Kupper are the owners and operators of The Guitar Vault in Shawnee, OK.

From info provided the Guitar Vault:

“Tyler was born in Arlington, TX and was raised in Waxahachie, TX. He graduated from Waxahachie High School in 2012 and served in the United States Marine

Corps from 2014-2016. He was medically discharged at 90% disabled and went straight to Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK.

“He graduated from OBU in 2020 with his Bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Business Administration. While at OBU, Tyler met Karly Murphree.

“Karly was born in Grapevine, TX and was raised in Cushing, OK. She graduated from Cushing High School in 2014 and attended Oklahoma Baptist University from 2014 to 2018. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry in 2018. Tyler and Karly married on April 3, 2021.”

Tyler Kupper grew up playing music in his grandfather’s living room. His grandfather, Buster, who led worship at cowboy churches, soon had him playing on big church stages, small church stages as well as in nursing homes spreading the joy of music to those unable to attend traditional gatherings.

At the age of 12 he became a rhythm guitarist transitioning quickly to lead guitar. (I recall when I was 12, I could barely strum a G chord and found it a major challenge to hang onto a guitar pick. Some folks are just naturally gifted and it appears Tyler is one of those!)

Traveling musicians were always passing through & were invited to participate in these Sunday events. Many would end up staying overnight at Buster’s house too. So Tyler grew up around professional musicians and became well seasoned and influenced by these occasions.

He went on to play in several church bands across Texas and Oklahoma. He also served as lead guitarist in Chapel at Oklahoma Baptist University. In addition to currently owning the Guitar Vault he also serves as a fill in musician for bands all across the state.

Karly, on the other hand, did not grow up with such a musical background. That came later in life and is still in the process. But one she has taken to naturally with the assistance, encouragement and tutelage of husband, Tyler.

The two met in college at O.B.U.

While they were in college they began to spend their spare time searching pawn shops and online for old instruments in need of repair. Tyler had much experience in repairing his own instruments and began to put that knowledge to good use.

They then bought a house in 2019 in Shawnee and after filling it with 4 dogs, 150 guitars and a few amplifiers, they decided the next best thing to do was to open a store. So they did. That’s how the Guitar Vault came about. It was opened in Sept. 2020.

Karly’s previous 15 year work experience was focused on customer service and the customer/business end of The Guitar Vault is just her cup of tea.

She is their main instructor and breaking down lesson plans from Tyler’s years of experience into more easily achievable goals is something she is proud of.

Tyler continues to instruct Karly in every instrument that he knows. They currently teach others: Guitar, bass, mandolin, ukulele, piano, violin/fiddle, cello, viola, and upright bass.

From the Kuppers –

“Music plays an important part of their life for different reasons. For Karly, it gives her an outlet to help people. She often says “where words fail, music speaks.” This saying helps her students also when they are going through something hard. Tyler sees music as a way to belong and communicate. It gives him a space to meet people, develop relationships, perform in front of others, and he is building a community with other musicians’.

They also offer consignment options for those with instruments to sell.

They offer lessons with no age range. Young? Old? In the middle? It’s never too late to learn a little if you’re willing. And the first lesson is free!

They are also working with Shawnee area nursing homes to provide their students with opportunities to learn to play in front of live audiences. And for the residents to engage in and enjoy the process of their musical development.

Music plays different roles for different people and it’s always encouraging to see music being enjoyed and promoted to wider audiences. And it’s especially rewarding to see others pick up an instrument for the first time and feel the magic of the possibilities that could emerge.

Sometimes making music is all about the journey. The friendships, the memories made, the shared experiences, the wrong notes, the right notes, the magic when suddenly everyone’s in tune and the energy lifts the heart and the spirit.

An old man I once knew, I’ll call him Teddie, told me that in his youth he was a fiddle player. And a guitar player. He giggled and said, “I was never any good at all, but man I loved to play! And I did! I played anywhere they’d let me! ”

I want to be like Teddie. Now that I think of it perhaps I am!

Maybe you could be like Teddie too! Got an old instrument under the bed gathering dust? In the closet taking up space?

Listen very carefully, it just might be calling your name! Find out more on their Facebook page. Also search for their website online and location on Google Maps. n