Composer and co-playwright, Becky Hobbs, fifth-great granddaughter of Nancy Ward, Beloved Woman of the Cherokee, was born and raised in Bartlesville, OK.  She started writing songs at nine years of age, and started her own all-girl rock band in high school.  She went to Tulsa University for one year, played in a southern rock band in Baton Rouge, LA for two years, then spent nine years in Los Angeles, writing songs and playing the honkytonk circuit.

“Country music’s best kept secret,” is how People Magazine’s Ralph Novak, describes Becky.  The “Beckaroo,” as she is called by her friends, has had over 20 chart singles/albums, including “Jones on the Jukebox” and Billboard Top Ten duet with Moe Bandy, Let’s Get Over Them Together.  She has written songs for Alabama, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Emmylou Harris, John Anderson, Janie Fricke, Lacy J. Dalton, Ken Mellons, Shelly West, Helen Reddy, Shirley Bassey, Jane Oliver, and more.  Her co-written “Angels Among Us” (recorded by Alabama), has raised money for many charities throughout the world, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Becky lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, guitarist/producer Duane Sciacqua.  She continues to tour, and has performed in over forty countries around the world, including nine in Africa.  From her piano-pounding rockers, to her heartfelt ballads, she has entertained people from all walks of life.  Becky is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.  ---Photograph by Mike Peterson

Gary White, Business and Production Planning ManagerGary provides business and production management assistance for the NANYEHI project. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Wolf Clan, having roots derived from both sides of his family, originally from Adair County, Oklahoma. Gary is active in numerous volunteer organizations both within and outside of the CN including the State Trail of Tears Association, the Goingsnake District Heritage Association as well as being an associate of the Descendants of Nancy Ward Association, among other activities. He also performs volunteer work on environmental issues within and outside of the CN; he is a certified Oklahoma Master Naturalist Volunteer. He has served in several executive capacities in the Oil and Gas industry and remains active as a consultant. He is a graduate of the University of Tulsa and a U.S. Air Force Veteran. Gary and his wife, Barbara, live on a ranch in Mayes County, Oklahoma.

 

Production and Business Associate, Sammye Walton, was born and raised in Coffeyville, Kansas and is currently residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she manages a global technology organization.  It was during her studies at Belmont University in Nashville, TN that she first met Becky Hobbs and “learned the ropes” of the Music Business while working for Becky’s publishing company, Beckaroo Music.   Since then, Sammye has gone onto work in the technology industry, but never lost her love of the arts.  She is currently the mother of a six-year-old daughter, Tumaini, and actively involved in Leadership Tulsa and human rights advocacy. 

Assistant to the Director, Nick Sweet, Peggy Ritter, has been dancing, singing and acting on stage since age four.  She got an early education in the Oklahoma University Children's Theater and has been performing most of her life.  Peggy took a 15 year hiatus from theatre to become an RN and finish raising her five children.  Since returning to the stage, she has been featured in numerous productions with her most recent leads being in Arsenic and Old Lace and All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (musical version).  Currently Peggy is Assistant to director/playwright, Nick Sweet.  Both she and Nick make their home theatre at the Poncan Theatre in Ponca City, OK.