The Queen of Rockabilly: Wanda LaVonne Jackson
Presentation Type
Presentation
Presentation Topic
Women's History, Music, Rockabilly, Gender, Individual history
Start Date
6-3-2026 10:10 AM
Event Sort Order
12
Abstract
The rockabilly genre of music from the 1950s often centered on male icons, marginalizing the contributions of females like Wanda Jackson who had to carve space out for themselves in rock n roll. The presentation examines how Jackson navigated her career, performance norms, and cultural expectations while maintaining creative agency. Through analysis of her recordings, public image, and career trajectory, a pattern of resilience begins to appear. Wanda Jackson negotiated and challenged what it meant to be a female artist in the rock industry, defining what it meant to be feminine. By telling a story like Wanda Jackson’s, the presentation expands the understanding of gender and music history, as well as showing how much women can shape an industry.
The Queen of Rockabilly: Wanda LaVonne Jackson
The rockabilly genre of music from the 1950s often centered on male icons, marginalizing the contributions of females like Wanda Jackson who had to carve space out for themselves in rock n roll. The presentation examines how Jackson navigated her career, performance norms, and cultural expectations while maintaining creative agency. Through analysis of her recordings, public image, and career trajectory, a pattern of resilience begins to appear. Wanda Jackson negotiated and challenged what it meant to be a female artist in the rock industry, defining what it meant to be feminine. By telling a story like Wanda Jackson’s, the presentation expands the understanding of gender and music history, as well as showing how much women can shape an industry.
Presenter Bio
Sam Bue is a senior student for the University of Central Oklahoma. They are majoring in Forensic Science and Museum Studies with a minor in Psychology. They are also an archivist for the Women's Research Center and BGLTQ+ Student Center. Sam Bue's historical research interests include Anthropodermic Bibliopegy (the practice of binding books in human skin) and analyzing the effect that the atomic bomb had on U.S. culture during the Atomic Age. When not researching, Sam can be found playing video games and reading comic books.