The Rollin' Phattys were recently voted Blues Band of the Year at the fifth annual 2008 Payne County Line Oklahoma Music Awards.

The band features the songwriting collaboration of front man Ken Helton and Newkirk native, guitarist Jeff Parker. They have been working together since the early 1990s. The bands debut release "Red Hot Joe" features original tunes from the early years as well as some new material. Their sound can best be described as "Southern Fried Blues, Rock & Soul steeped in Tulsa Tradition."

The band has performing in Stillwater at Willie's Saloon, Eskimo Joe's, Mexico Joe's, The Stonewall, Washington St. Grill, JR Murphy's, Tumbleweeds, and the Wormy Dog, and after hours at the legendary Farm, a number of Tulsa, Texas, Louisiana and other venues. Individually and collectively, they have toured extensively across the US and Canada over their careers.

Members of the Rollin' Phattys with Helton and Parker are John Buckner and Dixie Weathers.

Ken "Cooter" Helton is on vocals/guitar. Helton is the frontman and long time contributor to the Stillwater musical community, both as a solo artist and band front man. He has played with numerous national band projects and performed extensively on the Nevada casino tour circuit.

Jeff "Jeffreaux" Parker is guitar/keyboards/vocals. He is a Newkirk native, and has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada playing all styles of music and sharing the stage and performing with many well-known singers and groups. Parker currently owns and operates Cimarron Sound Lab recording studio in Tahlequah.

John "Johnny B" Buckner plays bass guitar. He also is a longtime member of the Stillwater music scene. He has toured extensively throughout the southeast US and has also done session work for many local and regional artists.

Dixie "D Dub" Weathers, drums/percussion, helped launch the band in July of 2007. She can be heard on Artimus Pyle's (Lynyrd Skynyrd's former drummer) newest release "Artimus Venomous." She also has her own band "Remainder Theory" and teaches percussion at John Michaels Music in Muskogee.

"Red Hot Joe" was released Tuesday. In April 2008 they released an advance limited-run CD single of the title track "Red Hot Joe" and a B side, "Kim's Cowtown Shuffle" in the fall of 2007.

The new CD will be available at Willie's Lakeview Lounge this Saturday.