In Memoriam
Oklahoma Blues Icon Selby Minner remembered after tragic death
Selby Minner, a trailblazing figure in Oklahoma’s blues community, was tragically killed at her Rentiesville home on June 9. She was 74 years old.

Selby Minner, a pioneering musician and cultural force in the Oklahoma blues scene, was tragically killed at her home in Rentiesville on June 9.
She was 74.
Passing details
Authorities have confirmed that Minner’s brother, Louis Guenther, has been charged with her murder. According to a probable cause affidavit, Guenther confessed to attacking Minner with a hammer and knife during a mental health crisis.
The Oklahoma blues community mourns Selby Minner
Minner was not only a beloved blues performer, she was a preservationist, an educator, and a visionary. She founded the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, created the Dusk ‘Til Dawn Blues Festival, and also owned the Down Home Blues Club in Rentiesville. For decades, she built spaces where music, history, and community came together.
Her impact reached well beyond the borders of Rentiesville. Alongside her late husband, D.C. Minner, she toured the country as part of Blues on the Move, bringing the soul of Oklahoma blues to audiences nationwide.
GoFundMe created for Shelby Minner
Minner’s family is determined to honor and preserve the legacy she built.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover funeral expenses and support the preservation of the institutions she built. Her grandchildren and longtime collaborators are stepping forward to ensure the Down Home Blues Club, the Hall of Fame, and the annual festival continue to serve as living testaments to her life’s work.
“Selby gave everything to her music and her people,” the fundraiser reads. “She taught, performed, organized, mentored, and kept the flame of real blues burning in Oklahoma and beyond.”
Plans are underway to continue the Dusk ‘Til Dawn Blues Festival this Labor Day weekend in her honor.
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
-
Social Justice2 weeks ago
Florida homeowner jailed over HOA dispute over brown grass
-
Community2 weeks ago
North Carolina mourns firefighter Jaywon Lyons as community rallies around his legacy
-
In Memoriam1 week ago
Beloved former N.J. track star Rashaan Richardson, dies; remembered for his spirit and style
-
Education4 days ago
North Carolina college sophomore launches GoFundMe amid tuition crisis
-
Community2 days ago
Georgia community mourns sudden death of 15-year-old athlete Mikah King
-
Social Justice6 days ago
Man injured in violent Florida traffic stop seeks support through GoFundMe
-
New Jersey5 days ago
Hundreds gather in Long Branch, New Jersey to advance unified Black agenda
-
In Memoriam2 weeks ago
GoFundMe created for HBCU scholar who died one semester before getting law degree