Friends remember Oklahoma blues legend Selby Minner as mentor and music pioneer

Beloved blues musician Selby Minner, a celebrated figure in Oklahoma’s music scene, was found dead Monday at her home and music club in McIntosh County. Authorities say her brother has confessed to killing her.

Louis Carl Guenther, 69, has been charged with first-degree murder and was arraigned in court Tuesday afternoon.

According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators located Guenther covered in blood at Honey Springs Battlefield Park after a concerned citizen contacted law enforcement. Deputies say Guenther was carrying a hammer and admitted he had "decided to kill his sister" the previous day. Investigators believe Minner was beaten with the hammer before being stabbed to death.

A Life Dedicated to Keeping the Blues Alive in Oklahoma

Minner, known for her deep ties to the blues community, was co-founder of the Down Home Blues Club and the Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival in Rentiesville, which she launched alongside her late husband and fellow blues legend D.C. Minner in the 1980s. The couple toured together for more than a decade before building a thriving hub for authentic blues in the heart of rural Oklahoma.

“Blues requires a lot of soul, and Selby had all the soul,” said friend and fellow musician Hoimaha Coin. “I loved her dearly. She wasn’t just a bandmate—she was a friend who helped every one of us out.”

Festival Founder Remembered for Her Passion and Purpose

Friends and fellow musicians described Minner as a mentor and a powerful force in Oklahoma’s music community, remembered for her generosity and fierce dedication to keeping the blues alive.

“She wanted to build everybody’s dreams in Oklahoma and make the blues alive,” said Carolyn Harmon, a longtime collaborator and friend.

The Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival, which began as a grassroots event, has grown to draw thousands of visitors annually to Rentiesville, a small town of fewer than 200 residents. Minner’s commitment to the festival and its mission made her a beloved figure not just locally, but among blues enthusiasts worldwide.

“What was it not like?” said Alfred Gilyard, a festival board member who worked closely with Minner at the club. “There were 13 different types of people out here, and everyone was getting along.”

Gilyard added that Minner had a unique way of seeing and nurturing the best in others. “She was always going to find the inner beauty in you and work on that part to build it out.”

Community Vows to Keep Selby Minner’s Vision Alive

Minner’s death has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community she helped build, with many vowing to preserve her legacy.

“She just loved and lived and breathed for this,” said Harmon. “There was no other person like her, and there never will be.”

Friends say they are committed to keeping both the club and the annual blues festival going in Minner’s honor.