Oklahoma duo The Imaginaries covers a hit Frankie Valli ballad for 'Reagan' soundtrack

As newly elected president and first lady Ron and Nancy Reagan ( Dennis Quaid and Penelope Ann Miller ) hit the dance floor at their first inaugural ball in the biopic "Reagan.," Oklahoma husband-and-wife duo The Imaginaries are the ones making the music just beyond the spotlight.

"Even though you barely see us, you hear us, and that's super cool for us, so we're really grateful," said singer, songwriter and pianist Maggie McClure .

Her other half — singer, songwriter and guitarist Shane Henry — takes the lead vocally on "My Eyes Adored You," their cover of Frankie Valli's chart-topping ballad that's featured in that scene and on the soundtrack for "Reagan."

"It's a tough song. I really spent a lot of time listening to it and just listening to a lot of different Frankie Valli stuff, trying to, at the end of the day, put my own spin on it ... but still stay true to the original," Henry said.

Filmed primarily in Guthrie , the biographical drama about America's 40th president opened in theaters nationwide Aug. 30 and exceeded box-office expectations over Labor Day weekend .

Along with the Norman-based Americana duo's take on "My Eyes Adored You," the "Reagan" soundtrack includes a Bob Dylan cover of “Don’t Fence Me In," the Cole Porter anthem popularized by Oklahoma Singing Cowboy Gene Autry ; KISS frontman Gene Simmons' rendition of the hit 1930s torch song "Stormy Weather;" and country hitmaker Clint Black's version of John Denver’s global smash “Country Roads."

"It's great to see this movie in our home state, where it was filmed. It's been a long time coming," McClure told The Oklahoman on the red carpet at the Aug. 28 Oklahoma premiere of "Reagan" at Edmond's Hilton Garden Inn.

"I think that everybody here is super supportive of the whole film and entertainment community and happy to support (the movie), whether they were involved or not. And that's what's really cool."

'Reagan' distributor bringing Oklahoma-made movie to more theater screens

Released by independent distributor ShowBiz Direct, the first full-length film about President Ronald Reagan commanded $7.4 million at the North American box office over its three-day opening weekend. Over the four days of Labor Day weekend, "Reagan" made $10.3 million, doubling projections that it would open with $5 million.

The biopic ended up at No. 3 at the holiday weekend box office, just ahead of fellow Oklahoma-made movie "Twisters," when the final four-day numbers were tallied, according to GoldDerby.com .

Of the seven new movies released in theaters over the last weekend of August, "Reagan" was the only one to crack the Top 5. At one point over the movie's debut weekend, Deadline reported that ICON Cinema in Edmond was the top grossing location for "Reagan."

After the biopic exceeded opening weekend expectations while playing in 2,754 theaters , Showbiz Direct announced plans to add more theaters for " Reagan's " second week.

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the new movie follows Ronald Reagan's life from his childhood in Dixon, Illinois, to his acting career in Hollywood , to the U.S. presidency and the world stage. Reagan served two terms as president, from 1981 to 1989, and died on June 5, 2004 , after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

"Reagan" began filming in Oklahoma in September 2020, with production headquartered in Guthrie and its historic Scottish Rite Masonic Temple .

"How amazing that Guthrie was able to host this production — and during COVID , of all things. There was an economic spend of $22 million in Guthrie, which is incredible, (and) 1,100 people were put to work," said Oklahoma Film + Music Office Director Jeanette Stanton .

"They really included every Oklahoma business they could in this production, which makes it even more special. ... Along with it being shot primarily in Oklahoma, shot primarily in Guthrie, there's the post-production and music. The Imaginaries were part of the music, and Boiling Point (studio) was part of the post-production."

How have The Imaginaries embraced movies as a key component of their career?

Along with Quaid and Stanton, Gov. Kevin Stitt , "Reagan" director Sean McNamara and several Oklahoma legislators, film industry leaders and performers walked the red carpet at the movie's Oklahoma premiere and attended the first Sooner State screenings of the biopic at the nearby ShowBiz Cinemas Edmond .

"We went to the Nashville and L.A. premieres, too, but I think this is the biggest turnout. People are very excited to see this film," Henry said on the Edmond red carpet.

For Henry and McClure, "Reagan" is the latest home-state cinematic project where they've been able to showcase their musical talents: Across their career, the duo has scored more than 75 placements of their songs in films, television shows and advertisements, including two tunes featured in the Netflix military drama "Mending the Line," which ranked as the platform's No. 1 movie in March.

In 2012, the couple, who married in 2011, relocated to Los Angeles with hopes of working in music and onscreen projects. Although they found job opportunities there, living in L.A. was expensive. In 2018, they moved back to Oklahoma, where they launched their duo The Imaginaries and McClure founded Searchlight Music Group , a production music company that sources music for movies, TV shows, commercials and games.

"There's a lot of opportunities for music and film in Oklahoma, and if you can just position yourself to be involved, you can find ways to get more involved. And that's how we did this (with 'Reagan'): We took the casting opportunity and turned it into a multifaceted opportunity with having our the song licensed as well," said McClure, who also has worked as music supervisor on the upcoming movie "The Book of Jobs," which filmed last year in Tulsa and Bartlesville.

"If you get into the room, you can network and make more of it a lot of the time. Every time we've done this, we've worked with people on their next projects and their next project. So, it's lifelong friendships and working relationships that we've developed out of working in Oklahoma, which is really special, and we love to work on projects out of our home state."

In 2021, L.A.-based filmmaker Timothy Armstrong brought the family-friendly franchise he launched in Oklahoma a decade earlier with "Cowgirls N' Angels" back to the Sooner State to make the inspirational sequel "A Cowgirl's Song ." The Imaginaries wrote and produced the 11-song soundtrack, co-produced the movie and played supporting roles in the musical drama, which filmed in Chickasha.

"There's a really powerful thing that happens for musicians when you can get your song in a movie and be on screen. Maggie and I just experienced that: We had a day off in Livingston, Montana, on tour last month, and we were hanging out in a music venue. ... I went to the restroom and came back and found these six or seven girls that were surrounding Maggie," Henry recalled.

"They had just recently watched 'A Cowgirl's Song' and were obsessed with the music and the movie and recognized us. ... It's amazing how many people you can reach."

How have The Imaginaries become musical mentors to 'America's Got Talent' winner Darci Lynne?

While working on "A Cowgirl's Song," McClure and Henry got to know Oklahoma City-based singer, songwriter and ventriloquist Darci Lynne . The 2017 "America's Got Talent" winner played a role in the film, plus penned and recorded with The Imaginaries the original song "Just Breathe" for the soundtrack.

"Maggie and Shane have become family. I comment on their (social media) posts all the time, and I'm like, 'Mom and Dad!' So, we're all just great friends, and they've definitely been instrumental in helping me get into music and teaching me a lot, just because they've been in it for so long," said Darci Lynne, who also plays a small part in "Reagan."

"I've honestly just been enlightened, and my eyes opened to many things. So, they've definitely guided me and got me up on my feet for this whole music journey."

Two years ago, the trio of Oklahomans gathered in Nashville to write and record more songs, including the first two singles of Darci Lynne's music career: the country-rock story tune "Push Our Luck " and soulful pop ode "Someone Wake Me Up."

"It's been really a joy to get to write and record with Darci and produce her and just help her through this process, as she's figuring out her sound and her style. She's just so talented. We just love working with her, and it reminds us of how we were at her age," McClure said.

How did The Imaginaries collaborate with fellow Oklahoman Vince Gill?

Darci Lynne isn't the only fellow Oklahoma musician The Imaginaries have worked with lately: The duo's bouncy summer single "Whole Lotta Livin'" features Sooner State native Vince Gill on guitar.

The duo met the Country Music Hall of Famer through the late Guthrie fiddler Byron Berline while working on "A Cowgirl's Song."

" Byron actually came over to our studio to record some of his mandolin and fiddle parts for the soundtrack, and he just gave Maggie Vince's cell phone number. Honestly, Maggie cold-called Vince to talk to him about doing a song for 'A Cowgirl's Song,' and that didn't work out, because he had a big tour coming up with the Eagles ," Henry said, adding that Gill is a customer of Westerlund Audio, the Oklahoma guitar pedal company The Imaginaries guitarist co-founded.

"But he was so friendly. He was like, 'Well, keep me posted on the movie, and next time you're in Nashville, give me a call.'"

They did, and Gill invited them out for breakfast and struck up a friendship.

The duo was working on their new album in Muscle Shoals, Alabama , in February when they noticed a hole in "Whole Lotta Livin'" that they thought would be a perfect fit for a Gill guitar solo. So, they again called the Oklahoma Hall of Famer , who quickly agreed.

"He's a 10 out of 10 as far as a singer-songwriter and musician and just such a nice person. The Oklahoma connection, I think, is really what probably made him be more open to hanging out with us," McClure said. "But he's collaborated with a lot of artists. I think he's just a good guy, and we're grateful to get to have him be a part of what we're doing."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma duo The Imaginaries covers a hit Frankie Valli ballad for 'Reagan' soundtrack