12th Annual DeGruson Lecture features the music of Carson Robison

Mr. John Kendrick, Lecturer, Musician, Scholar and Recent Graduate of PSU With a Masters in Communication; and Mr. Alva McNeely, Talented Singer and Player of the Fiddle, Mandolin and Guitar, Will Teach Us about the Amazing Career of Carson Robinson.

One of the favorite topics of research in our Special Collections Department has always been the life and music of Carson Robison, a very talented singer, songwriter and disc jockey from Oswego, KS. People from all over the United States, as well as England, Australia, the Scandinavian countries; just about anywhere there is an interest in square dancing or Western American music, write to us via e-mail, regular mail and instant messaging asking us about him and our collection of his sheet music and recordings. Carson was also a talented writer of patriotic music during World War II, prompting many members of the “Greatest Generation” to enquire about him when they want to organize a reunion and need to track down their regimental theme song. Carson is famous for composing “Little Green Valley,” in 1928, and 1948’s “Life Gets Tee-Jus, Don’t It?” In all, he wrote more than 300 songs before his death in 1957 at the age of 66.

Well, on October 8, 2009. at 7PM in the Special Collections Department, the Friends of Axe will present the lecture and performance Cowboy Heaven: What’s the Music Like There? (And Who’s Playing It?): Carson Robison and his Influence on Modern Country and Western Music. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call Jane Victor, at 620-235-4886 or e-mail her at victor@pittstate.edu .