By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. 鈥� Buzz Cason, a newly-appointed 青瓜视频 trustee who is a well-known Nashville author, songwriter, publisher and creative writer's group director, will present a program about his life and experience in the music industry Tuesday, April 7, at 8 p.m. in The Gheens Recital Hall.
The event is open to the public free of charge.
Cason has lived the American rock 'n' roll dream. He started Nashville's first rock 'n' roll band in the 1950s and over the last five decades his songs have been recorded by the Beatles, Jimmy Buffet, Gloria Estefan, U2 and many other artists.
Artists recording songs published by Cason include: Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, O.C. Smith, Bobby Goldsboro, Andy Williams, Eddy Arnold, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Roy Clark.
His hit song 鈥淓verlasting Love鈥� is popular around the world.
After the program, he will sell autographed copies of his book & CD 鈥淟iving the Rock 'n' Roll Dream鈥� for $20.
Cason is president/owner of Southern Writers Group USA, a collection of writer-owned publishing catalogs, and Creative Workshop recording studio. A native of Nashville, Cason dedicates most of his time these days to writing and publishing songs through his companies, which are affiliated with BMG Songs for international sub-publishing.
Cason's list of professional credits include: Board of Governors of National Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), National Trustee for NARAS, Southern Writers Advisory Committee (ASCAP), East Coast Advisory Committee ASCAP, and a member of CMA.
His career started in 1956 when Cason, then an Inglewood, Tenn., teenager and junior at Isaac Litton High, was given the opportunity to lip-synch 鈥淲hite Christmas鈥� on the Noel Ball Saturday Showcase, a local talent show on WSIX-TV (ABC), then Channel 8.
Musically in those days, rhythm and blues and early Elvis recordings were having
their influence on him. He sang in the youth choir at his local church, learning harmonies from his mother, Rosa, an alto.
Cason enjoyed performing on camera and met the musicians at the television station, soon forming a group they called, 鈥淭he Casuals,鈥� generally recognized as Nashville's first rock 'n' roll band.
By 1957, The Casuals had become a touring act, replacing The Everly Brothers on a tour of 60 fair dates.
During this same period, Buzz met Bobby Russell, an aspiring writer at the old Globe Recording Studio in Nashville, and the two began to co-write. Their song, 鈥淭ennessee,鈥� was covered in 1958 by Jan and Dean on Liberty, produced by Lou Adler. Thus came their first Hot 100 record on the BILLBOARD chart and an association of more than 25 years began.
In 1966, Cason and Russell started a publishing and record company, Rising Songs, with Fred Foster (then president of Monument Records). From this association came 鈥淓verlasting Love,鈥� co-written with Mac Gayden and recorded in 1967 by Robert Knight.
In 1967, Cason and Russell formed their own publishing company, Russell-Cason Music. Out of this partnership, they published and wrote songs including 鈥淭he Joker Went Wild,鈥�, 鈥淗oney鈥� and 鈥淟ittle Green Apples.鈥�
The publishing company was sold to Welk Music in 1974. The years to follow proved to be successful for Cason, not only as a vocalist behind superstars such as Elvis Presley and Kenny Rogers, but also as a songwriter.
He felt the need for a studio to produce and bring writers and artists together in a relaxed, state-of-the-art atmosphere, so in 1970, he founded Creative Workshop, a two-studio recording facility where Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, The Judds, The Doobie Brothers and Emmylou Harris have recorded material.
Just prior to the founding of Creative, Cason had been introduced to Jimmy Buffett. His album, 鈥淗igh Cumberland Jubilee,鈥� was cut in the new Creative Workshop. Cason continues to publish approximately 50 of Buffett's early compositions.
The biggest copyright of the '70s for Cason came when entertainer Steve Gibb turned in 鈥淪he Believes In Me,鈥� a mega-hit for Kenny Rogers, produced by Larry Butler. The song has achieved sales of over 20 million units and also received a 鈥淪ong of the Year鈥� Grammy nomination.
The Beatles released the long awaited 鈥淟ive at the BBC鈥� recordings, which contained Cason's 鈥淪oldier of Love,鈥� co-written by Tony Moon and previously cut by Arthur Alexander in 1962.
In 1995, 鈥淓verlasting Love鈥� was re-cut by Gloria Estefan.
Cason continues to write and produce working out of the original studio.
After five decades, Cason said, 鈥淚f I hadn't met Bobby Russell, I never would have known a real songwriter and never would have made it in the business. He was not only a true genius, but a great, great friend.鈥�
鈥淓very song has a life of its own. I try to make mine unique and fresh and not get hung up on trends unless a groove is out there so neat that you cannot resist it. A great song will find its way like a person chases their childhood dreams. Hopefully, someone eventually falls in love with them!鈥�
Cason said he once heard Frank Sinatra say, 鈥淚 loved every minute of it,鈥� referring to his life in entertainment. Cason said, 鈥淭hat pretty much sums up my career. God's been good! My family and I have been blessed and I wouldn't change a thing. I've met and worked with wonderful people.鈥�
青瓜视频 is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, 青瓜视频 is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2009 鈥淎merica's Best Colleges,鈥� CU is ranked 22nd in 鈥淏est Baccalaureate Colleges鈥� in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges庐. 青瓜视频 is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.