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What They Are Saying

Patrons | The Press

Our Patrons

"My favorite collection that I visited . . . was the Center for Popular Music at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. Seldom has research been more fun. . . And the staff at this place, the gem in its crown, could not have been more helpful. With their aid I found enough research material to keep me working away for months."
—Randall Stephens, Reader in History/American Studies, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
and editor of The Historical Society Blog

"I can still recall sitting in the Center's reading room, having the kind of archival experience scholars dream of having – of making a series of discoveries, one artifact leading to another, one find spilling over into a new insight – and then watching the shape of the book I was researching come into increasingly crisper focus. The staff's unfailing generosity of time and good will made the experience all the more rewarding."
—Douglas Harrison, Associate Professor of English, Florida Gulf Coast University, and author of
Then Sings My Soul: The Culture of Southern Gospel Music (University of Illinois Press)

“I just wanted to thank you all again for your assistance and hospitality during my recent visit to the CPM. It was time well spent, and I only wish I could have stayed longer. Perhaps I will have a chance to continue my research there some time in the not-too-distant future.”
—Gregory Reish, Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University

“As was the case when I visited the Center last year, everyone was extremely helpful, and I appreciate everybody assisting me with my perusals of items related to Hawaiian music, early country music, and early recordings involving the steel guitar. (The Center’s holdings in those areas were very interesting to investigate!)”
—Anthony Lis, Professor of Music Theory and Music Appreciation, South Dakota State University

“Many thanks for your marvelous list of digital sheet music collections. That will be a tremendous help to me in my research.”
—Edgar Pope, School of Foreign Studies, Aichi Prefectural University, Aichi, Japan

“Thank you so much for going out of your way and looking up the 1953 Korean War issues of Roy Acuff in the “Pickin’ & Singin” newspaper for me and my Dad. When the book comes out you and the Center will be gratefully acknowledged!
—Charles William Morton, Jr., NC

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“My inexpressibly vast appreciation for finding the copy of Revolver issue #42 for us. Our search has, literally, gone on for months without success using every means we could think of. If ever we are again in need of locating print media related to popular music, we will surely check with you first.”
—Louis S. Abronson, Abronson Law Office, Aptos, CA

“Thanks much for hosting me today at the Center for Popular Music. I regret that my visit had to be so hasty, but you made it very productive with all of your helpful suggestions. I do hope to return for a more extended, intensive visit in the future.”
—Scott Newstok, Department of English, Rhodes College

“We really appreciate all your help with our project here at the state museum.”
—Selena Sanderfer, Research Intern, Tennessee State Museum

“Once more, let me say that ya’ll have a great staff and a great facility.”
—Russ Cheatham, Professor, Cumberland University

One of the parent chaperones described (the visit) as the perfect day with all the educational elements of seeing, hearing and experiencing. We were honored to have knowledgeable faculty and staff showing us recording history . . .”
—Hazel Somerville, Director, Nashville Boys Choir

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The Press

"Former First Lady's Favorite Tunes Are Focus of 2 Concerts"
by Gina E. Fann, mtsunews.com, February 4, 2013. (http://mtsunews.com/sarah-polk-concerts/)

"Richard Kamrar Collection of Sheet Music"
The Bulletin of the Society for American Music, Volume XXXIX, No. 1 (Winter 2013). (http://american-music.org/publications/bulletin/2013/VolXXXIX1-Winter2013.php#Kamrar)

"Know Your Archives: The Center for Popular Music"
by Randall Stephens, The Historical Society: A Blog Devoted to History for the Academy & Beyond, December 3, 2012. (http://histsociety.blogspot.no/2012/12/know-your-archives-center-for-popular.html)

"Musicians Set Their Tunes in Wax"
by Samantha E. Williams, The Tennessean, August 30, 2012. (http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20120831/NEWS01/308310027/Musicians-set-their-tunes-wax/)

"New Documentary Revives American Pioneer Music "
by Mike Osborne, Voice of America, July 11, 2012. (http://www.voanews.com/content/new-documentary-aims-to-revive-american-pioneer-music/1489324.html)
Mike Osborne's VOA Report

"MTSU Archivists Catalogue Tennessee Songs"
by Dipti Vaidya, The Tennessean, July 11, 2012. (http://www.tennessean.com/videonetwork/1729397715001/MTSU-archivists-catalogue-Tennessee-Songs)

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"Interactive Website Will Immortalize Songs about Tennessee"
by Tony Gonzalez, The Tennessean, July 11, 2012. (http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2012/07/11/interactive-website-will-immortalize-songs-about-tennessee/)

"MTSU Professor Revives Old Tunes"
by Peter Cooper, The Tennessean, May 30, 2012. (http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2012/05/30/peter-cooper-on-music-mtsu-professor-revives-old-tunes/)

"Fiddling Father Gets His Due"
by Ken Beck, The Murfreesboro Post, May 24, 2012. (http://www.murfreesboropost.com/fiddling-father-gets-his-due-cms-31250)

"Bluegrass News: The Roys Start 2012 with Three Major Projects"
Power Source Music Magazine, March 2012, p. 50. (http://www.powersourcemagazine.com/news/index.php?nid=3014)

"'Pa's Fiddle' Is Musical Homage to 'Little House' Books"
by Deborah Evans-Price, The Boot, Feb. 22, 2012. (http://www.theboot.com/2012/02/22/pas-fiddle-pbs-show/)

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"Country Stars Tape 'Little House On The Prairie' Project"
by Sarah Skates, MusicRow, Jan. 17, 2012. (http://www.musicrow.com/2012/01/country-stars-tape-little-house-on-the-praire-project/)

"MTSU part of 'Pa's Fiddle' project"
Daily News Journal, Jan. 7, 2012. PDF(263 KB): DNJ-01-09-12.pdf.

"MTSU is key player in 'Pa's Fiddle' PBS special"
Daily News Journal, Jan. 6, 2012.

"MTSU is key player in 'Pa's Fiddle' PBS special"
MTSU News and Media Relations, Jan. 6, 2012. (http://mtsunews.com/pas-fiddle-pbs-special/)

"Loveless Barn Hosts "Pa's Fiddle" Tribute Concert"
MusicRow, Jan. 4, 2012. (http://www.musicrow.com/2012/01/loveless-barn-hosts-pas-fiddle-tribute-concert/)

"Grover Baker: Not Your Average Librarian"
by Sarah Waldrip, Scoop. (http://www.scoopmagazine.org/?p=890)

"Preservation Required"
by Drew Ruble, MTSU Magazine, Fall 2011, Vol. 51, No. 2, p. 10-11. (http://mtpress.mtsu.edu/magazine/?p=97)

"Center for Popular Music celebrates 25 years by expanding archive storage"
The Record, Sept. 6, 2010, V19.05.

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CPM banner image on this page includes sheet music cover illustration from "Land of My Heart's Desire" from George White's Scandals of 1919.