Carson Robison

Carson Jay Robison (b. 4 Aug. 1890 -- d. 24 March 1957) was born in Oswego, Kansas to a musical family, so music was a "natural" avenue for him to pursue professionally. He became one of the first cowboy singers on radio when he began to appear on station WDAF, Kansas City in 1922. According to historian Douglas Green, Robison was the first to popularize "Home on the Range"!

His first Western recording was one of his own compositions, "The Little Green Valley," cut in 1928 for the Okeh label. Three decades later it was revived on Marty Robbins' landmark Gunfighter Ballads LP, and again, more recently, by the Lobo Rangers.

By 1929 he had written hits "Left My Gal in the Mountains" and "Sleepy Rio Grande" and had recorded numerous sides with Vernon Dalhart and Frank Luther. He and Luther were billed as Bud and Joe Billings; together they recorded Robison's composition "Goin' Back to Texas" and cut some of the earliest recordings of "Utah Trail," " Red River Valley" and other Western classics. His most famous composition, "Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie" was recorded later.

Robison was an accomplished guitarist and a virtual virtuoso at whistling. This skill landed him some of his first recording work, and later, whistling, no doubt with Robison's success in mind, was integrated by Ken Carson into Sons of the Pioneers arrangements. Robison used these skills as well as his compositions and his vocal ability for many years on national radio with his groups Carson Robison's Pioneers and Carson Robison and His Buckaroos, among others.

He was a great pioneer in western music, one of the very first, and continued to record, perform and compose until late in his life. (by O.J. Sikes)