Celebrated in Song
The entire world is familiar with our state song “Home on the Range,” written by Dr. Brewster Higley in 1872.
But - have you heard “Sunflower?”
And what about “Where in the World but Kansas?”
Kansas Public Radio News Director J. Schafer tracked down and interviewed the 87-year-old Bill Post who wrote the lyrics to that song.
“Where in the World But Kansas” was a local hit in the 1960s and was even used by the Boeing Company to recruit workers to its Wichita plant.
This morning, J. Schafer’s well-crafted tribute to Kansas songs aired on Kansas Public Radio. You’ll want to Listen.
A native of Great Bend, Schafer (pictured here) is a big fan of Kansas. Every Friday morning at 8:58 a.m., you can play his radio version of Kansas Trivia on KPR. J. Schafer hosts Morning Edition on Kansas Public Radio Monday through Friday.
Filed under: on the radio on January 29th, 2007
I heard that conversation this morning–on my way to Hamilton–with Bill Post! He had lived in New York and California and had moved back to Kansas–and loves it here. My thought was: WHERE have I been that I’ve never heard this? Our children in schools should be singing it! KPR is my favorite station!
I finally got to listen a little while ago. It was great and I don’t rmember hearing either song before. And Frank Sinatra recorded “Sunflower.”
J. used that “Sunflower” song on the tail end of my radio commentary last week. It’s a catchy little tune. Sweet and happy. But… once the song wiggles its way into your mind, you’re apparently stuck with it for the rest of your life.
Kelley Hunt and someone else sang “Sunflower” on “Prairie Home Companion” when PHC was recorded live at the Kansas State Fair in 2005.
But I’d never heard “Where in the World But Kansas” until this morning.
And I didn’t know there were words to the “Kansas March,” or that we even had a Kansas March - or that Kansas actually has TWO official marches!
I’m a smarter Kansan now. Behold the power of radio!