Discover Auburn lecture series, celebrating the life and work of William Levi Dawson

Auburn Libraries’ Discover Auburn lecture series begins its spring season of programs with a celebration of the life and works of acclaimed African-American composer, William Levi Dawson (1899-1990). The lecture by Mark Hugh Malone will be presented in the Caroline Marshall Draughon Auditorium of the Ralph Brown Draughon Library at 3 p.m. on Feb. 2.

Malone’s presentation on Dawson will be based on research done while writing his soon-to-be-published book, “William Levi Dawson: American Music Educator.” The timing of the publication coincides with the 100th anniversary of Dawson’s first significant composition, “Jump Back, Honey, Jump Back.”

In addition to his many compositions, Alabama native Dawson was also a music educator. He graduated from Tuskegee Institute in 1921 and later taught there from 1930-55.

The public is welcome, and Malone will be on hand to answer questions after the lecture.