Crooner-at-large Lee Rothrock will sing pop songs from the first half
of the 20th century, for an hour of music and friends at 2 p.m. this
coming Saturday, March 8, 2014, in the cathedral-like courtyard in
the Atrium building in Eugene [Oregon] on the corner of 10th Avenue
and Olive Street.

Rothrock developed an interest in early twentieth century popular
music while in high school.  He began collecting sheet music from the
era at that time, as well as bringing home lots of 78 r.p.m. records.
Decades later he acquired his first player piano.

While many times his performances are nostalgia-based tunes from the
1940s and '50s, his Atrium performance features earlier songs which
haven't much been heard in the present day, so be prepared to hear
some unfamiliar but very snappy tunes!

Included are laments about unrequited love and other love-gone-wrong
themes.  One piece from 1925 will sound particularly apropos to today's
listeners: "The Village Blacksmith Owns the Village Now" relates the
rise in status (and wealth!) of the blacksmith after his shop becomes
the village filling station.  Everything in today's repertoire is from
Lee's collection of player piano rolls, from which the accompaniments
have been recorded.