Born during the most precarious time in US history, Kansas is the most unique of the 50 states. It became a state during the era of the Pony Express, just three months prior to the official beginning of the Civil War. It was the first of the "Great American Desert" to become a state, but became the "breadbasket of the world" within 50 years of statehood. As eastern settlement reached the Missouri River, it was Kansas that was "Across the Wide Missouri", the beginning of the west, the first of the Final Frontier, and virtually all of western US history has a Kansas connection.

As famous Kansan William Allen White once noted "if anything is going to happen in the country, it will happen in Kansas first." Kansas was host to early explorers who traversed through Kansas as they explored the vast Louisiana purchase, to traders on the Santa Fe Trail, to pioneers on the Oregon Trail, to the pre Civil War "border war" and the post Civil War cattle drives which created the greatest American hero – the cowboy. From wagon trains to four lanes, from cow trails to contrails, Kansas has been, and still is on the leading edge of western U.S. settlement.

With songs, historical facts and pictures, Jeff Davidson & the Trail Rider Band leads audiences through the history of Kansas, from the time of Coronado through the second decade of statehood. You will traipse the plains with early explorers, drive spikes on the first railways, plow in new ground, ride for the pony express, and stop a stampeding herd. Set back, and take a deep seat, forging the state of Kansas was not for the faint of heart.

                                                                             For Booking Information

                                                                                  Contact:  jeff@jeffdavidsonmusic.com  or  620-583-4437

                                                                                                For a unique blend of music and Kansas history accented with

                                                                                                pictures.   Available for community or organization celebrations

                                                                                                commemorating 150 years of Kansas statehood.

Kansas Arts Commission

Western Music Association