The Ballad of Arizona: Our First 100 Years

This engaging program, similar to a “Prairie Home Companion” but with an Arizona twist, uses live music, storytelling, video, and other visual aides to highlight stories of Arizona’s first century. Jay Craváth and Dan Shilling form the nucleus of the program, relating vignettes through song and story, such as the murder of reporter Don Bolles, the Buffalo Soldiers, Aldo Leopold in the Southwest, and other famous and lesser-known chapters of the Arizona narrative.

Jay Craváth is a composer, musician, writer, and scholar in the field of music and Indigenous studies. He holds a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on cultural education. He crafts programs built on his interests, creating interactive experiences that include stories, musical performances, illustrations and photography. His most recent publication is The Mohave Book for Little Ones. Craváth currently serves as the Cultural Director for the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe.