Speaker Series: Scott Paulson on the Kazoo’s Place in History and Music

Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

Cost: Free and open to the public, but you must register for the Zoom link to attend

Virtual: Click here to register for Zoom link

Join us on Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m. for our next monthly Speaker Series. Scott Paulson, Exhibits & Events Coordinator at the UC San Diego library, has used some serious library research tools to gather some surprising kazoo trivia (and not all of it is trivial) – and he’s ready to share it with us.

More than an annoying party favor, the kazoo is an effective tool used by some speech therapists and has serious roots in African
masked ceremonies. From Americana kitsch to recent finds at Central American archaeological excavations, lots of kazoo surprises are in store at this upcoming virtual lecture.

Of note: the Birthplace of Country Music Museum has a historic kazoo connection that will be celebrated.

Also: we’ll survey “the greatest kazoo solos that somehow you forgot all about”! 

And YES: some brief kazoo premieres will be featured.

About Scott Paulson

Scott Paulson has spent more than four decades at UC San Diego, first as a student studying music and linguistics, and today as the Exhibits & Events Coordinator for the campus’s iconic Geisel Library. Scott has been part of the library’s special events around National Kazoo Day for the past few years. Starting off from a challenge to use “serious library tools to investigate a light, playful topic,” the Library’s “kazoo salute” has included exhibits, live kazoo performances, and the commissioning of original kazoo music. He also contributed his expertise and several photographs for our blog post “Instrument Interview: The Kazoo.”