Donald R. Cusic

Biography

Don Cusic is Curb Professor of Music Industry History and Professor of Music Business in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Public Administration from the University of Maryland (College Park) and a Masters and Doctor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He is a pioneer in Music Business education, having taught courses in the music business since 1982. He is also one of the premier historians of country music, an internationally known scholar and writer. He is currently the co-host of the annual International Country Music Conference.

In 2022, Don Cusic was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame.

Cusic is the author of over 30 books, including biographies of Roger Miller, Eddy Arnold, Gene Autry and Chet Atkins. He is also the author of  Saved By Song: A History of Gospel and Christian Music.

Cusic has written album liner notes for Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Ray Stevens, Eddy Arnold, Sonny James, as well as wo film soundtracks, The Wild Angels (starring Peter Fonda and Nancy Sinatra) and The Trip, which featured the music of The Electric Flag. He worked with Mike Curb for the Sun Records 60^th Anniversary boxed set.

As a record producer he has produced albums on Bobby Bare, Jim Ed Brown, Jeannie Seely and, with Cheetah Chrome, produced the Eddy Arnold Tribute album. He co-produced, with Mike Curb, the songs of James Weldon Johnson by American Idol finalist Melinda Doolitte.

In addition to his books, articles and liner notes Don Cusic has had songs recorded by Bobby Bare, Jim Ed Brown, Ray Stevens, Jeannie Seely, the Lewis Family, Lynn Morris, Linda Davis, Eve Goldberg, Pam Mark Hall, Carroll Baker, Darrell McCall and Chris LeDoux.

Cusic has appeared a number of times on television, including appearances on The PBS News Hour, a number of CMT programs, including the "Controversy" series. He appeared on a number of TNN shows, including "Life and Times" of Eddy Arnold" and the A&E Biography Series (on Hank Williams).