Meredith Willson - America's Music Man

Meredith Willson – America’s Music Man is a loving, thorough and accurate examination of one of Broadway’s great composers. It tells the story before, during and after The Music Man opened in 1957. The story of Willson’s family, his life in Mason City, Iowa, and his eventual rise to the top of the music world forms the platform that led to four musicals and dozens of awards. Also included are Willson’s activities scoring movies, directing orchestras on Old Time Radio, and even becoming a character on radio and television shows. This is the first in-depth look at the career of a real music man from north central Iowa.


Bill Oates’ knowledge of Old Time Radio and his love of playing in a band created his desire to write a comprehensive biography of Meredith Willson. After visiting Mason City, Iowa to research an article on Willson’s radio career, Oates decided to expand his project into a full-blown biography. Interviewing those who knew the composer, pouring through stacks of memorabilia, and collecting over 300 Willson-related radio shows formed the basis for getting the project finished. This story will appeal to music lovers, Broadways theatre aficionados, Old Time Radio collectors, and anyone who appreciates a good story about a local boy who became an international success but never forgot his hometown.