Faculty Profile for Dr. Kevin E Mooney

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Kevin Mooney, Ph.D. (Senior Lecturer, musicology) holds both a bachelor’s degree in music performance (guitar) and a master’s degree in music education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a doctor of philosophy degree in musicology/ethnomusicology from The University of Texas at Austin. His current research focuses on jazz history with particular emphasis on the music and careers of vocalist Louise Tobin and clarinetist Peanuts Hucko. His book, Texas Jazz Singer: Louise Tobin in the Golden Age of Swing and Beyond was published by Texas A&M University Press in 2021. Much of his research and writings consider music and identity issues related to American nationalism and southern regionalism. In addition to articles and reviews published in Journal of the Society for American Music, Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd edition, Notes, Southwestern Historical Quarterly, The Journal of Texas Music History, the Bulletin of the Society for American Music, Great Plains Quarterly, The New Mexico Historical Review, and the Handbook of Texas Music, Dr. Mooney authored the Instructor’s Manual for the past four editions of American Music: A Panorama (New York: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2013). He also currently serves on the editorial boards of the South Central Music Bulletin (College Music Society) and The Journal of Texas Music History (Texas State University). 


Dr. Mooney was awarded John R. Hood Professor of the Year in 2021 and is a three-time recipient of the “Favorite Professor” award of the Alfred H. Nolle Chapter of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society (2012, 2014, and 2015). In Fall 2015 Dr. Mooney launched his 100-percent-online version of MU 5334 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Music and has since added MU 5330A Music History to the School of Music’s 100-percent online course offerings. Prior to his arrival at Texas State University (2007), Dr. Mooney taught a wide range of courses at College of St. Mary, Omaha, Nebraska, Southwest Texas State University, and at The University of Texas at Austin, where he was Associate Chair of the Center for American Music as well as founder and director of the Texas Music Oral History Project.

Dr. Mooney was Secretary-Treasurer of the American Musicological Society—Southwest Chapter (2016-2020), and from 2008-2011 he served as Director of Graduate Studies in Music at Texas State University. As a classical and jazz guitarist, Dr. Mooney has performed in concert with Dizzy Gillespie and David Amram, and has recorded several jazz tracks on Novak and Haar—Old Friends (Ware House Productions, Inc.: Omaha, Nebraska, 2005). He performs regularly with singer-songwriter Mark Willenborg in addition to his church group, “The Original Sinners.”

Teaching Interests

All periods of music history. Music and the Dramatic Arts. Song literature. Women and Texas Music. Music in the US. Jazz History.

Research Interests

My book, Texas Jazz Singer: Louise Tobin in the Golden Age of Swing and Beyond was published by Texas A&M University Press in 2021. His article, Erlkönig: Goethe, Schubert, and Resurrecting the Son will be published in the winter issue of the College Music Symposium. This article suggests a new reading of Goethe's Erlkönig and considers the hermeneutic implications such an interpretation has on various musical settings of this poem.