Thomaston — Lincolnville’s Michael Paul Lund, founder of Serendipity Recordings, will present “The First Crooner — Bing Crosby (1903-1977)” an illustrated lecture illuminating the life and times of the first great popular singer of the American Songbook, Monday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Thomaston Public Library, 60 Main St./Route 1.

Attendees will take a fascinating musical journey through the life of the man who paved the way for every major vocalist who followed him, the man for whom the word “crooner” was penned. Samples will include lots of solos plus duets of Crosby with, among others, Paul Whiteman & the Rhythm Boys, the Mills Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dinah Shore, Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden and Fred Astaire. Also featured will be the last song Crosby sang, 72 hours before his sudden death in 1977.

Lund has delivered illustrated music talks all over the United States and done radio commentary on stations coast to coast, including his two-hour specials on WGBH-FM in Boston. Lund is an accomplished writer of music criticism whose syndicated newspaper column, “The Serendipity Nostalgia Report,” focuses on legendary entertainers and great American music. During 2012/2013, Lund also will be conducting two other 90-minute illustrated music lectures, “Paul Robeson (1898-1976), The Life & Times of a Great American Voice”; and “The Great American Popular Songbook, the Singers & Their Songs.”

Admission is free. Recordings by Crosby will be available for purchase.

Courier Publications’ A&E Editor Dagney C. Ernest can be reached at (207) 594-4401, ext. 115 or dernest@courierpublicationsllc.com.