“MSU Shadows” was officially adopted as the alma mater for Michigan State on April 21, 1949. It was chosen by student vote after a long effort to identify and obtain a distinctive melody for the university.
The music and lyrics were penned by Bernard “Barney” Traynor, an assistant football coach on staff from 1925–27.
Joshua Davis, an MSU College of Arts & Letters graduate, native of Michigan and finalist on the eighth season of NBC’s “The Voice,” has released a recording and music video of his version of Michigan State University’s alma mater, “MSU Shadows.”
Source : Joshua Davis records version of ‘MSU Shadows’, MSU Today, November 6, 2015.