Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Jackson (Calvin) Papers
MSS 0028  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Biography
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Publication Rights
  • OFF-SITE STORAGE

  • Descriptive Summary

    Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
    9500 Gilman Drive
    La Jolla 92093-0175
    Title: Calvin Jackson Papers
    Creator: Jackson, Calvin
    Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0028
    Physical Description: 23.25 Linear feet (13 archives boxes and 95 oversize folders)
    Date (inclusive): 1940-1980
    Abstract: Papers of Calvin Jackson (1919-1985), jazz pianist, composer, arranger, ensemble leader, and host of radio and television programs featuring jazz music and performers. The material consists of manuscript scores and instrumental parts for Jackson's own compositions, his arrangements of the music of other composers, and photocopies of scripts and playlists for radio programs that Jackson hosted in Canada and the United States.
    Languages: English .

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The Calvin Jackson Papers consist of manuscript music scores and instrumental parts for his own compositions, scores and parts of his arrangements of works by American composers of popular music from the "Golden Era," and composers from other periods and traditions such as J.S. Bach and Dimitri Shostakovich. The collection also includes photocopies of Jackson's recorded music playlists and commentaries for radio programs. Not all compositions and arrangements have both a score and a complete set of parts.
    The material dates from the 1940s to the 1980s and is arranged in three series: 1) COMPOSITIONS BY CALVIN JACKSON, 2) ARRANGEMENTS BY CALVIN JACKSON and 3) PLAYLISTS AND SCRIPTS FOR RADIO PROGRAMS.

    Biography

    Calvin Jackson was a Black American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader. Jackson was born on May 26, 1919, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied music at the Juilliard School for a year (1941), then went to California as assistant music director at the Hollywood studios of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In addition to his film studio work, Jackson also arranged music for orchestra leader Harry James and recorded with Phil Moore's band. He moved back to New York in 1947, where he was billed with Mildred Bailey at the Cafe Society. He continued to pursue a career as a recording artist in his roles as arranger, pianist and ensemble leader, touring widely in North and South America with a trio or quartet. Jackson moved to Toronto, Canada, in 1950. His quartet appeared regularly at the Park Plaza Hotel, and he hosted a weekly program featuring jazz music on Canadian television. Jackson returned to the United States in 1957, and in 1961 he moved back to Southern California, where he settled permanently. He became a part of musical life in Los Angeles and San Diego, playing with small groups and presenting radio programs, including "Jazz with Jackson" on KOGO-FM and "Just Jazz" on KCBA.
    Calvin Jackson died in Encinitas, California, in 1985.

    Preferred Citation

    Calvin Jackson Papers, MSS 28. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

    Acquisition Information

    Acquired 1996.

    Publication Rights

    Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

    OFF-SITE STORAGE

    COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Big band music, Arranged -- Scores
    Composers -- United States -- Biography
    Music -- United States -- 20th century
    Composition (Music) -- 20th century -- Scores
    Jazz
    Jazz -- History
    Jazz musicians -- Biography
    African American composers -- Archives
    African American jazz musicians -- Archives
    Jackson, Calvin -- Archives