Scope and Contents
Biographical
System of Arrangement
Cite as
Access
Restrictions
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Archive of Recorded Sound
Title: Burt Bales Collection
Creator:
Bales, Burt
Identifier/Call Number: ARS.0198
Physical Description:
4.25 Linear Feet
(4) box(es)
Date (inclusive): 1937-1992
Abstract: The Burt Bales
Collection consists of unpublished recordings on audiocassettes, open reel tapes, and
transcription discs featuring the jazz pianist, Burt Bales (1917-1989). Also included are
correspondence, photographs, festival and concert programs, logbooks, and newspaper
clippings pertaining to Burt Bales from the late 1930's to after his death in
1989.
Scope and Contents
The Burt Bales Collection consists of materials documenting the life and work of the jazz
pianist Burt Bales. Materials include photographs, negatives, price lists and logbooks,
festival and concert programs, jazz society newsletters, correspondence, audio recordings,
and newspaper clippings.
There are number of letters from jazz trumpeter Bunk Johnson to Burt Bales.
Biographical
Burt Bales was a jazz solo and band pianist. Bales was born April 20, 1917 in Stevensville,
Montana. In 1925 he and his family moved Marin County, California. Bales began playing
professional jazz piano while in high school. He played with Lu Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz
Band, he also played with Bunk Johnson, Turk Murphy, Bob Scobey, Paul Lingle, Dick Oxtot,
Bob Mielke, Vince Cattolica, and others. Burt Bales enlisted in the army in 1943 but was
soon discharged due to myopia. In 1954 Bales started playing a semi-regular appearance at
Pier 23 in San Francisco. From that point on he performed primarily as a soloist. Bales died
October 26, 1989 in San Francisco.
System of Arrangement
The collection is organized into three series:
Series I: Documents Series II: Photographs Series III: Audio recordings
The collection is in original order.
Cite as
Burt Bales Collection ARS-0198. Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University
Libraries, Stanford, CA.
Access
Open for research; material must be requested at least two business days in advance of
intended use. Contact the Archive of Recorded Sound for assistance.
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head Librarian, Archive of Recorded Sound, Braun Music
Center, Stanford, California 94305. Consent is given on behalf of the Archive of Recorded
Sound as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s)
or assigns.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Piano music (Jazz)
Jazz musicians
Jazz
Murphy, Turk
Johnson, Bunk
Yerba Buena Jass Band
Oxtot, Dick
Mielke, Bob