Guide to the Burt Bales Collection ARS.0198
Gurudarshan Khalsa
Archive of Recorded Sound
2018
soundarchive@stanford.edu
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Collection consists of unpublished recordings on audiocassettes, open reel tapes, and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
Documents
1937-1992
Scope and Contents
This series consists of correspondence, price lists and logbooks, newspaper and
magazine clippings, newspaper clippings scrapbooks, and jazz festival and concert
programs.
box 1, folder 1
Correspondence
1943-1990
Scope and Contents
This file contains correspondence from Willie Bunk Johnson to Burt Bales regarding
integration of the musicians' union, musical prospects, travel plans, and the
possibility of Bales and Johnson playing together again.
It also includes correspondence from 2nd Lt. Karl Gertenhouse, Miriam B. Compton,
Mildred Beck, Lester Koenig, Thomas Jancosek, Howard Skinner, Earl Saxton, Estelle
Caen, Richard Hadlock, Bob Reed, Pat Casey, Paul Larson, and others.
There is additionally a small amount of photographs and newspaper clippings.
box 1, folder 2
Festival and concert programs
1958-1990
box 1, folder 3
Magazines and newsletters
1957-1992
box 1, folder 4
Price lists and logbooks
1937-1941
Scope and Contents
These logbooks are from the Musicians' Union Local 6, American Federation of
Musicians. The logbooks contain price lists and logbooks where Burt Bales recorded
every gig he played. He recorded the name of the club, how much he was paid and
sometimes the names of any accompanying musicians.
box 1, folder 5
Price lists and logbooks
1941-1945
Scope and Contents
These logbooks are from the Musicians' Union Local 6, American Federation of
Musicians. The logbooks contain price lists and logbooks where Burt Bales recorded
every gig he played. He recorded the name of the club, how much he was paid and
sometimes the names of any accompanying musicians.
box 1, folder 6
Price lists and logbooks
1945-1951
Scope and Contents
These logbooks are from the Musicians' Union Local 6, American Federation of
Musicians. The logbooks contain price lists and logbooks where Burt Bales recorded
every gig he played. He recorded the name of the club, how much he was paid and
sometimes the names of any accompanying musicians.
box 1, folder 7
Clippings
1949-1959
Scope and Contents
Mostly newspaper clippings but also contains some clippings from magazines.
box 1, folder 8
Clippings
1960-1969
Scope and Contents
Mostly newspaper clippings but also contains some clippings from magazines.
box 1, folder 9
Clippings
1970-1979
Scope and Contents
Mostly newspaper clippings but also contains some clippings from magazines.
box 1, folder 10
Clippings
1980-1989
Scope and Contents
Mostly contains newspaper clippings but there are also some clippings from
magazines.
box 2, volume 1
Clippings scrapbook
1944-1958
box 2, volume 3
Clippings scrapbook
1960-1969
box 2, volume 4
Clippings scrapbook
1970-1979
box 2, volume 5
Clippings scrapbook
1980-1990
Photographs
1938-1989
Scope and Contents
This series contains photographs and negatives of Burt Bales, Turk Murphy, Bob Scobey,
Bob Helm, Dick Oxtot, Bob Mielke, Marty Marsala, Vince Cattolica, Bunky Colman, Paul
Lingle and others.
box 1, folder 11
Clubs
1939-1949
Scope and Contents
Photographs feature Burt Bales, Willie Bunk Johnston, and others at various San
Francisco Bay Area night clubs, including Ozzie's Lovchen Gardens, The Bowery Club,
Backstage, The Lions Den, The Nut Club, and the Bungalow Cafe.
box 1, folder 12
Photographs
1938-1957
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Ken Austin (autographed), Burt Bales, Byron Berry, Joe
Darensbourg, Lola R Douglas (performed under stage names Princess Lola and Princess
Narda, married to Leon Mandrake, autographed), Ernie Figueroa, Clancy Hayes, Bob Helm,
Freddie Higuera, and others.
box 1, folder 13
Photographs
1947-1975
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Ken Austin, Burt Bales, Bill Bardin, Byron Berry, Jack Raymond
Buck, Jerry Butzen, Vince Cattolica, Bunky Colman, Jack Crook, Hambone Lee Crosby,
Robert 'Cus' Cousineau, Joe Darensbourg, Ernie Figueroa, Jim Goodwin, Clancy Hayes,
Ginny Hodes, Hadlock Jerome, Dick Lammi, Carl Lorraine, Bill Maginnis, Marty Marsala,
Skip Moore, Bill Napier, Bill Newman, Charles Oden, Walter Roberts, Bob Scobey, and
others.
box 1, folder 14
Photographs
1955-1978
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Louis Armstrong, Burt Bales, Jack Buck, Jerry Butzen, Vince
Cattolica, Robert 'Cus' Cousineau, Ray Durand, Ernie Figueroa, Jesse Fuller, Marty
Marsala, Skip Moore, Charles Oden, Jack Teagarden, and others.
box 1, folder 15
Photographs
1955-1982
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Burt Bales, Bunky Colman, Burr Curtice, Ginny Hodes, Don Marchant,
Bob Mielke, Dick Oxtot, Jan Scobey, and others.
box 1, folder 16
Photographs
1954-1979
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Burt Bales, Vince Cattolica, Don Davis, Ralph Gleason, Helen Helm,
Carl Lorraine, and others.
box 1, folder 17
Photographs
1960-1987
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Louis Armstrong, Burt Bales, Paul Lingle, and others.
box 1, folder 18
Photographs
1939-1989
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Burt Bales, Steve Pistorius, and others.
Also includes negatives.
box 2, folder 1
Drawing
1985
Scope and Contents
Framed drawing, inscription reads "To Burt Bales for playing the "Real Jass", from
the Santa Rosa Dixieland Jazz Committee. United Cerebral Palsy and Agency for Infant
Development, thank you!, August 24 and 25, 1985".
Audio recordings
1945-1978
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of 37 open reel tapes and 8 audiocassettes that document
performances and interviews of Burt Bales and others.
box 3, reel 1
ABC Dixie Reel 1
undated
Scope and Contents
1. St. Louis Blues (take 1) 3:28
2. Jelly Roll (take 2) 3:18
3. Kansas City Man Blues (piano) (take 1) 3:05
4. Aunt Hagar's Blues (take 1) 3:06
5. Chicago (take 1) 2:30
6. Fidgety Feet (take 3) 3:18
7. Nobody Knows You When You're Down An' Out (take 1) 3:25
8. Milenberg Joys (take 1) 3:10
box 3, reel 3
ABC-Paramount Dixie Final Reel
undated
Scope and Contents
1. St. Louis Blues (take 1) 3:28
2. Jelly Roll (take 2) 3:18
3. Kansas City Man Blues (take 1) 3:05
4. Aunt Hagar's Blues (take 1) 3:06
5. Chicago (take 1) 2:30
6. Fidgety Feet (take 3) 3:18
7. Nobody Knows You When You're Down An' Out (take 1) 3:25
8. Milenberg Joys (take 1) 3:10
9. Wolverine Blues (take 2) 3:50
10. Sister Kate (take 1) 3:40
11. Sister Kate (take 2) 3:03
12. Mr. Joe (take 1) 3:05
13. Tin Roof (take 2) 5:19
14. Floatin' Down the Cotton Town (take 3) 2:00
15. The Pearl (take 1) 3:40
16. Don't You Have Me Here (take 1) 2:50
box 3, reel 4
ABC Reject Reel 3
undated
Scope and Contents
From afternoon session Oct. 16:
1. Melancholy Blues (take 3) 4:17
2. Naughty Sweetie Blues (take 1) 2:10
box 3, reel 5
Bales-Helm and Bales copy
1973
Scope and Contents
Bales-Helm June 14, 1973, Volume III:
1. Sweet Substitute
2. Wolverine
3. Wolverine
4. Winin' Boy fragment
5. Winin' Boy
6. Buddy Bolden Says
7. Mamies Blues
8. Michigan Water
9. Don't You Leave Me Here
10. Sweet Substitute
11. Hanna Johnson
12. Original Rags fragment
13. Original Rags fragment
14. Original Rags fragment
15. Original Rags
16. Interlude
Bales copy, Volume II:
1. Mr. Jelly Lord fragment short
2. Mr. Jelly Lord
3. Mr. Jelly Lord last chorus
4. Mr. Jelly Lord for splicing
5. Mr. Jelly Lord for splicing
6. King Porter fragment short
7. King Porter
8. Pearls fragment long
9. Pearls
10. N.O. Joys interruption
11. N.O. Joys
12. Sidewalk Blues fragment short
13. Sidewalk Blues defects
14. Sidewalk Blues
15. Sidewalk Blues faster
16. Some Day Sweetheart fragment short
17. Kansas City Stomps
18. Coughs - Sweet Substitute
box 3, reel 6
Kublai Khan Trio tape 1
undated
Scope and Contents
1. Cheat's A Plenty
2. Tin Roof Blues
3. Milenberg Joys
4. Clarinet Marmalade
box 3, reel 7
Kublai Khan Trio reel 4
undated
Scope and Contents
Burt Bales, Vince Cattolica, Dave Lario.
1. Limehouse Blues
2. Maple Leaf Rag
3. If I Had You
4. How How the Moon
5. Jungle Drums
6. Vincology - Moon Over Miami - Just You, Just Me
7. Fine and Dandy
8. Perdido
box 3, reel 8
Kublai Khan Trio, reel 5
undated
Scope and Contents
1. I've Got a Feelin I'm Fallin'
2. Royal Garden Blues
3. Someday Sweetheart
4. Pennsylvania Polka
5. If I Could Be With You
6. One Hou [?] Tonight
7. Come Back Sweet Papa
8. Dada Strain
9. Beale St. Blues
10. Indiana
box 3, reel 9
Kublai Khan Trio, reel 6
undated
Scope and Contents
1. Maple Leaf Rag
2. Just Because
3. Beale Street Blues
4. Under the Double Eagle
5. Muskrat Ramble
6. Charmaine
7. Don't Take Your Love From Me
8. Kansas City Kitty
box 3, reel 10
Burt Bales, Dick's at the Beach, reel 2
January 22,
1978
box 3, reel 11
Burt Bales, Dick's at the Beach, reel 2
January 29,
1978
box 3, reel 13
Pops
1960
Scope and Contents
Looking Out the Window
box 3, reel 17
Hambones
1950
Scope and Contents
1. Chinatown
2. Squeeze Me
3. Yellow Dog Blues
4. I Never Knew
5. Down Home Rag
6. Mandy
7. Mountain Top Blues
8. King Chanticleer
9. Smoky Mokes
10. New Orleans Joys
11. That's My Weakness
12. Aunt Hagar's Blues
13. Oriental Strut
14. Melancholy
15. Gladiolas Rag
16. Corinne Corina
17. Daddy Do
box 3, reel 18
Hambones, reel 5
1950
Scope and Contents
1. Dusky Stevedore
2. Sage Hen Strut
3. Wolverine Blues
4. Emperor Norton
5. The Pearls
6. Riverside Blues
7. Come Back Sweet Papa
8. When the Saints
9. Curse of an Aching Heart
10. King Chanticleer
11. King Chanticleer - Jug a la Helm
12. King Chanticleer
13. Terrible Blues
14. Doin' the Hambone
15. Dallas Blues
16. Emperor Norton
17. Broken Promises
box 3, reel 19
Hambones, reel 6
1950
Scope and Contents
with Turk Murphy:
1. Come Back Sweet Papa
2. Frankie and Johnny
3. Gut Bucket
4. Peoria
5. Riverside Blues
6. The Pearls
7. A Yonder Come the Blues
8. Shake That Thing
9. Weary Blues
10. Skid da de dat
11. Sweethearts on Parade
12. New Orleans Toys
13. Got dem Blues
box 3, reel 20
Hambones, reel 8
1950
Scope and Contents
Jacob Tea, Charlie Tea and Ray Bauduc:
1. My Honey's Loving Arms
2. Hesitation Blues
3. Sister Kate
4. Irish Black Bottom
5. Rosita
6. My Heart
7. Emperor Norton
box 3, reel 21
Hambones, reel 10
1950
Scope and Contents
March 26, 1950 with Red Doris:
1. Alexanders R.B.
2. Trouble in Mind
3. Dill Pickle Rag
4. St. Louis Blues
5. Shake That Thing
March 12, 1950 with Turk Murphy:
1. Mountaintop
2. Terrible Blues
3. Twelfth St. Rag
4. See See Rider
5. Shake That Thing
box 3, reel 22
Scobey, Hambones, reel 11
1950
Scope and Contents
Bob Scobey, Bob Helm, Freddie Higuera, Burt Bales, Gersh, Jack Buck - Jenny Lind
Hall, June 4, 1950:
1. Doctor Jazz
2. Nobody Knows When
3. Struttin With Some
4. New Orleans Joys
5. Didn't He Ramble
6. I Hate to Lose You
7. How Come You do Me
8. Some of These Days
Hambones, March 30, 1950:
1. Cake Walkin' Babies
2. You Made the Night
3. King Chanticleer
4. Gladliolus Rag
5. Coal Cart Blues
6. Bill Bailey
7. London Blues
8. Dusky Stevedore
9. Weary Blues
box 3, reel 23
Hambones, Lu Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band, reel 13
1950
Scope and Contents
Lu Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band - Bob Scobey, Warren Smith, Clancy Hayes, Wally
Rose, Bob Helm, Bill Dart:
1. Doctor Jazz
2. Carless Love
3. My Heart
4. London Blues
5. When the Saints
6. Peoria
7. Mountain Top Blues
8. Daddy Do
9. Irish Black Bottom
10. Panama
11. St. Louis Blues
12. See See Rider
13. Doin' the Hambone
14. Ding Dong Daddy
15. New Orleans Joys
16. Roll Jordan Roll
17. London Blues
18. High Society
box 3, reel 24
Hambones, reel 19
1950
Scope and Contents
Hambones, July 1, 1950:
1. My Huey's Lovin' Arms
2. Found a New Baby
3. How Come You do Me
4. Shake That Thing
5. Beale St. Blues
6. Down Home Rag
Hambones, August 10, 1950:
1. How Come You Do Me
2. Pineapple Rag
3. Frankie and Johnnie
4. High Society
5. My Heart
6. Indiana
7. Richard M. Jones Blues
8. When the Saints
box 3, reel 25
Hambones, reel 20
1950
Scope and Contents
Hambones, July 1, 1950:
1. St. Louis Blues
2. How Come You Do Me
3. I'm Goin' Huntin'
4. Irish Black Bottom
5. Sweet Georgia Brown
6. Tar Paper Stomp
7. Struttin' With Some
8. Mandy
9. Mountain Top Blues
10. 12th St. Rag
11. Doctor Jazz
12. Bill Bailey
13. Mandy Make Up Your Mind
14. I'm in the Market for You
15. Gladiolus Rag
box 3, reel 26
Dorsey Brothers, reel 22
1950
Scope and Contents
1. Stay on the Right Side
2. Some One Stole Gab
3. Mood Hollywood
4. Shim Sham Shimmy
5. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown
6. Give Me Liberty or Love
7. Judy
8. Annie's Cousin Fanny
9. Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jibe
10. Annie's Cousin Fanny
11. By Heck
12. Basin St. Blues
13. Milenberg Joys
14. St. Louis Blues
15. Stop Look Listen
16. Heat Wave
17. Honeysuckle Rose
18. Parts 1 and 2
19. Weary Blues
20. Dese Dem Dose
box 3, reel 27
Hambones, reel 23
1950
Scope and Contents
1. You Gotta See Mama
2. Georgia Camp Meeting
3. Alligator Crawl
4. Dippermouth
5. Pineapple Rag
6. Workingman Blues
7. When the Saints
8. Come Back Sweet Papa
9. Friendless Blues
10. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
11. Home
12. Copenhagen
13. You Made the Night too Long
14. King Chanticleer
box 3, reel 28
Hambones, reel 24
1950
Scope and Contents
1. You Can Depend on Me
2. Irish Black Bottom
3. Sidewalk Blues
4. You Made the Night too Long
5. Original Rags
6. St. Louis Blues
7. Willie the Weeper
8. Antigua Blues
9. Blues My Naughty Sweetie
10. Trouble in Mind
11. Grandpa's Spells
12. Down Home Rag
13. Love Me or Leave Me
14. Sage Hen Strut
box 3, reel 29
Hambones, reel 25
1950
Scope and Contents
Hambones, August 11, 1950:
1. Beale St. Blues
2. I'm in the Market for You
3. Dallas Blues
4. Alcoholic Blues
5. Canal St.
6. New Orleans Stomp
Hambones, August 12, 1950:
1. Oriental Strut
2. 12th St. Rag
3. Shake That Thing
4. Melancholy
5. Hot House Rag
6. St. Louis Blues
7. Maple Leaf Rag
box 3, reel 30
Glass Blowers Ball, reel 27
1952
Scope and Contents
Bill Dart, Jack Minger, Liebermit, Turk Murphy, Ellis, Dick Lammi, Wally Rose -
Leamington Hotel, Glass Blowers Ball, November 24, 1952:
1. St. Louis Blues
2. South
3. Black and Blue
4. Margie
5. Love Me or Leave Me
6. Jazz Me Blues
7. Dr. Jazz
8. Shake That Thing
9. St. James Infirmary
10. Ain't Misbehavin'
11. Jazz Band Ball
12. Muskrat Ramble
13. Somebody Loves Me
14. When My Sweetie
15. Dixieland Ramble
box 3, reel 31
Spoken Japanese, lesson 1
undated
Scope and Contents
Lesson 1 of spoken Japanese, including grammar, read into the record.
box 3, reel 37
Number 1
undated
Scope and Contents
1. Birmingham
2. Melancholy Blues
3. Some of These Things
box 3, audiocassette 1
Burt Bales tribute with Phil Elwood, KPFA
June 30,
1964
Scope and Contents
Burt Bales Tribute: Broadcast on Jazz Archives, KPFA, 30 June 1964. Produced and
announced by Phil Elwood.
box 3, audiocassette 2
Burt Bales tribute with Phil Elwood, KPFA
June 30,
1964
Scope and Contents
Burt Bales Tribute: Broadcast on Jazz Archives, KPFA, 30 June 1964. Produced and
announced by Phil Elwood.
box 3, audiocassette 3
KQED interview I
February 9,
1977
box 3, audiocassette 4
KQED interview II
February 9,
1977
box 3, audiocassette 5
Burt Bales
undated
Scope and Contents
Side A:
1. Burt - Birmingham Blues
2. (Elwood talks)
3. John Maraboto and Brew Moore: Ol' Man Blues/New Kinda Love/I Can't Believe That
You're
4. Rebroadcast of program on KPFA Burt made 25 years ago
(A). Melancholy - Solo
(B). Some of These Days (with Scobey, continued on Side B)
Side B:
1. (Elwood talks)
2. Mr. Joe - Burt solo
3. King Porter - Burt solo
4. London Blues - Burt solo
5. (Elwood talks)
6. Tiger Rag - solo
7. (Elwood talks)
8. Wildman Blues - solo
9. Hindustan - band
10. J.R.M. - Buddy Bolden
Box 4, othertype disc 1
Clancy Hayes and Burt Bales
undated
Scope and Contents
Rose of Washington Square.
Box 4, othertype disc 2
Clancy Hayes
undated
Scope and Contents
Mamy Skinney. Otto's New Auto.
Box 4, othertype disc 3
Chuck Mordecai, Bertha Gonzoulin, and Burt Bales
undated
Scope and Contents
Saints go marching. Tiger rag, 2 pianos.
Box 4, othertype disc 5
Burt Bales and Bill Dart
undated
Scope and Contents
King Porter Stomp. Maple Leaf Rag.
Box 4, othertype disc 7
Burt Bales and Clancy Hayes
undated
Scope and Contents
Black and White. Otto's New Auto.
Box 4, othertype disc 9
Vince Dotson
undated
Scope and Contents
Cornet Chop Suey. Baby's Won't You Please Come Home.
Box 4, othertype disc 10
Clancy Hayes, Bordin, Vince Cattolica, Ellis, Burt Bales
undated
Scope and Contents
Shake That Thing. Careless Love with Vince Cattolica, Slim, Hotz, Ben.
Box 4, othertype disc 11
St. James Infirmary
undated
Box 4, othertype disc 12
I wouldn't trade the silver in my mother's hair, Million dollar
smile
undated
Box 4, othertype disc 13
Vince Dotson
undated
Scope and Contents
Birmingham Blues.
Box 4, othertype disc 16
After you're gone, She's a good girl
undated
Box 4, othertype disc 17
Somebody's wrong, Rose of Washington Square
1945-02-22