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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Access Restrictions
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Processing Information
  • Biography / Administrative History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Arrangement
  • Indexing Terms
  • Bibliography
  • Related Material

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Jesse Fuller collection
    Dates: 1971-1976
    Collection number: MS193
    Creator: Fuller, Jesse
    Creator: Dobrin, Michael
    Collection Size: .25 linear feet (1 box)
    Repository: African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
    Oakland, CA 94612
    Abstract: Jesse Fuller (1896-1976) was born on Jonesboro, Georgia in March 12, 1896. In 1954 Fuller recorded his most notable song, "San Francisco Bay Blues", and by 1960 Fuller booked a European tour, and devoted himself full time to music. Jesse Fuller Records consists of newspaper clippings, photographs, and audio recordings.
    Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

    Access

    No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

    Access Restrictions

    Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

    Publication Rights

    Permission to publish from the Jesse Fuller Collection must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

    Preferred Citation

    Jesse Fuller collection, MS193, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

    Acquisition Information

    Donated to African American Museum & Library on 11/27/2015 by Michael Dobrin.

    Processing Information

    Processed by Christopher Armstrong, 02/26/2016.

    Biography / Administrative History

    Jesse Fuller (1896-1976) was born in Jonesboro, Georgia on March 12, 1896. As a young man he found his way to Los Angeles, California, where he worked as an extra in films such as The Thief of Bagdad (1924) and East of Suez (1925). By 1929, Fuller moved to Oakland, California where he married Gertrude Fuller and worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. In the 1950s, Fuller started to focus on music, preforming as a one man band and calling himself "Lone Cat." On stage Fuller performed with his guitar, harmonic, kazoo, high hat and a six string bass of his own invention, which he played with his foot. Fuller called this instrument a "fotdella."
    In 1954 Fuller recorded his most notable song, "San Francisco Bay Blues", and by 1960 Fuller booked a European tour, and devoted himself full time to music. At this time, Fuller played shows alongside rock bands at The Fillmore Auditorium. The first track off of Bob Dylan's first self-titled release featured a song written by Fuller, "You're No Good." The Grateful Dead's first album, released in 1967, also featured a song written by Fuller, "Beat it on Down the Line". Fuller was honored with a performance and exhibit at the Oakland Museum in 1971 before his death in 1976.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The Jesse Fuller Collection consists of newspaper clippings, photographs, negatives, and audio recordings. The newspaper clippings document a concert Fuller preformed at the Oakland Museum’s History’s Department in 1971. The three audio tapes are interviews recorded by Oakland Museum staff at the home of Jesse Fuller discussing his life and recollections, as well contact sheets and negatives taken during the preparation for Fuller's performance at the Oakland Museum.

    Arrangement

    Series I: Oral history interviews. Series II: Photographs. Series III: Newspaper Clippings.

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
    Blues musicians--Interviews.
    Blues musicians--California--Oakland--Interviews.
    Blues musicians--United States—Biography.
    Blues (Music)--California--San Francisco Bay Area.
    Fuller, Jesse.

    Bibliography

    Selvin, Joel, “Jesse Fuller: Arts Heroes of Black History,” San Francisco Chronicle, January 27, 2008, Accessed on 02/26/2016.

    Related Material

    https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/bundles/191357