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.)
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