Guide to the Ken Ackerman Collection ARS.0023

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Archive of Recorded Sound

Title: Ken Ackerman Collection

source: KCBS (Radio station : San Francisco, Calif.)

source: San Francisco Traditional Jazz Foundation

source: Ackerman, Ken

creator: Goerner, Bob

Identifier/Call Number: ARS.0023

Physical Description: 10 box(es) 188 open reel tapes, 279 optical disc media, 4 audiocassettes

Date (inclusive): 1953-1999

Abstract: Recordings of radio broadcast performances of jazz music of the 1950s and 60s by artists such as Earl Hines, Louis Armstrong, Muggsy Spanier, Jack Teagarden, Harry James, Cal Tjader, and George Shearing at venues such as the Club Hangover in San Francisco, California; other West Coast recordings by Duke Ellington, Woody Herman and the JATP; and Ted Heath, Johnny Dankworth, Kenny Baker and others performing on the BBC. Additionally, there are cassette recordings and transcripts of Turk Murphy and George Avakian interviewing musician Sid Le Protti in the mid-1950s.

Physical Location: Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound Stanford University Libraries Stanford, California 94305-3076

This finding aid was produced with generous financial support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

The Ken Ackerman Collection was donated to the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound by William Carter in 2007.

The Ken Ackerman collection consists of broadcast recordings of live jazz performances from the 1950s and 60s. The majority were recorded at various clubs in San Francisco, particularly Club Hangover. The Club Hangover recordings, featuring such artists such as Earl Hines, Kid Ory, and Louis Armstrong, were originally aired on radio station KCBS as part of a weekly half-hour series, and were preserved by KCBS announcer Bob Gouerner. Those tapes formed the basis of a much larger collection of unique recordings given to friend and fellow broadcaster Ken Ackerman, where it was mostly forgotten until its 2006 salvage by Bill Carter and Dave Radlauer of the San Francisco Traditional Jazz Society. Most of the original open reel tapes were transferred by Radlauer, and copies on optical media were included in the original donation. Other moments captured in this treasure trove include: Boyd Raeburn at the Rose Room of the Palace Hotel; Cal Tjader At Club Macumba in 1956; Duke Ellington and Woody Herman in Portland, Oregon; Jazz at the Philharmonic in Seattle in 1956; Ted Heath, Johnny Dankworth, Kenny Baker and others on the BBC; Al White’s Orchestra at Station J; Joe Marcellino at Sabella’s on KNBC, and Kurt Edelhagen on Radio Baden-Baden. While the majority of these groups are traditional, more contemporary sounds by groups such as Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, and the Modern Jazz Quartet are also present. Also in the Ken Ackerman Collection is a copy of the once-believed-lost interview with jazz musician Sid Le Protti, conducted by George Avakian and Turk Murphy (with the technical assistance of Wally Heider) in 1955 or 1956. Le Protti (1886-1958) was a musician and firsthand observer of the wide open days of Barbary Coast and the early San Francisco jazz scene, and he demonstrates various tunes on a piano as he speaks, in a manner not unlike the Jelly Roll Morton Library of Congress sessions. Transcripts of the interview, which are also included in the collection, were extensively used in the book “Jazz on the Barbary Coast.” The original tapes (thought to be in the possession of Avakian) were dubbed on to four audiocassettes prior to accession.

The Ken Ackerman Collection consists of broadcast recordings of live jazz performances from the 1950s and 60s. The majority were recorded at various clubs in San Francisco, particularly Club Hangover. The Club Hangover recordings, featuring such artists such as Earl Hines, Kid Ory, and Louis Armstrong, were originally aired on radio station KCBS as part of a weekly half-hour series, and were preserved by KCBS announcer Bob Goerner. Those tapes formed the basis of a much larger collection of unique recordings given to friend and fellow broadcaster Ken Ackerman, where it was largely forgotten until its 2006 salvage by Bill Carter and Dave Radlauer of the San Francisco Traditional Jazz Foundation. Most of the original open reel tapes were transferred by Radlauer, and copies on optical media were included in the original donation.

Other moments captured in this trove include: Boyd Raeburn at the Rose Room of the Palace Hotel; Cal Tjader at Club Macumba in 1956; Duke Ellington and Woody Herman in Portland, Oregon; a Jazz at the Philharmonic program in Seattle in 1956; Ted Heath, Johnny Dankworth, Kenny Baker and others on the BBC; Al White’s Orchestra at Station J; Joe Marcellino at Sabella’s on KNBC; and Kurt Edelhagen on Radio Baden-Baden. While the majority of these groups are traditional, more contemporary sounds by groups such as Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, and the Modern Jazz Quartet are also present.

Also in the Ken Ackerman Collection is a copy of the once-believed-lost interview with jazz musician Sid Le Protti, conducted by George Avakian and Turk Murphy (with the technical assistance of Wally Heider) in 1955 or 1956. Le Protti (1886-1958) was a musician and firsthand observer of the wide open days of the Barbary Coast and the early San Francisco jazz/cabaret scene, and he demonstrates various tunes on a piano as he speaks, in a manner not unlike the Jelly Roll Morton Library of Congress sessions. Transcripts of the interview, which are also included in the collection, were extensively used in the book “Jazz on the Barbary Coast.” The original tapes (which thought to be in the possession of Avakian) were dubbed on to these four audiocassettes prior to accession.

Ken Ackerman Collection, ARS-0023. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

The KA numbers were created for the transfer project, and are not on the original tapes. Some of the tapes are numbered, however, and the contents listing includes both numbers when present (for instance, KA001 is tape 1033). The list also contains all information from the tapes, including dates and personnel. KA1-65 is listed on paper only, and KA66-123 is listed on paper, CD-R, and is available digitally.

Open for research; material must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use. Contact the Archive for assistance.

Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the creators or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound.

The Archive of Recorded Sound also holds the San Francisco Traditional Jazz Foundation Collection, ARS-0030.