Guide to the Ken Ackerman Collection ARS.0023

Franz Kunst
Archive of Recorded Sound
2010
soundarchive@stanford.edu


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

Sponsor

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

Source

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

Scope and Contents

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.

Preferred Citation

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

Arrangement

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.

Access

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

Publication Rights

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.

Related Collections

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

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Interviews
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
Jazz
Live sound recordings
Radio programs
KCBS (Radio station : San Francisco, Calif.)
San Francisco Traditional Jazz Foundation
Ackerman, Ken
Le Protti, Sid
Goerner, Bob

box 5, box 6, box 7, box 8, box 4, box 3, box 2, box 1

1. Open reel tapes

Physical Description: 8 box(es)

Scope and Contents

Box 1. Tapes 101-147 (no 127, 131, 137, 138, 140-142) Box 2. 148-162, 303, 402 (no 151, 154, 155) ; KA-083, 084, 092, 132 ; FT 1, 2 ; 16 unnumbered- mostly Joe Marcellino at Sabella’s March-April 1962 Box 3. (unnumbered) Al White Orchestra Station JH. 1961-1962; Earl Hines, Black Sheep Club 1961 Box 4. KA 113-115, Chris Ibanez Trio KCBS 1963, Harry James at El Patio ; Spanier tribute on KCBS by Ken Ackerman 2/1967 ; Kurt Edelhagen Orchestra, Radio Baden-Baden ; #151 Michael Rabin, Segurd Rauscher, Seattle Symphony Orchestra ; 302, 503, 504- LP dubs Box 5. 1001-1024 (no 1008, 1009, 1011, 1019-1022) Box 6. 1025-1042 Box 7. 1043-1062 (no 1057, 1058) Box 8. 1063-1070 (no 1069)
Box 1. Tapes 101-147 (no 127, 131, 137, 138, 140-142).
Box 2. 148-162, 303, 402 (no 151, 154, 155) ; KA-083, 084, 092, 132 ; FT 1, 2 ; 16 unnumbered - mostly Joe Marcellino at Sabella’s March-April 1962.
Box 3. unnumbered: Al White Orchestra, Station J 1961-1962 ; Earl Hines, Black Sheep Club 1961.
Box 4. KA113-115, Chris Ibanez Trio KCBS 1963 ; Harry James at El Patio Ballroom ; Muggsy Spanier tribute on KCBS by Ken Ackerman 2/1967 ; Kurt Edelhagen Orchestra, Radio Baden-Baden ; 151 Michael Rabin: encore, Ysaye Sonata, Op. 27, No. 3 (for solo violin) November 1955, Segurd Rauscher, Seattle Symphony Orchestra ; 302, 503, 504 - LP dubs.
Box 5. 1001-1024 (no 1008, 1009, 1011, 1019-1022).
Box 6. 1025-1042.
Box 7. 1043-1062 (no 1057, 1058).
Box 8. 1063-1070 (no 1069).
box 10, box 9

2. Transfers on Compact Disc and DVD data discs

Physical Description: 2 box(es)

Scope and Contents

Box 9. DVD data discs KA001-123 ; Gold CDs KA001-123 Note: data discs may also include images? (Spanier tribute) Box 10. Compact discs (access copies) KA001-123 plus extras of KA001-065
Box 9. DVD data discs KA001-123 (includes regular high-resolution WAV files and 16-bit access copies); Gold CDs KA001-123. Note: at least one data disc includes images (Spanier tribute).
Box 10. Compact discs (access copies) KA001-123, and extra copies of KA001-065.
box 8

3. Sid Le Protti interview, transcripts, and grant information

Physical Description: 1 folder(s)four audiocassettes

Scope and Contents

Musician Sid Le Protti interviewed by George Avakian and Turk Murphy in 1955 or 1956 (four dubs on audiocassette, plus typed transcripts); California Council for the Humanities grant notes and correspondence (for the transfer and transcription of interview); William Carter speech about Le Protti 5/21/99.
box 8

4. Transfer documentation

Physical Description: 1 folder(s)

Scope and Contents

Transfer logs with listing of complete contents: KA001-123 (KA066-123 also has data CD-R version).