Compare Constellations

Sanjek, Russell;. Oral history interview with Russell Sanjek; 1979 May 24; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Russell Sanjek; 1979 May 24; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1979 May 24.

BMI executive Russell Sanjek recounts the history of the American music industry, focusing on issues facing the industry since the 1940s. Discussion includes examples of BMI's programming; validating BMI's existence; country music as an important element of popular music; the importance of "Tennessee Waltz" to the popularity of country music; an overview of past BMI presidents; BMI's licensing and fee structures; BMI's work with writers; comments about his current work on a book tracing the history of American popular music; the ASCAP and BMI relationship since the mid-1960s; the efforts for revision of the copyright law; and comments on record companies' increased costs and prices.

ArchivalResource: 1 sound cassette (1 hour, 4 minutes)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58841386 View

Rager, Mose;. Oral history interview with Mose Rager; 1979 May 3; interview conducted by John Lomax III;

Title: Oral history interview with Mose Rager; 1979 May 3; interview conducted by John Lomax III; 1979 May 3.

Guitarist Mose Rager recalls the development and influence of his fingerstyle guitar playing. Discussion includes his start with the guitar; meeting Kennedy Jones; his influence on Merle Travis; and memories from his career.

ArchivalResource: 1 sound cassette (30 minutes)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58841109 View

Sanjek, Russell;. Oral history interview with Russell Sanjek; 1979 May 23; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Russell Sanjek; 1979 May 23; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1979 May 23.

BMI executive Russell Sanjek recounts the history of the American music industry, focusing on the period from the 1890s-1930s. Discussion includes an explanation of portions of the copyright law; the start of the modern music era; the history of song promotion; the piano tradition in popular music; the first American-European mutual copyright agreement in 1891; sheet music sales and songwriter percentages contrasted with the flat rate associated with record sales and the reasons for the flat rate compulsory licensing principle; the role of Edison's phonograph; the Copyright Act of 1909; the growth of the dance band; the cylinder recording technology; the role of Henry Ford in promoting country music and country recordings; the growth of the radio after 1920; the impact of the sound motion picture; the impact of the Depression; the growth of ASCAP; radio programming during the 1930s; the role of song promoters; the attitude of the music industry toward country music; the jukebox market; the country music audience; the role of Fred Rose; and the early history of BMI.

ArchivalResource: 2 sound cassettes (2 hours, 16 minutes)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58841385 View

Haverlin, Carl, 1899-1985;. Oral history interview with Carl Haverlin and Russell Sanjek; 1979 June 6; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Carl Haverlin and Russell Sanjek; 1979 June 6; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1979 June 6.

Former BMI executives Carl Haverlin and Russell Sanjek talk about the formation of BMI. Discussion includes Haverlin's career prior to joining BMI; circumstances surrounding the formation of BMI; establishing BMI within an ASCAP dominated environment; ASCAP's reaction to BMI; growth in visibility as BMI songs begin to hit #1; BMI's work to encourage new composers; BMI's role in licensing country, blues, and rock music formats and issues related to rock's lyrics; and their efforts to get more American history into mass media. Interview includes interesting side note as Haverlin recalls his radio communication with Amelia Earhart during her flight from Hawaii to California in the 1930s.

ArchivalResource:

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62297596 View

Clement, Jack;. Oral history interview with "Cowboy" Jack Clement and Bob Webster; 1978 May 13; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with "Cowboy" Jack Clement and Bob Webster; 1978 May 13; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1978 May 13.

Producer "Cowboy" Jack Clement describes the development of his career. Discussion includes early musical interests and influences; working for Sam Phillips at Sun Records; recording Roy Orbison; working with Charley Pride; recording Jerry Lee Lewis at the start of Lewis's career; recording Johnny Cash; working with Dickey Lee; his songwriting; experiences working in Beaumont, Texas; recording Waylon Jennings; and memories from the early years of his career.

ArchivalResource:

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62297591 View

Adams, Stanley;. Oral history interview with Stanley Adams; 1980 March 13; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Stanley Adams; 1980 March 13; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1980 Mar. 13.

ASCAP executive Stanley Adams talks about his experiences in the music industry. Discussion includes his career as a songwriter; his membership with ASCAP as a writer; his election as ASCAP president; the role of the president and challenges facing ASCAP; international issues affecting the music industry; and comments on his ASCAP years.

ArchivalResource: 1 sound cassette (60 minutes)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58841186 View

Haverlin, Carl, 1899-1985;. Oral history interview with Carl Haverlin and Russell Sanjek; 1979 June 7; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Carl Haverlin and Russell Sanjek; 1979 June 7; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1979 June 7.

Former BMI executives Carl Haverlin and Russell Sanjek talk about their experiences during the early years of BMI's organization. Discussion includes events during the early years of BMI; Haverlin's work with the Mutual Broadcasting System; the stories behind several of BMI's programming achievements, including the Book Parade, Lincoln for the Ages, and The American Story; development of the "Haverlin Collection"; promoting BMI among large and small broadcasters; tensions between BMI and ASCAP; BMI's fight against conspiracy charges; the story behind the arrest of ASCAP president Gene Buck; and memories of early BMI personnel.

ArchivalResource:

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62297595 View

Howard, Harlan;. Oral history interview with Harlan Howard; 1978 December; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Harlan Howard; 1978 December; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1978 Dec.

Songwriter Harlan Howard talks about his experiences working as a successful Nashville writer. Discussion includes the quality of country songwriting; pressure on songwriters to be performers; comments about other writers, including Kris Kristofferson, Tom T. Hall, Roger Miller, and Cindy Walker; his approach to writing; his experiences as a writer; description of Nashville when he arrived in the early 1960s; comments on working with Nashville producers; changes in country music recording; the story behind "Streets of Baltimore"; great songwriting; impact of Ray Charles on the popularity of country songs; working with Buck Owens and the story behind "Tiger By The Tail"; working with Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, and other artists; memories from the early years of his career, including his first hit "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down"; comments on the music business and the songwriter; and influences on his writing.

ArchivalResource: 2 sound cassettes (1 hour, 5 minutes)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58841227 View

Preston, Frances;. Oral history interview with Frances Preston; 1980 December 9; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Frances Preston; 1980 December 9; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1980 Dec. 9.

BMI executive Frances Preston talks about the contributions of John Lennon. Discussion includes the circumstances surrounding her first meeting with Lennon; memories of his personality; comments on the quality of his work as a composer; memories of Bob Burton's signing the Beatles to BMI; the effect Lennon's violent death may have on other artists; Lennon songs on the BMI award list; and reflections on the price of fame.

ArchivalResource:

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62297605 View

Adler, Paul;. Oral history interview with Paul Adler; 1980; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Paul Adler; 1980; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1980.

ASCAP executive Paul Adler describes his organization's role in the music industry. Discussion focuses on current ASCAP activities focusing on the role of the membership department; changing approaches to membership; survey methods; the membership represented; the board of directors; survey implementation strategies; experiences working with different members; the future he sees for country music; some of the challenges ahead for ASCAP; current copyright law and public domain issues; rules pertaining to membership; and comments on some of the myths about ASCAP.

ArchivalResource: 2 sound cassettes (1 hour, 43 minutes)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58841197 View

Lomax, John A. (John Avery), 1867-1948. Lomax, John Avery, family papers, 1842-1986.

Title: Lomax, John Avery, family papers, 1842-1986.

Correspondence, song lyrics, music, literary productions, diaries and logs, scrapbooks, classified files, financial records, photographs, phonograph recordings, audio tapes, newspaper and magazine clippings, and other materials

ArchivalResource: 45 ft., 7 in.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30425536 View

Williams, Don, 1939-;. Oral history interview with Don Williams; 1979 March 9; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Don Williams; 1979 March 9; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1979 Mar. 9.

Country performer Don Williams talks about his approach to his music and career. Discussion includes his stage sound; his approach to writing; his early musical influences; his years with the band Pozo Seco; the move to Nashville; signing as a writer and later a recording artist; his early experiences in the recording studio; working with Jack Clement; the impact of his recording career on his songwriting; working with Bob McDill; his role as producer for his recordings; comparison of his style with the style of Eric Clapton; highlights from his career as a performer; comments on the categorization of musical styles and artists; comments on his religious background; and comments on his methods of song selection.

ArchivalResource:

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62297599 View

Marks, Paul;. Oral history interview with Paul Marks. 1980 March 14; interview conducted by John Lomax III.

Title: Oral history interview with Paul Marks. 1980 March 14; interview conducted by John Lomax III. 1980 Mar. 14.

ASCAP executive Paul Marks discusses the history of performing rights, ASCAP and BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), and his career. Discussion includes being hired as a lawyer in ASCAP's legal department and working his way up to Managing Director; the importance of helping songwriters protect their creative works; the business structure of ASCAP; the competitive relationship between ASCAP and BMI; the history of performing rights organizations; the issue of BMI's "illegal" status; the necessity of having the government involved in protecting the music industry, ASCAP, writers, music publishers, and the public; the ASCAP-radio "war" of 1941; fees collected by performance rights organizations from jukebox operators; differences between the ways ASCAP and BMI operate; Nashville's diverse music scene; various awards given by ASCAP; major problems ASCAP faces; signing Bob Dylan; and how performance rights organizations work together to insure that the creator is compensated when his work is performed.

ArchivalResource: 3 sound cassettes (2 hours, 13 minutes)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/232361975 View