Abstract
The Russ Morgan Music Manuscripts (approximately 1950-1967) are comprised of manuscript arrangements used by the Russ Morgan Band for live concert, radio, and television performances. The collection includes handwritten scores and parts for popular music.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Russ Morgan Music Manuscripts (approximately 1950-1967) are comprised of manuscript arrangements used by the Russ Morgan Band for live concert, radio, and television performances. The collection includes handwritten scores and parts for popular music.
Access Note
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
Materials remain in the order they were received.
Biographical / Historical Note
Russ Morgan was a big band orchestra leader who was active from the 1930s through the 1960s. Morgan
was born on April 29, 1904 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He began playing in a local band, The Scranton
Sirens, during the 1920s in Pennsylvania. In addition to leading big band orchestras, Morgan was also a
pianist, trombonist, composer, and music arranger. He collaborated with American musicians including John
Philip Sousa, Victor Herbert, Rudy Vallee, Paul Specht, and Paul Whiteman. Throughout his career Morgan
hosted radio and television programs including "Music in the Morgan Manner" for Detroit Radio Station
WXYZ, "The Morgan Manner" on ABC Television in 1950, and "The Russ Morgan Show" on CBS in 1956.
From 1965 to 1967, the Russ Morgan Band performed at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Morgan
passed away in Las Vegas on August 7, 1969.
Source:
"Russ Morgan." Battle of the Big Bands. Accessed October 7, 2020. http://www.battleofthebigbands.com/
russ-morgan
Preferred Citation
Russ Morgan Music Manuscripts, approximately 1950-1967. MS-00944. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were transferred in 2019 by the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center; accession number 2019-058.
Processing Note
Materials were processed in 2019 by Mary Anilao, Chriziel Childers, Kyle Gagnon, Paola Landaverde, and Landon Paljusaj. In 2020, Paola Landaverde, Victoria Palma, and Krisada Sinamkam administered paper conservation on the materials and created the inventory. In 2020, Tammi Kim entered the inventory and created a finding aid in ArchivesSpace.
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Storage Location
Some materials are stored in the Lied Automated Storage and Retrieval Unit (LASR). Advanced notice may be required to access these materials.
Custodial History
The complete library for the Russ Morgan Band, including published stock arrangements and manuscript arrangements, are held in two locations at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2019, the manuscript arrangements were transferred to Special Collections and Archives and the published stock arrangements remain at the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center. The complete catalog of stock arrangements can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/ShawMorganPrintCollection