Ken Hanlon oral history interview conducted by Cynthia Cicero on January 17, 2014 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Hanlon discribes his background, talking about his childhood in Maryland, his early interest in music, and the opportunity to study with the same band teacher through middle and high school. He talks about starting to play a baritone horn before switching to the trombone, his early experiences playing with dance bands, starting private lessons, and eventually matriculating to the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. He continues, relating his five years teaching middle-school music after graduating from college, and his decision to move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968 to seek work as a full-time musician. After talking about some of the difficulties he faced finding work, he discusses his time in a road band and deciding to apply to teach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He explains that he was hired to teach as an adjunct in 1970 and two weeks later was offered the job of department chair, a role he held for 16 years before moving into university administration. During this period he continued to perform, playing trombone in the Sands Hotel and Casino house band under the direction of Antonio Morelli. Finally, he discusses Morelli at more length, and concludes by talking about endowments for music education and the Arnold Shaw music collection at the Arnold Shaw Center at UNLV.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jay Poster conducted by Barbara Tabach on August 26, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Poster describes his growth through his career in funeral services and his respect for the Jewish traditions of burial and grieving. He also talks about his participation in the ShabbaTones Band at Congregation Ner Tamid, and Desert Winds, a community based performance organization.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bobby Morris conducted by Cork Proctor on September 07, 2004 for the Arnold Shaw Oral History Project on Las Vegas Entertainers. Morris discusses his early work in New York City, New York and working with many jazz players. He also reflects on playing at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. Morris then discusses how he became Elvis Presley’s musical director at the International Hotel and Casino.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron Textor conducted by Claytee D. White on July 24, 2007 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In this interview Ron Textor describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1981, playing with the Norm Geller orchestra at the Sands, and playing with the Al Ramsey Orchestra at Caesars Palace. He also discusses being contracted with the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra and teaching mathematics at Clark High School for twenty years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pete Barbutti (also spelled Barbuti) conducted by Lisa Gioia Acres on September 24, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Barbutti begins his interview by describing why his last name is spelled two different ways. He then discusses his introduction to music which occurred when he learned to play the accordion. He describes learning to play Polish music as a child, his family and childhood, and the importance of music in his family. Barbutti then recalls his performance history during the 1950s in bands such as the Polka Dots, Overtones, and Millionaires. He explains that while in the Millionaires the band was booked to play Las Vegas, Nevada at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino. After the Millionaires broke up in 1962 he played the piano in Spokane, Washington. He then describes his role performing on the Steve Allen Show, how he got the job, and how the show lead to him working with Nat King Cole. He then discusses his family, their move to Las Vegas in 1955, and his guest performances on late night shows. Lastly, Barbutti tells an anecdote about proper venue set up and how performances can be impacted by poor planning and lack of knowledge.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stan Irwin conducted by Cork Proctor on August 24, 2003 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In this interview, Irwin talks about his early life performing comedy in nightclubs, hotels, and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, writing comedic material, his military service, starting a family, and racism in the Las vegas entertainment industry in the 1950s and 1960s. He also discusses his work as vice-president and executive producer for Sahara Nevada Corporation, bringing The Beatles to Las Vegas, Nevada when all other hotels refused to do so, and the band's appearance at the Las Vegas Convention Center. He continues talking about being a comedian, actor, and special materials writer and his life since retirement.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Eugene Williams conducted by Claytee White on July 18, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Williams discusses being signed to a musical group called the Platters in 1970, and performing with them for eighteen years. Williams also talks about his temporary hiatus form music to focus on his family, then returning to music through an ex-Platters group called the Sound of the Platters.
Archival Collection
The Betty Henderson Professional Papers (1963-1985) are comprised of materials produced by Betty Henderson in her capacity as a private music teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada and as a member of the Nevada Music Teachers Association (NMTA). The collection includes scrapbooks of concert programs and NMTA events, materials from Henderson's experiences in Europe as a People-to-People ambassador with the Music Teachers National Association, and recordings on reel-to-reel tapes of concerts Henderson performed in or judged.
Archival Collection
The KNPR: "Monday Night Jazz" Program Documentation and Recordings focus on jazz music played at the Four Queens Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1982 to 1997. The materials contain the reel-to-reel audio tapes from the radio programs that were taped at the Four Queens Hotel, including unedited master recordings and the edited versions played on air by Nevada National Public Radio (KNPR). Materials also include contracts, newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, and jazz scheduling information related to the program.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ken Hanlon conducted by Claytee D. White on November 29, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Hanlon, a trombonist, discusses being on the road with Si Zentner's orchestra and playing in many of the Las Vegas Strip hotels. He also discusses getting hired as chair of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Music Department in 1970. Hanlon then discusses the Las Vegas, Nevada Chapter of the International Trombone Association and the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center.
Archival Collection