Oral history interview with Jean Bennett conducted by Claytee D. White on July 8, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Bennett discusses how she went to California from Missouri to pursue her dreams of being a singer. She also discusses her career working for Buck Ram, who wrote, produced and arranged for the Platters, the Drifters, and many more singing groups of early rock-and-roll and rhythm-and-blues genres.
Archival Collection
The "Jazz on the Strip" Scrapbooks (1991-2000) consist of ten scrapbooks containing photographs, event programs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera for the "Jazz on the Strip" weekly performance series put on by the Las Vegas Jazz Society (LVJS). Photographs depict the weekly shows at the Riviera Hotel's Le Bistro Lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada, and include performers such as Chick Corea, Russ Freeman, Bill Watrous, and other well-known performers. The scrapbooks also document other events put on by the Jazz Artists of Nevada, including annual picnics, memorial performances, "Jazz in the Park" outdoor concerts, and fundraising events. Included throughout the scrapbooks are the LVJS Jazz Notes, a monthly newsletter.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Vera Vann Wilson conducted by Patricia Van Batten on September 24, 2006 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Wilson begins the interview by describing how she came to move to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1976 and being in a country music band in Reno, Nevada with her husband. She discusses life in Blue Diamond during that time and how Nevada has changed. Wilson expands upon how she built a straw-bale house and the difficulties she faced from the local county during its construction. She concludes by discussing the Blue Diamond community as it is at the time of the interview and her contributions to the community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Houghton Peterson conducted by Claytee D. White on May 20, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Peterson discusses playing the trombone in the United States Air Force jazz band, “Airmen of Note.” He also discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1962 and playing the trombone in various shows.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tony Scodwell conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on September 29, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In this interview, Tony Scodwell discusses going to the Berklee School of Music, playing across the world, playing in Las Vegas, Nevada, and eventually settling down in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Adelaide Robbins conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on April 18, 2008 and April 29, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Robbins discusses her experience in piano lessons at age six and having a professional career by the age of 12. Robbins also discusses playing many Las Vegas, Nevada venues and "always [being] the only woman in the band."
Archival Collection
The Larry Fotine Music Collection (approximately 1940-2017) contains the complete library of composer, jazz band leader, and composer for television Larry Fotine. Materials include manuscript scores, printed sheet music of works by Fotine, ASCAP agreements and contracts, photographs, recordings (both published recordings and archival recordings), correspondence, and books by Fotine, and memorabilia. Fotine directed his own bands beginning in the 1930s, with many million-plus seller recordings. He composed over 300 songs, including collaboration with Duke Ellington (“I Ain’t Got Nothin’ but the Blues”), and arranged music for Sammy Kaye’s band (1940-1945), Blue Barron and Art Mooney (1945-1947), and Lawrence Welk (1958-1960). Fotine composed music for the "Buttons and Rusty" cartoon shows at the end of his career in the 1980s. There is an item-level inventory available upon request.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Arne Rosencrantz conducted by Claytee D. White on February 09, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Rosencrantz discusses living in the John S. Park Neighborhood from 1954 to 1970. He also talks about his father, a professional violinist who owned furniture stores and played at the Sahara Hotel and Casino. Rosencrantz then discusses his career as a business owner of Garrett's Furniture and a real estate agent.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ernie Hensley conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on January 25, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Hensley discusses playing in the United States Air Force Band and becoming a member of the "Airmen of Note," the premier jazz ensemble for the Air Force. He also discusses working long-term with Jimmy Mulidore at the Las Vegas, Nevada Hilton Hotel, and his experiences working with Andy Williams, Sammy Davis, Jr., Juliet Prowse, Steve and Eydie, and Sarah Vaughn.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Morgan Mills conducted by Matthew Carr on March 26, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mills discusses being involved in major projects in the Las Vegas, Nevada area while he was living in California. Mills also discusses Boulder City, Nevada and Reno, Nevada. He later discusses his career as an electrical engineer, as well as working on the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam).
Archival Collection