Search Results

Don't Shoot the Music! / Nie strzelać do muzyki!
An extended montage of street musicians in New York City.
Duke Ellington and Willis Conover
Photograph of Duke Ellington, Willis Conover, and two unidentified people.
Duke Ellington at the piano, April 21, 1946, 2:05-2:35 a.m.
Recording of Duke Ellington playing solo piano, following a late-night interview with Willis Conover at radio station WWDC.
Duke Ellington at the White House - insert for NBC Monitor
An excerpt from the recording of Duke Ellington's 70th birthday party at the White House on April 29, 1969, for use on the NBC radio program Monitor.
Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 1 and 3
In Part 1, Willis Conover's Saturday Night Dance Party program begins with Artie Shaw's "Just Kiddin' Around." Conover then discusses the rarity of some of the records he will play during this program, which is dedicated to the music of Duke Ellington, with selections "Animal Crackers," (sound drops briefly) "Bugle Call Rag," Freeze and Melt," and "Black and Tan Fantasy." In Part 3, Conover and Emerson Parker, an Ellington expert, record collector, and broadcaster at station WQQW, introduce selections including "Black Beauty" and "I've Got the World on a String."
Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 2 and 4
In Part 2, Conover introduces Emerson Parker, an Ellington expert, record collector, and broadcaster at station WQQW, who introduces "Take It Easy," "Mood Indigo," "Sweet Mama," and "Hot and Bothered." In Part 4, Conover and Parker introduce "I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter," "Ebony Rhapsody," "Stompy Jones," and "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" (the end of the introduction and the tune are in part 5). Gil Lilly is credited as working in the control room.
Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 5 and 7
In Part 5, Emerson Parker's introduction of "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" concludes, followed by the tune, along with "Solitude," "Clarinet Lament," "Ring Dem Bells," and "Hodge Podge" (introduction only, tune is in part 6). In Part 7, after station identification, Conover notes that Jerry Rhea will be joining the discussion soon, and reminisces about broadcasting during a stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center while in military service; Conover also asks listeners to send comments on the program. Parker and Conover introduce "Tootin' Through the Roof," "Pitter Panther Patter," "Warm Valley," and "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear from Me."
Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 6 and 8
In Part 6, "Hodge Podge" is followed by Willis Conover and Emerson Parker introducing, "Braggin' in Brass," "Boy Meets Horn," "Mobile Bay, and "Night Song." In Part 8, "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear from Me" is followed by Cottontail, and Conover and Parker discussing "Take the A-Train," and "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'." Conover talks about seeing Ellington live for the first time just a few months before, at Turner's Arena.
Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 9 and 11
In Part 9, Conover introduces Duke Ellington himself, along with Billy Strayhorn, to Emerson Parker, and interviews Ellington about his personnel, travel plans, and early recordings. In Part 11, the interview continues after selections from Ellington's Black, Brown & Beige Suite.
Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 10 and 12
In Part 10, the interview with Duke Ellington continues, up to the introduction of the Black, Brown & Beige Suite. In Part 12, the interview continues further, including discussion of Mercer Ellington. Conover speaks more about his stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, along with fellow broadcaster Mark Austad (later known as Mark Evans). Jerry Rhea also speaks. Conover credits Frank Turner as the photographer for the evening (images are also in this collection), and notes that those in attendance included Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Jerry Rhea with his wife and sister, Oscar Pettiford, and Emerson Parker. The recording closes with "Ring Dem Bells."
Duke Ellington, final interview with Willis Conover
Willis Conover's last interview with Duke Ellington, with Ellington also playing the piano.
A Duke Named Ellington
A PBS documentary on Duke Ellington, from the network's American Masters series, with interview and performance footage of Duke Ellington, Herb Jeffries, Adelaide Hall, Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson, Charles Mingus, Alice Babs, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Cootie Williams, Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton, Leonard Feather, Louie Bellson, Willie "The Lion" Smith, and Alvin Ailey, among others. Streaming access to this item is embargoed due to copyright restrictions.
EnBee Jamboree
Willis Conover hosts a program advertising local record store EnBee Records.
EnBee Jamboree
Willis Conover hosts a program advertising the holdings of EnBee Record Sales, at 1016 7th St NW in Washington, D.C. The theme song is Stan Kenton's "Machito,"and other selections include Sonny Terry, "All Alone Blues"; Ike Carpenter, "Things Ain’t What They Used to Be"; Sister Katie Marie, "When I Come to the End of My Journey"; and Coleman Hawkins, "Body and Soul."
EnBee Jamboree, August 22, 1947
Willis Conover hosts a program advertising the holdings of EnBee Records, at 1016 7th St NW in Washington, D.C. The theme song is Stan Kenton's "Machito,"and other selections include Francis Craig, "Near You"; The Beale Street Boys, "Lights Out"; the signoff theme from Sunday spirituals show, “God Be With You”; and the King Cole Trio, "I Miss You So."
EnBee Jamboree, June 14, 1947; labor dispute arbitration
On side 1, Willis Conover hosts a program advertising the holdings of EnBee Record Sales, at 1016 7th St NW in Washington, D.C. The theme song is Stan Kenton's "Machito,"and other selections include Roy Milton's "Camille's Boogie"; Duke Ellington, "Minnehaha Part 2"; Reverend Utah Smith, "God's Mighty Hand;" and Herb Jeffries, "When I Write My Song." Side 2 contains a labor arbitration hearing between the Bakery and Confectionary Union Local 350 AFL, an employer (Mr. C), and a former employee (Mr. A). Arbitrators include Dr. Jane Emmel Gorman of Hunter College, and John A. Zellers, former president of the New York Board of Trade.
EnBee Jamborees
Willis Conover hosts two programs advertising the holdings of EnBee Records, at 1016 7th St NW in Washington, D.C. The theme song is Stan Kenton's "Machito." The first program, dated June 27, features the Mills Brothers' "Put Another Chair at the Table"; Deacon Tom Foger And his Congregation, “Working on the Building”; Bob Crosby, "Big Noise from Winnetka"; and Sonny Boy Williamson, "Hoodoo Hoodoo." The second program features the theme played in full, Ike Carpenter's "Jeep Blues," and the Mills Brothers' "Put Another Chair at the Table." The second recording ends just after ten minutes, and may have been a rejected take.
Excerpt of speech by Harry S Truman, March 17, 1948: “Special message to the Congress on the threat to the freedom of Europe”
Recording of President Harry S. Truman's speech, “Special message to the Congress on the threat to the freedom of Europe,” followed by announcer Mark Austad (later known as Mark Evans) interviewing Senator Glen H. Taylor of Idaho and Rep. Dewey Short of Missouri.
Fido, December 1931
Photograph of a dog. "Fido, Dec. 1931" is written on the reverse side.
Gerry Mulligan, Moscow Jam Session, 1967, Part I
The first of two recordings from which selections for Music USA #4618-B were taken, featuring Gerry Mulligan playing a borrowed alto saxophone in a jam session at Moscow's Molodezhnoe (Youth) Café.
Gerry Mulligan, Moscow Jam Session, 1967, Part II
The second of two recordings from which selections for Music USA #4618-B were taken, featuring Gerry Mulligan playing a borrowed alto saxophone in a jam session at Moscow's Molodezhnoe (Youth) Café.
Groggy's Mambo and other selections
A live recording of mambo selections. The title "Groggy's Mambo" appears to refer to Maurice "Groggy" Gervitsch, the proprietor of the Cairo Hotel in Washington, D.C., where Gervitsch organized mambo dances in 1954. The group may have been led by Buddy Rowell.
H.Res.189 - Honoring cultural achievements of the Voice of America, 103rd Congress of the United States
Representatives Lee H. Hamilton (D., Indiana), Benjamin A. Gilman (R., New York) and Robert H. Michel (R., Illinois) speak on H. Res. 189 in the 103rd Congress, honoring the Voice of America and Willis Conover for their cultural programming related to jazz. Rep. Michel notes at the 7:22 mark that Conover is present for the resolution, though he is not shown on camera. Speaker Pro Tempore G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery (D., Mississippi) presides.
Hall of Hits, Part 1
Willis Conover hosts this episode of Hall of Hits, based on the top 5 tunes identified by Billboard Magazine. The program was sponsored by Cafe Parisien, at 1120 Connecticut Ave. The four additional tracks may have been used as stock music for other programs.
Hand-Written Program Lists, 1978-1981
Handwritten program lists for Music USA, 1978-1981.
Hand-Written Program Lists, 1981-1982
Handwritten cue sheets for Music USA, 1981-1982. Includes: Individual Program Lists, February and March 1978; Handwritten Program Lists, December 1981; Handwritten Program Lists, January-March 1982; Interview with Lee Bark; Notes for Art Farmer program; UDC Lab Jazz Band; Toni Wilson notes.
Hand-Written Program Lists, 1982-1983
Handwritten cue sheets for Music USA, 1982-1983. Includes: Handwritten Program Lists, September-December 1982; Handwritten Program Lists, January-February 1983.
Hand-Written Program Lists, Debrecen Jazz Days, September 8-13, 1981
Handwritten cue sheets for Music USA, unknown dates. Includes: Gyorgy Szabados, piano: Budapest; "Philadelphia" Jerry Ricks, vocals & guitar: USA; Radio Big Band: Berlin; Pori Bigband featuring Ted Burson: Finland; Jazz group of Rousse/Bulgaria; Kati Bontovica and Supertrio: Budapest; Fusti-Lakatos Quintet featuring Tat Guinez, conga: Budapest; Thermacnius Quartet: Kobenhaven; Jana Koubkova Trio: Praha; Graham Collier Band: London; Team/Tamas Berki: Budapest; Binder Quintet: Budapest; Jazz Workshop of Debrecen; Pege Quintet: Budapest; Tomsits Quartet: Novi Sad, Yugoslavia; Albert Mangelsdorff, trombone & Weet Gev. Aladar Pege, bass: Budapest; String Connection: Warsaw, Poland; Markovic-Gut Sextet: Beograd, Yugoslavia; Christian Esconde and his Workshop: Paris, France; Siger Small Band: London; Workshop Group of Gyorgy Vukan; Saturnus, Budapest; Erich Klunshuster Quintet: Vienna, Austria; Jazz Band Radi Ostrava: Tscheckoslovakia; Enrico Rava Quartet: Milano, Italy; Workshop Group of Gyorgy Szabados: Budapest; Kaszako Group: Budapest; Hulin Quintet: Szeged, Hungary.
Handwritten Program Lists, March-July 1982
Handwritten cue sheets for Music USA, March-July 1982.
Hazel and Harold
Recording of a radio comedy, Hazel and Harold, featuring Willis Conover as Harold. The program is reminiscent of the early Ethel and Albert programs he did with Peg Lynch at WTBO in Cumberland, Maryland, before the Second World War.
Hazel and Harold, April 21, 1946
Recording of a radio comedy, Hazel and Harold, featuring Willis Conover as Harold and Nathalie Sherman as Hazel. The program is reminiscent of the early Ethel and Albert programs he did with Peg Lynch at WTBO in Cumberland, Maryland, before the Second World War.
Hazel and Harold, April 28, 1946
Recording of a radio comedy, Hazel and Harold, featuring Willis Conover as Harold and Nathalie Sherman as Hazel. The program is reminiscent of the early Ethel and Albert programs he did with Peg Lynch at WTBO in Cumberland, Maryland, before the Second World War.
Hazel and Harold, February 10, 1946
Recording of a radio comedy, Hazel and Harold, featuring Willis Conover as Harold and Nathalie Sherman as Hazel. The program is reminiscent of the early Ethel and Albert programs he did with Peg Lynch at WTBO in Cumberland, Maryland, before the Second World War.
Hazel and Harold, January 6, 1946
Recording of a radio comedy, Hazel and Harold, featuring Willis Conover as Harold and Nathalie Sherman as Hazel. The program is reminiscent of the early Ethel and Albert programs he did with Peg Lynch at WTBO in Cumberland, Maryland, before the Second World War.
Hazel and Harold, March 3, 1946
Recording of a radio comedy, Hazel and Harold, featuring Willis Conover as Harold and Nathalie Sherman as Hazel. The program is reminiscent of the early Ethel and Albert programs he did with Peg Lynch at WTBO in Cumberland, Maryland, before the Second World War.
Individual Program List, 1981
Hour-by-hour breakdown of music played on Music USA, 1981. Includes: Duke Ellington Tribute Programs, April 1978. Handwritten program notes, 1978-1979 and unknown date.
Individual Program List, July-October 1982
Hour-by-hour breakdown of music played on Music USA, July-October 1982.
Interview with Benny Goodman
Unedited audio of Willis Conover's interview with Benny Goodman, including short statements for various broadcast services within VOA, and a longer interview presumably for Music USA #394-B.
Interview with Duke Ellington
The only physical identification on this disc was the note "sign-off effect improperly done." However, it contains a brief interview with Duke Ellington. The mention of the death of "Tricky Sam" Nanton places it after July 20, 1946. Despite mentions of further interview segments, there is only one such segment.
Interview with Ella Fitzgerald, for Voices of VISTA #127
Willis Conover interviews Ella Fitzgerald for "Voices of VISTA" program number 127. The short programs featured various celebrities and were used, like Treasury broadcasts in decades past, to promote the U.S. government's Volunteers in Service to America program.
Interview with Gil Evans
An interview with Gil Evans, apparently included in Music USA #4884-B, broadcast May 16, 1968.
Interview with Marshall Brown and George Wein
Willis Conover interviews Marshall Brown and George Wein about their 20-nation talent-searching tour for Newport International Youth Band. This recording is the raw audio, apparently incorporated into Music USA program #1147-B.
Interview with Marshall Brown, John LaPorta, and Farmingdale High School students
The interview which accompanied Music USA #551-B, broadcast July 2, 1956, featuring Marshall Brown, John LaPorta, and four Farmingdale (New York) High School students.
Interview with W.C. Handy, Part I
The first part of Willis Conover's extended interview with W.C. Handy. This recording is the raw audio, and includes a glitch in the tape in the opening seconds, and other preliminaries before the interview begins.
Interview with W.C. Handy, Part II
The second part of Willis Conover's extended interview with W.C. Handy.
Interviews at the Monterey Jazz Festival, 1967
Willis Conover interviews Flavio Ambrosetti, Franco Ambrosetti, Daniel Humair, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and George Gruntz at the 1967 Monterey Jazz Festival.
Interviews with Billy Eckstine and Teddi King
Willis Conover interviews Billy Eckstine and Teddi King at Washington, D.C.'s Union Station, on the RCA Victor Starliner train. Eckstine and King were performing to benefit the March of Dimes; the interviews were apparently used in Music USA programs #420-B (Eckstine) and #421-B (King).
Interviews with June Christy, Nat "King" Cole, Ted Heath, and Bob Flanigan
Willis Conover interviews June Christy, Nat "King" Cole, Ted Heath, and Bob Flanigan backstage at a performance at the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C. The interview with Nat "King" Cole was likely used in Music USA program #520-B.
Jack Holliday and Betty Madigan with Willis Conover
Side 1 of this recording features brief, unrelated orchestral music. Side 2 is an apparent promotional program for Madigan and Holliday, hosted by Willis Conover, and sponsored by Old Georgetown Beer. Selections include “In the Blue of Evening” (introduction); “My Melancholy Baby”; Conover reading an advertisement for Old Georgetown Beer; “It’s So Nice to Have a Man Around the House”; “You Go to My Head”; “Laura” (solo piano); “These Foolish Things”; and “In the Blue of Evening” (reprise).
Jack Teagarden, Earl Hines, and Willis Conover
Photograph of Jack Teagarden, Earl Hines, and Willis Conover.
Back to Top of Screen