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Willis Conover interviewed by Steve Allison, WWDC, Part I

Description: Steve Allison interviews Willis Conover in the second half of 1960 -- the date is surmised from the mention of the riots at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival. Allison conducted his interviews from the Black Saddle House of Beef restaurant in Washington, D.C. (709 18th St. NW).
Date: 1960
Duration: 31 minutes 07 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Willis Conover interviewed by Steve Allison, WWDC, Part II

Description: Steve Allison interviews Willis Conover in the second half of 1960 -- the date is surmised from the mention of the riots at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival. Allison conducted his interviews from the Black Saddle House of Beef restaurant in Washington, D.C. (709 18th St. NW).
Date: 1960
Duration: 41 minutes 09 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Hazel and Harold

Description: 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.
Date: 194X
Duration: 14 minutes 14 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Willis Conover presents The Orchestra of Washington, D.C., part 1

Description: Recording of a radio program by Willis Conover, featuring recorded selections by The Orchestra of Washington, D.C. Following the theme song, "Early Autumn," the program includes "Roundhouse," "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" (Lea Matthews, vocals), "Light Green," and "Don't Blame Me" (featuring trombonist Earl Swope).
Date: December 15, 1951
Duration: 14 minutes 47 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 2 and 4

Description: 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.
Date: April 20, 1946
Duration: 28 minutes 46 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 9 and 11

Description: 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.
Date: April 21, 1946
Duration: 30 minutes 01 second
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Willis Conover radio announcement: Daylight Saving Time and Ellington concert

Description: Recording of Duke Ellington's theme song, "Take the 'A' Train," followed by Willis Conover briefly announcing that the Duke Ellington show usually airing at 1:00 a.m. on Saturdays would not occur due to the change to Daylight Saving Time, and that an Ellington concert at the Watergate barge originally scheduled for Monday, June 9 was moved to Friday, June 13. The occurrence of the dates on those weekdays places the recording in 1947.
Date: 1947
Duration: 1 minute 04 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 1 and 3

Description: 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 sel… more
Date: April 20, 1946
Duration: 31 minutes 07 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 6 and 8

Description: 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.
Date: April 21, 1946
Duration: 31 minutes 05 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Willis Conover presents The Orchestra of Washington, D.C., part 2

Description: Continuation of a radio program by Willis Conover, featuring recorded selections by The Orchestra of Washington, D.C, including "Tiny's Blues," "I Cover the Waterfront" (Jack Maggio, vocals), "Not Really the Blues," "Early Autumn" (program theme), and comments by Conover.
Date: December 15, 1951
Duration: 14 minutes 51 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Duke Ellington Cavalcade, Parts 5 and 7

Description: 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 t… more
Date: April 21, 1946
Duration: 28 minutes 42 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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Willis Conover interviews Duke Ellington, March 27, 1948

Description: Recording of an interview by Willis Conover with Duke Ellington on March 27, 1948. Topics include the story behind the robe Ellington was wearing backstage, musicians, and the re-working of old material. The audio includes announcements of tune selections to be added in the studio later.
Date: March 27, 1948
Duration: 14 minutes 07 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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EnBee Jamboree, June 14, 1947; labor dispute arbitration

Description: 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 (… more
Date: June 14, 1947
Duration: 27 minutes 36 seconds
Creator: Conover, Willis
Partner: UNT Music Library
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