Jazz Oral History Collection about Duke Ellington
name: label: Interviewer
content: Hasse, John Edward, 1948-
label: Interviewer
content: Willard, Patricia
label: Names
content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
label: Names
content: Ellington, Mercer Kennedy, 1919-1996 (musician)
label: Interviewee
content: Feather, Leonard, 1914-1994
label: Names
content: Strayhorn, Billy (William Thomas), 1915-1967
label: Interviewee
content: Woodyard, Sam, 1925-1988
topic: label: Topic
content: Jazz musicians -- United States
label: Topic
content: Jazz -- 20th century -- United States
label: Topic
content: Music -- 20th century -- United States
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Made for the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
creator: label: Interviewer
content: Hasse, John Edward, 1948-
label: Interviewer
content: Willard, Patricia
setName: label: See more items in
content: Jazz Oral History Collection about Duke Ellington
abstract: label: Summary
content: Collection consists of original cassettes, open-reel master, and reference cassette audiotapes of two oral history interviews about the life and career of Duke Ellington. Leonard Feather's oral history interview has a transcript. 

In separate interviews jazz critic Leonard Feather and Sam Woodyard discuss their relationships with and knowledge of Ellington and his music.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: The Jazz Oral History Collection comprises two oral history interviews about Duke Ellington and his Orchestra. 

One interview is with Leonard Feather (1914-1994), noted jazz critic, record producer, and composer. Born in England, Feather became an ardent fan of jazz by listening to recordings. The first time he saw Ellington perform live was in 1933 at the Palladium in London. Feather made his first trip to the United States in 1935 and through music critic and record producer John Hammond he met many of the leading musicians, producers, and concert promoters active in the American jazz scene. Feather was hired by Ellington in 1942 to do publicity and became part of what Feather referred to as "the Ellington family." Feather worked with Mercer Ellington as well and throughout the years he maintained an active involvement and friendship with Ellington. 

A shorter interview with drummer Sam Woodyard (1925-1988) is poorly recorded and consequently it is difficult to hear and understand Woodyard's responses to the questions. Sam Woodyard was a drummer with the Ellington Orchestra from 1955 through 1966.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.4 Cubic feet (3 boxes)
phystech: label: Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
content: Researchers must use audio cassette reference copies.
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1988
label: Date
content: 1990
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Transferred from Division of Music History (now Division of Cultural and Community Life), National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution on January 3, 1992.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0431
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Audio cassettes
label: Type
content: Audiotapes
label: Type
content: Transcripts
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Collection organized into one series.

Series 1, Jazz Oral History Collection, 1988-1990 

Subseries 1.1: Leonard Feather

Subseries 1.2: Sam Woodyard
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Processed by Wendy Shay, archivist, September, 2011.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: The Archives Center created 1/4 inch open-reel preservation master audiotapes and audio cassette reference copies.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Audio cassettes
label: Genre/Form
content: Audiotapes -- Open reel
label: Genre/Form
content: Transcripts
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Audiotape interviews with jazz critic Leonard Feather and drummer Sam Woodyard about their relationships with Duke Ellington and the Ellington Orchestra. John Hasse interviewed Leonard Feather on June 10, 1990. Patricia Willard interviewed Sam Woodyeard on May 30, 1998 and May 31, 1988. The interviews were recorded on audio cassette.