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Creator
Spilka, Bill
Call number
*L (Special) 99-13
Physical description
156 video recordings
Preferred Citation

*L (Special) 99-13, Bill Spilka Jazz Videorecording Collection, Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

This collection contains videotapes of live interviews and performances of the sidemen and women of the big bands of the 1930's, 40's and 50's. The videos were taped from 1988 to 2002. In addition to performances and interviews, there are videos of events from the New York Brass Conference for Scholarships, lectures from Arnold J. Smith's "Jazz Insights" series at the New School and memorial services for some of the musicians. Performers include Joe Battaglia, Ted Curson, Jim Lowe and Sam Ulano. Lecture topics include Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker.

Biographical/historical information

Bill Spilka is a professional trombonist, bassist, and jazz researcher. He has played venues ranging from burlesque to the Newport & JVC Festivals. He leads his own Rowdy Rooters, the official band of the New York Rangers. He has also played with musicians such as Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong.

He joined the photography staff of Metronome magazine in 1955, and over the years has done assignments for The New York Times, Life, The New Yorker, Jazz Today, and many others. He is also the official photographer of the New York Brass Conference for Scholarships. He received a Jazz Fellowship Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to document on videotape the lives and performances of the sidemen and women who made up the big jazz-oriented dance bands of the "Golden Age" (1935-45).

Scope and arrangement

This collection contains videotapes of live interviews and performances of the sidemen and women of the big bands of the 1930's, 40's and 50's. The videos were taped from 1988 to 2002. In addition to performances and interviews, there are videos of events from the New York Brass Conference for Scholarships, lectures from Arnold J. Smith's Jazz Insights series at the New School, and memorial services for some of the musicians.

The Bill Spilka collection of jazz videorecordings [videorecording] is arranged in five series:

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Spilka, Bill, 06/23/1997

Processing information

Processed by Ed Scarcelle.

Using the collection

Location

Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

No copying of private, non-commercial material is allowed without the written permission of the proprietary rights holder. For further information contact the Curator, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.

Access restrictions

Users never directly handle video recordings. Listening selections are transmitted through a playback system.