Marr Sound Archives Miller Nichols Library University of Missouri, Kansas City Warren Durrett Orchestra Collection SIZE: 14 linear feet DATE RANGE: 1945 ‐ 1986 ACQUISITION: Collection was donated to Special Collections and the Marr Sound Archives by Jan Durrett, widow of Warren Durrett in December 2006. ACCESS: This is a non‐circulation collection. Listening stations are available in the archives. COPYRIGHT: Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Special Collections Librarian or other authorized agent. ACCEPTED BY: Chuck Haddix PROCESSED BY: Flannery Cashill/Cody Kauhl SUPERVISING ARCHIVIST: Kelley Martin BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Warren R. Durrett was born in Lebanon, KS, December 28, 1920, the youngest of seven children. His parents were Benjamin H. Durrett and Wilma Myers Durrett. He attended colleges at the University of Oklahoma and Maryville, MO, before graduating in 1951 from Kansas City University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. His schooling was self financed using earnings from playing in college dance bands. In 1945, he started his own band of ten pieces playing weekends at the Continental Hotel Sky Hy Roof at 11th and Baltimore. The band grew rapidly in popularity playing single‐night private parties and dinner dances at hotels, country clubs, area colleges, and ball rooms like the Pla‐Mor where they set an attendance record for a local band of 1200 admissions in one night. Durrett also expanded the size of the band which grew to 18 pieces by the 1960s and then occasionally to 25 pieces by adding six strings and two singers. During the last years of performance part of the schedule involved performing as the KJLA Music of Your Life Orchestra for ballroom dancing at the Adams Mark Hotel. Durrett retired the big band when he reached the age of 65. The final performance was a public dance held at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park sponsored by KJLA radio featuring his 25 piece orchestra. The event was sold out three weeks in advance and marked Durrett's 42nd year as a band leader. During the following 14 years he wrote a 312 page book entitled "A Chronology of the Warren Durrett Big Band in Kansas City‐1945‐86" with pictures and discussions of band personnel and jobbing dates by decades. From 1949 to 1967 Warren operated Durrett Productions, a musical advertising company which composed and arranged music for advertising agencies for use in radio and television commercials throughout the Midwest. In 1960 he started a career in real estate investment and land development. He formed and directed several syndicates and corporations in this field. He was a member of the National Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Village Presbyterian Church where he sang in the choir for 16 years. In 1991 he was awarded the annual Distinguished Achievement award by Conservatory of Music of the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Marr Sound Archives Miller Nichols Library University of Missouri, Kansas City There was a tribute evening held for Durrett November 17, 2001, at the American Jazz Museum, 18th and Vine, at which time Warren Durrett Orchestra memorabilia was donated to the museum. Warren Durrett died Sunday, March 24, 2002. He is survived by his spouse of 30 years, Janice Moses Durrett, and a sister, Vivian Durrett Lowe, El Cajon, CA, sister‐in‐law, Helen M. Campbell, Albuquerque, NM, three step children, Sherry Scott Collins, Mercer Island, WA, Alan Rush Scott, Phoenix, AZ, and Linda Sue Scott, San Francisco, CA, two step grandchildren, Tanny Scott, Tucson, AZ, and Casey Collins, Mercer Island, WA. He is survived by nieces, Diane Knudsen Zabel, Chicago, IL, Carol Knudsen, El Cajon, CA, Suzanne Knudsen Parups, Gladstone, MO, Linda Blades Henry, Redmond, WA, and nephews, Rodney Durrett, El Cajon, CA, Richard Durrett, Los Angeles, CA, and Robert Durrett of Madison, AL, and numerous grandnephews and nieces. His musical family is large and very dear to Warren. Over 250 musicians played with his band through the years. Source Obituary. Kansas City Star 28 March 2002. NewsBank NewsFile Collection. 2 Aug 2007. <http://infoweb.newsbank.com>. COLLECTION DESCRIPTION: Warren Durrett was a successful local band leader, playing in Kansas City and the surrounding area from 1945 ‐ 1986. Collection includes reel to reel tapes of performances beginning in 1958 through 1986. The collection also includes audio tapes and acetate discs of jingles produced by Durrett Productions in the late 50s and 60s. SERIES DESCRIPTIONS: SERIES I: Reel to Reel Tapes Primarily consists of the recordings of The Warren Durrett Orchestra Performances throughout the Kansas City area and jingles recorded from 1958–1978. SERIES II: Non‐Commercially Recorded Discs Primarily consists of the jingles recorded by Durrett productions and performances of The Warren Durrett Orchestra from 1947–1973. SERIES III: Cassette Tapes Primarily consists of the recordings of The Warren Durrett Orchestra Performances throughout the Kansas City area from 1983‐1986. # Date Content Notes Reel to Reel Tapes Box 1: Barcode #040‐113293631 1 6/1953 Note on back: Reel No. 1 1. Carl McGriffin ‐ Durrett 2. Don Price (singing) & Durrett 3. Mori Greiner singing "Time You Tried" 4. Marilyn May ‐ Calypso comm. (?) Marr Sound Archives Miller Nichols Library University of Missouri, Kansas City 5. Mrs. Wilma E. Durrett ‐ Topkea, June 1953 6. Linda Blades 7. Barney Blades 8. Polly, Dad, etc. Note on side: 1953 2 Note on front: Traders 7½ ips 1. Bossa Nova Instrumental 2. Tijuana Instrumental 3. Waltz Instrumental 4. Bossa Nova Vocal 5. Tijuana Brass Vocal 6. Waltz Vocal 7. Waltz with Instrumental Tag 3 Note on attached stationary paper: #1 Tommy Dorsey Band w/ Buddy Morrow #2 Full, Faith & Credit Big Band Note on front: Reginald Buckner The Jazz Clan, Track 3, 7 1/2 Note on back: Date: 1/28, Speed: 7 1/2, Stereo 4 Note on back: Ted Heath ‐ "All Time Top Twelve" Arr. ‐ Johnny Keating [London #1716] 1. September Song 2. Stardust 3. Tea for Two 4. On the Sunny Side of the Street 5. I've Got the World on a String 6. My Blue Heaven 7. Begin the Beguine 8. April in Paris 9. 'S Wonderful 10. Autumn Leaves 11. Someone Loves Me 5 12/21/1956 Note on back: Warren Durrett Orchestra, December 21, 1956, Tape #2 You Stepped Out of a Dream Christmas Song, Popo East of the Sun My Pet Brunette 70 Medley You Belong to Me Happy Birthday Blue Lou Two Different Worlds Temptation Note on side: Subject: 11A554 6 12/21/1956 Note on back: Warren Durrett Orchestra, December 21, '56, Tape #1 These Foolish Things Marr Sound Archives Miller Nichols Library University of Missouri, Kansas City Christmas Song 155 Medley I Hadn't Anyone 'Till You I Can't Give You Anything but Love Two Different Worlds One Alone Over the Rainbow Note on side: Subject: 11A554 7 5/8/1954 Note on back: Jeepers Creepers, Jealousie, I May Be Wrong, Tea for Lou, Medley, Sunday, Medley, Reel No. 3, Date 5‐8‐54, Speed 3 3/4, random selections of Warren Durrett orchestra taken at Pla Mor Ballroom, Kansas City Mo on May 8, '54 Note on side: Reel No. 3, Date: 5‐8‐54 8 10/26/1957 Note on front: Warren: This is priceless entertainment & you can now play it on any machine large or small. If you ever want to throw a "whing ding" for the talent, and do not have a machine, I'll lend one n/c, Regards, Vic. Note on back: Single track, 7 1/2 copy, New Master Tape, KWMT Durrett Productions, Session at Damon Recording Studios Inc., Oct. 26, 1957, Best 4 takes are at start. This contains everything of interest. Obviously the lengthy Oct. 24 session could not be included. This will play on any single or double track, or Stereophonic tape recorder at standard 7 1/2 I.P.S. speed. 9 5/17/1958 Note on back: From the Desk of Warren Durrett, (Patti Tucker singing), Ralph Aldridge‐tenor 18 pc band, Sigma Chi Sweetheart Ball outside at K.U. Sat. May 17, 1958 (rained out) I Didn't Know What Time it Was You Belong to Me That Old Feeling I Can't Give You Anything But Love East of the Sun [‐ Good] Don't Take Your Love from Me Jeepers Creepers [‐ Good] (RAIN) 10 6/29/1958 Note on back: Family Reunion, June 29, 1958. 11 11/5/1959 Note on back: From the Desk of Warren Durrett, Dance for Kansas Teachers Convention Shawnee‐Mission H.S. Thur. Nov. 5, 1959 (3‐1/2 IPS) Side Two Nearness of You [‐ Busey] Side by Side My Love, My Love Charmaine One Night of Love Here 'Tis [‐ Busey] 155. Medley Brief & Breezy Moonlight in Vermont Short Stop See You in my Dreams Marr Sound Archives Miller Nichols Library University of Missouri, Kansas City Side One (000) Don't Take Your Love from Me Mack the Knife (045) 192 Medley (096) That Old Feeling (124) Bubbles in the Wine (159) Jeepers Creepers (194) Hour of Parting Cha‐Cha (237) One Alone (269) I Hadn't Anyone 'Til You [‐ Ralston] ( Stumblin'‐Josephine (362) Mack the Knife (420) Splanky [‐ Good Busey] (496) I Only Have Eyes for You (543) You Never Say Yes [‐ Ralston] (604) Who (656) Tenderly [‐ DeWeerdt] (760) Beer Barrell Pola Band personnel Saxes 1. Marshall DeMuynck 2. Dick Busey 3. Joe Gilliland 4. Dennis Hall 5. Jerry Breitag Trumpets 1. Sherman Gibson, 2. Danny Overholt, 3. Bill Trumbauer trombones 1. Bill Drybread, 2. Arch Martin, 3. Ozzie Miller bass, Irwin Manady piano, Warren Durrett accordion, Gus DeWeerdt guitar, Ted Painter drums, Robbie Wilcox singers, Janice O'Dell, Jim Ralston 12 5/8/1968 Note on reel: 1800', Side 1‐ 5‐8‐68, Side 2‐ 5‐9‐68.