University of Missouri-Kansas City Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Biographical Sketch ………………………………………………………………… 2 Scope and Content ………………………………………………………………… 3 Series Notes ………………………………………………………………………… 3 Series I: Biographical ………………………………………………………………… 6 Series II: Publicity ………………………………………………………………… 6 Series III: Professional ………………………………………………………… 10 Series IV: Correspondence ………………………………………………………… 13 Series V: Set Lists ………………………………………………………………… 13 Series VI: News Clippings ………………………………………………………… 13 Series VII: Programs ………………………………………………………………… 14 Series VIII: Calendars ………………………………………………………………… 14 Series IX: Directories/Catalogues ………………………………………………… 15 Series X: Notebooks ………………………………………………………………… 16 Series XI: Financial ………………………………………………………………… 17 Series XII: Legal ………………………………………………………………… 17 Series XIII: KC Federation of Musicians ………………………………………… 17 Series XIV: Educational ………………………………………………………… 18 Series XV: Music Organizations ………………………………………………… 18 Series XVI: Journals/Bulletins/Newsletters ………………………………………… 18 Series XVII: Miscellaneous ………………………………………………………… 20 Series XVIII: Memorabilia/Ephemera ………………………………………… 20 Series XIX: Photographs ………………………………………………………… 21 Series XX: Music Manuscripts ………………………………………………… 22 MS200-Steve Miller Collection 1 University of Missouri-Kansas City Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Steve Miller was born in 1927 in New York City. As a teenager, he attended the High School of Music and Art in New York where he studied piano and trombone, followed by a stint in World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy Band. In 1944, his talent earned him a full scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School of Music where he studied under Ernest Clarke. While attending Juilliard, Miller also played with the Dean Dixon Orchestra. Steve’s education brought him to Kansas City, where he performed with the Kansas City Philharmonic. During that time, he also earned his master’s degree from Kansas City University and taught music lessons in piano and trombone. While Miller played with the Philharmonic, he and a drummer friend created a duo and began playing at the Stardust Lounge. The band and its popularity grew, and Miller added a bass player and talented female vocalist who later appear on the Ed Sullivan Show. The band moved on to playing at the Southern Mansion, a restaurant known for its good food and live music. These shows led Miller to make connections with the socially elite in Kansas City, and he was soon playing at local country clubs and private parties. Eventually, Miller’s band grew to a point that he could quit the Philharmonic and focus solely on what was to become the Steve Miller K.C. Band. The Steve Miller KC Band performed its signature jazz sound at dances, weddings, private parties, the Jewel Ball, the Ballet Ball, the American Royal Ball, a cabaret concert with the Kansas City Philharmonic, and the World’s Fair in Seville, Spain. He also accompanied Bob Hope and Ginger Rogers, and played private parties for Don and Adele Hall of the famous Hallmark Corporation and for Ewing Kauffman, a local businessman and one-time owner of the Kansas City Royals. One client requested a show involving opera music, singers and dancers. Miller happily arranged it. Another wanted the history of jazz music incorporated into the show. He created a full show including narration and used it for many years. Miller developed quite a following; he always remembered people’s favorite songs. When people he knew would enter while he was performing, he would play their favorite songs. Entering a room during his shows became special moments for audience members. Miller passed away on March 7, 2012, of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Sources: Excerpts and information taken from Steve Miller’s obituary, written by Melissa Schupmann in the Kansas City Star and from Leigh Michels’s 2010 article, “Simple Moments, Momentous Life,” in Leader. MS200-Steve Miller Collection 2 University of Missouri-Kansas City Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION SCOPE AND CONTENT The Steve Miller Collection was a gift to the University Libraries in September 2011. Materials date from 1951-2012, with the majority of non-musical materials originating from the 1980s and 1990s. The impressive bulk of this collection can be found in the music manuscripts. Contained are over one thousand pieces of music, including pieces that are original arrangements and pieces that were performed by Miller’s ensembles. Most non-musical items in the collection give a wide overview of Miller’s musical career, encompassing the performing aspect and also the business aspect. Many of his personal documents – including contracts, schedules, correspondence, and finances – give insight into his success in Kansas City. Another valuable niche of the collection is the wide range of photographs that document Miller’s life and career, beginning in the 1950s and ending in the early 2000s. Miller’s unique and special connection to the Kansas City community is greatly shown through the correspondence, pictures, and various directories, newsletters, and journals. The numerous newspaper clippings also demonstrate his decades of musical activity. SERIES NOTES SERIES I: BIOGRAPHICAL This series is located in Box 1, Folder 1. Contains biographical information pertaining to Steve Miller; Steve Miller Orchestra; Rosetta Robinson; and Russ Simmons. SERIES II: PUBLICITY Series II is located in Box 1, Folders 2-17. Contains press releases and promotional materials for various Kansas City artists. Headshots can be found for some artists, located in the photo collection. Indications are given when demo tapes, CDs, VHS, and 45s were included, which can be found in the Marr Sound Archives. SERIES III: PROFESSIONAL Included in Series III are numerous contracts; record production; and information pertaining to Miller’s Seville Expo performance and European tour. Can be found in Box 1, Folders 18-32; Box 2, Folders 1-36; Box 3, Folders 1-30; and Box 4, Folders 1-29. Boxes 5-9 contain notecards of client records. SERIES IV: CORRESPONDENCE This series is located in Box 4, Folders 30-40. Divided into Business Correspondence; Educational Correspondence; Seville Expo 1992 Correspondence; Personal Correspondence; Thank You Cards, and Holiday Cards. SERIES V: SET LISTS Series V is located in Box 10, Folders 1-12. Contains set lists; event scripts; event itineraries; and repertoire lists. MS200-Steve Miller Collection 3 University of Missouri-Kansas City Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION SERIES VI: NEWS CLIPPINGS Series VI is located in Box 10, Folders 13-25. Divided into General Clippings; Small Mentions; Pictures; Hyatt Tragedy; and Seville Expo 1992. Eight scrapbooks containing clippings can be found in Boxes 11 and 12. SERIES VII: PROGRAMS This series is located in Box 10, Folders 26-39, and Box 13, Folders 1-3. Programs are divided into Ballet Ball; BOTAR Ball; Community Ball; Lyric Opera Ball; Symphony Ball; Seville Expo 1992; General Programs; Souvenir Programs; and Flyers/Advertisements. SERIES VIII: CALENDARS Series VIII is located in Box 13, Folders 4-19. Contains performance calendars and personal datebooks. Oversized schedules are located in Map Drawer 40, Folder 1. SERIES IX: DIRECTORIES/CATALOGUES This series is located in Box 13, Folders 20-34, Box 14, and Box 19, Folders 16-18. Included are directories from various country clubs, musician organizations, and other Kansas City organizations, along with music catalogues. A collection of business cards, a directory for Miller’s dance fans, and his personal rolodex can also be found here. SERIES X: NOTEBOOKS This series is located in Box 15 and 16. Within are phone message books related to performances, players, and business. SERIES XI: FINANCIAL Series XI is located in Box 17, Folders 1-21. Contains income statements, employee pay ledgers, expense and receipt ledgers, tax forms, and business expenses. SERIES XII: LEGAL This series is located in Box 17, Folders 22-24. Included are filings to small claims court and papers related to the class action suit after the Hyatt tragedy. SERIES XIII: KC FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS This series is located in Box 17, Folders 25-30 and Box 13, Folder 25. It contains regulations, wage scales, contractor reports, and union directories. SERIES XIV: EDUCATIONAL This series is located in Box 17, Folders 31-44. Some of Miller’s teaching materials are included, such as practice assignment sheets, student exercises, student rosters, and guidelines for teaching techniques. Studio ads, policies, and catalogues are also included. Notes and papers (perhaps from Miller’s time at Juilliard) along with articles and some correspondence can also be found. SERIES XV: MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS Series XV is located in Box 17, Folders 45-50. Among the materials are meeting minutes from the Kansas City Jazz Commission, Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, and the Friends of Jazz MS200-Steve Miller Collection 4 University of Missouri-Kansas City Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION Committee. Minutes, legal papers, and mission statements for the Jazz Times and Big Band Heritage Institute can also be found here, along with various festival applications. SERIES XVI: JOURNALS/BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS Series XVI is located in Box 17,