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 Container List …………………………………………………………………………… 5 Series I: Biographical Information …………………………………………… 5 Series II: Correspondence …………………………………………………… 5 Series III: Business Records …………………………………………………… 5 Series IV: Programs …………………………………………………………… 6 Series V: Datebooks …………………………………………………………… 6 Series VI: Publications …………………………………………………… 6 Series VII: Clippings …………………………………………………………… 7 Series VIII: Miscellaneous …………………………………………………… 7 Series IX: Honors/Plaques …………………………………………………… 7 Series X: Music Scores …………………………………………………… 9 A. Unpublished Scores …………………………………………… 9 B. Published Scores …………………………………………………… 12 Series XI: Memorabilia …………………………………………………… 14 Series XII: Photographs …………………………………………………… 15 MS08-Mel Lewis Collection 1 University of Missouri-Kansas City Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Mel Lewis (May 10, 1929-February 2, 1990) was born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, New York, to Russian immigrant parents. His father was a drummer in the Buffalo area who inspired his son to follow in his footsteps from an early age. Still in his mid-teens, young Lewis played with nationally known jazz musicians Harold Austin and Lenny Lewis. Early credits also include stints with Bernie Burns (1946), Boyd Raeburn (1948), Alvino Rey (1948-9), Ray Anthony (1949-50, 1953-54), and Tex Beneke (1950-53). In 1954 he joined Stan Kenton's band, playing alongside such musicians as Jimmy Giuffre, Maynard Ferguson, Laurindo Almeida, Vido Musso, and vocalist June Christy. During his three-year tenure with Kenton, Lewis also worked and recorded with the Frank Rosolino quintet and the Hampton Hawes Trio. In 1957, Lewis settled in Los Angeles where he led a quintet with another ex-Kenton sideman, saxophonist Bill Holman. He worked with the big bands of Gerald Wilson and Terry Gibbs, recording with the latter from 1959-62. The early 1960s saw Lewis in New York with the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band, in Europe with Dizzy Gillespie, and in Russia with Benny Goodman. Lewis moved to New York in 1963 and formed a big band with trumpeter Thad Jones two years later. The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra performed and recorded extensively, garnering rave reviews and awards. Their performance on the album Live in Munich earned them a Grammy Award in 1979. After twelve productive years, Jones left for Europe and Lewis assumed sole leadership of the band. With the departure of Jones, the Kansas City-born trombonist/pianist/arranger Bob Brookmeyer assisted in the musical direction of the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Lewis established a residency at the prestigious Village Vanguard that spanned over two decades, where he performed up until one month prior to his death in 1990. The orchestra continued to tour and record albums, as well as to perform every Monday night at the Village Vanguard under the moniker, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Lewis, best known for his small group approach to big band drumming, was one of the first drummers to vary the ride cymbal beat, giving the music a loose and swinging feel. His commanding presence never dominated the spotlight and always stressed the interplay between the band members. “How much you stick in depends on how much you can hear,” Lewis explained during a 1989 radio broadcast on the history of jazz drumming, “and if you're really hearing, you'll put in only what's necessary.” This multi-part broadcast for New York's 89.9 FM WKCR may be listened to at the Marr Sound Archives upon request. Mel Lewis was the recipient of numerous awards, including fourteen Grammy nominations from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Lewis authored It’s Time for the Big Band Drummer (Kendor Music Co, 1978), a drumming method book, and taught workshops on jazz drumming at William Patterson State College in New Jersey. MS08-Mel Lewis 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 Mel Lewis Collection was donated to the Miller Nichols Library at the University of Missouri-Kansas City by Doris Sokoloff in 1996. The collection consists of material related to Lewis’ life and career and dates from the 1940s to the 1990s. Included are biographical information, correspondence, business records, programs, datebooks, publications, clippings, awards, music scores, miscellaneous ephemera and memorabilia, and photographs. Also included are sound recordings, which are housed separately in the Marr Sound Archives. SERIES NOTES Series I: Biographical Information This series consists of biographical material related to Lewis, including articles, obituary and funeral information. Material is located in box 1, folders 1-4. Series II: Correspondence This series consists of business correspondence, 1961-1994, and personal correspondence, 1962- 1996. Included are letters, greeting cards, and telegrams. Material is located in box 1, folders 5- 16. Series III: Business Records This series consists of business-related material, including contracts, financial statements, travel documents, promotional material and business cards. Material is located in box 1, folders 17-28. Series IV: Programs This series consists of event-related material either involving or related to Lewis. Included are programs and booklets for concerts, festivals and workshops, dating 1956-1993. Material is located in box 1, folders 29-44. Series V: Datebooks This series consists of datebooks from 1966-1989. Material is located in box 2, folders 1-2. Series VI: Publications This series consists of publications such as bulletins and newsletters, jazz yearbooks, and several autographed publications related to Lewis. Material is located in box 2, folders 3-5. Series VII: Clippings This series consists of news items related to Lewis. Included are newspaper and magazine articles, clippings and reviews from 1956-1992. Material is located in box 2, folders 6-12, and box 3, folders 1-7. Series VIII: Miscellaneous This series consists of miscellaneous ephemera including illustrations, a handwritten sketch/play and a Christmas card register. Material is located in box 3, folder 8. MS08-Mel Lewis Collection 3 University of Missouri-Kansas City Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION Series IX: Honors/Plaques This series primarily consists of certificate and plaque awards Lewis received, but also includes honors Lewis was associated with that were received by other musicians. Material is located in box 4, folders 1-25. Series X: Music Scores This series consists of unpublished and published music scores. Included are over 75 titles, including several composed and/or arranged by Lewis’ longtime collaborator Thad Jones. Material is located in boxes 5 and 6. Series XI: Memorabilia This series consists of miscellaneous memorabilia including a scroll for the 1984 Hong Kong Arts Festival and drum gear owned by Lewis. Material is located in Oversized Box 2. Series XII: Photographs This series consists of over 470 black-and-white and color images, in a variety of sizes, spanning the 1940s to the 1980s. Included are publicity and performance shots of Lewis and other musicians, including longtime collaborator Thad Jones; as well as candid photos and miscellaneous snapshots. Material is located in Photograph Boxes 1-10. MS08-Mel Lewis Collection 4 University of Missouri-Kansas City Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION Box Folder Description CONTAINER LIST SERIES I: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION Box Folder Description 1 1 Biographical articles, discographies, Who’s Who in America Sketch, 1982-1989 2 Student papers, 1983, 1985 3 Obituaries, news articles, press release, February 1990 4 Funeral information, funeral contract, attendance registry, Memorial program, February 1990 SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE Box Folder Description A. Business 1 5 1990-1994 6 1987-1989 7 1986 8 1984-1985 9 1982-1983 10 1978-1981 11 1961-1977 12 Undated B. Personal 13 Miscellaneous cards and letters, 1962-1996 14 Get well cards, letters, artwork from school children, 1989-1990 [Two items located in oversized drawer 23] 15 Sympathy cards, letters, and telegrams, 1990 16 Miscellaneous, undated [One item located in oversized box 1] SERIES III: BUSINESS RECORDS Box Folder Description 1 17 Itineraries and schedules, 1962-1989, some undated 18 Contracts, American Federation of Musicians of the United States & Canada, 1974-1988 19 Contracts, Elvin Promotion Company, 1968 20 Contracts, Westdeutscher Rundfunk Koln, 1983-1988 21 Contracts, miscellaneous companies, 1962-1987 22 Invoices and statements, 1973-1984 23 Liner notes for Drummin Man, 1976-1987 [Liner notes for Gene Krupa located in oversized box 1] MS08-Mel Lewis Collection 5 University of Missouri-Kansas City Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION Box Folder Description 1 24 Promotional materials, posters, news ads, ephemera, booklets, 1956-1993 [Large posters in oversized drawer 23] 25 Catalogs, recordings and instruments, 1954-1955. Several undated 26 College instruction, faculty handbook, William Peterson College, New Jersey, 1977-1978 27 Travels, certificate, Continental