Papers of Calvin Jackson (1919-1985), jazz pianist, composer, arranger, ensemble leader, and host of radio and television programs featuring jazz music and performers. The material consists of manuscript scores and instrumental parts for Jackson's own compositions, his arrangements of the music of other composers, and photocopies of scripts and playlists for radio programs that Jackson hosted in Canada and the United States.
Calvin Jackson Papers, 1940-1980 (MSS 28)
OFF-SITE STORAGE: COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW TWO TO THREE (2-3) WEEKS FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
Extent: 23.25 Linear feet (13 archives boxes and 95 oversize folders)
Calvin Jackson was a Black American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader. Jackson was born on May 26, 1919, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied music at the Juilliard School for a year (1941), then went to California as assistant music director at the Hollywood studios of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In addition to his film studio work, Jackson also arranged music for orchestra leader Harry James and recorded with Phil Moore's band. He moved back to New York in 1947, where he was billed with Mildred Bailey at the Cafe Society. He continued to pursue a career as a recording artist in his roles as arranger, pianist and ensemble leader, touring widely in North and South America with a trio or quartet. Jackson moved to Toronto, Canada, in 1950. His quartet appeared regularly at the Park Plaza Hotel, and he hosted a weekly program featuring jazz music on Canadian television. Jackson returned to the United States in 1957, and in 1961 he moved back to Southern California, where he settled permanently. He became a part of musical life in Los Angeles and San Diego, playing with small groups and presenting radio programs, including "Jazz with Jackson" on KOGO-FM and "Just Jazz" on KCBA.
Calvin Jackson died in Encinitas, California, in 1985.
The Calvin Jackson Papers consist of manuscript music scores and instrumental parts for his own compositions, scores and parts of his arrangements of works by American composers of popular music from the "Golden Era," and composers from other periods and traditions such as J.S. Bach and Dimitri Shostakovich. The collection also includes photocopies of Jackson's recorded music playlists and commentaries for radio programs. Not all compositions and arrangements have both a score and a complete set of parts.
The material dates from the 1940s to the 1980s and is arranged in three series: 1) COMPOSITIONS BY CALVIN JACKSON, 2) ARRANGEMENTS BY CALVIN JACKSON and 3) PLAYLISTS AND SCRIPTS FOR RADIO PROGRAMS.
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