Elementos de identidad
Código de referencia
Nombre y localización del repositorio
Nivel de descripción
Unidad documental compuesta
Título
Jan August Papers
Fecha(s)
- 1920 - 1985 (Creación)
Extensión
1.5 linear feet; 1 document box and 1 record box
Nombre del productor
Historia biográfica
Jan August was born Jan Augustoff in New York City, the youngest of five children. Jan’s parents, having paid for music lessons for the four older siblings who lacked any musical aptitude, chose not to repeat the mistake with their youngest. Jan learned to play the piano by ear as a child; as an adult he learned to read and arrange music. He mastered the xylophone, vibraphone and Solovox as well as the piano. In 1946, his instrumental recording of “Misirlou,” a Greek folk song, sold more than 1,000,000 records.
As a young man, Jan performed as a pianist with the Paul Specht Band in Greenwich Village nightclubs. In the 1930’s, Paul Whiteman invited him to play in his orchestra; Jan also performed with Ferde Grofé. With the musical shift from jazz to swing in the 1940’s, Jan returned to performing solo in clubs. His style attracted the attention of Irving Gwirtz of Diamond Records, who signed him to a recording contract. He received union scale wages of approximately $35 for his recording of “Bob-a-Loo”; the recording of “Misirlou” reached the Top Ten on the charts and launched his career.
Jan hosted and performed on radio, notably a 15-minute weekly broadcast on the Mutual Radio Network from 1947-1948. In 1948 and 1950, he appeared on "The Toast of the Town" and from 1949-1951 he accompanied singer Roberta Quinlan on her NBC variety show. Later he hosted "Jan August’s Revere Camera Show". In 1949, he served as the subject of a 9-minute film short entitled "Audition for August" with Kitty Kallen. In the 1950’s, Jan signed a recording contract with the Mercury label recording instrumental versions of popular hits laced with Latin rhythms. He also toured with his own orchestra in the United States and Canada. After arranging and recording more than 140 songs, Jan retired in 1967. He died of heart disease about a decade later.
Shortly before Jan's death, a musician performing under the name Jan August made the news in Florida, but it was an imposter.
Área de contenido y estructura
Alcance y contenido
The collection consists of menus, press clippings, photos and recordings from the career of arranger and composer Jan August.
Sistema de arreglo
The collection remains in its original order.
Condiciones de acceso y uso de los elementos
Condiciones de acceso
All material is open to the public without restriction. Copyright laws of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) govern the making of photocopies or other reproductions.
Acceso físico
Acceso técnico
Condiciones
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Great American Songbook Foundation. Music written prior to 1923 is in the public domain. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library & Archives.
Idiomas del material
Escritura(s) de los documentos
Notas sobre las lenguas y escrituras
Instrumentos de descripción
Uploaded finding aid
Elementos de adquisición y valoración
Historial de custodia
Origen del ingreso
Received from June Appell, Jan August's granddaughter, on April 13, 2011.
Valoración, selección y eliminación
Acumulaciones
Elementos de material relacionado
Existencia y localización de originales
Existencia y localización de copias
Unidades de descripción relacionadas.
Descripciones relacionadas
Elemento notas
Nota general
Separated materials: Audio recordings were separated from the collection and cataloged in LibraryWorld accessible via our home page www.thesongbook.org.
Notas especializadas
- Procesamiento de la información: Minimally processed by Lisa Lobdell. Completed January 2012.
- Mención: Jan August Papers, The Great American Songbook Foundation.
Identificador/es alternativo(os)
Área de control de la descripción
Reglas o convenciones
Fuentes
Nota del archivista
FInding aid created by Lisa Lobdell, January 2012.
AtoM description created by Ashlee James, November 2017.