Archives West Finding Aid

The professional papers of Al Grey span the years 1977 to 2009 with a few papers from 1967-1968. The bulk of the materials cover the years 1989 to 2000, during which time Rosalie Soladar was his personal manager.

This series includes contracts, agreements, press releases, itineraries, schedules, and programs and flyers related to Al Grey's engagements at jazz festivals, jazz clubs, and recording sessions, along with other activities. Among these papers are those from his Israel tour (1985) and Japan tour (1997), the publishing contract for his book Plunger Techniques (1987), awarding of a diploma from the Pottstown Senior High School (1994), induction at the International Jazz Hall of Fame-IJHF (1996), Jazz Camp at Pottstown High School (1996), and notes for the album Echoes of New Orleans (1997). The documents are organized by year with some undated materials at the rear of the box.

Materials from 2000 to 2009 include some related pending post-mortum professional matters. Some of these relate to Ms. Soladar's commitment in preserving Al Grey's legacy through scholarships at the University of Idaho and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (Mesa Community College), as well as the establishment of a permanent deposit for his archives at the University of Idaho.

A small segment of financial records are arranged separately from the contracts and other materials that compose the bulk of this series. These include bank statements from 1989-1992 (Round Midnight Inc.) and 1997-1998 (Grey Rose Music Inc.); invoices, mostly from Round Midnight to Al Grey, up to 1993, and then 1995-1999; copyrights and royalties from 1987-1993 (sacem-Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique), and 1989-2009 (others); corporate taxes paid in 1987 and 1991-1992 (Round Midnight Inc.); and receipts from recording studio sessions and shipment of records, dated 1989-1993 and 1999. Financial records also include correspondence between Al Grey and Betty Forrest related to their joint venture "Greyforrest Records," 1981-1984, as well as Grey's membership in musician organizations and unions. It may be that other financial records are organized by year within contracts, etc.

Other materials included in this series relate to legal matters (1988-1993), mailing lists, Al Grey's visit cards, and records of merchandise transactions, including those with CK Studio in Hamburg, Germany.

Among Al Grey's personal papers are his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy (December 21, 1945), divorce papers, draft of last will and testament, copies of birth and death certificates, a prayer book The Liturgy of Nichiren Shoshu, a book of worship and others from the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, lawsuit against an airline company, documents pertaining to the division of his parents' estate, the bylaws of the Light of Tampa Lodge of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows (Afro-American Print, 1916), invitation to Al Grey's 70th Birthday party, home equity loan (1990s), personal taxes (1992), Social Security benefits (1993), some letters including a mailgram of sympathy to Count Basie's family (1984), and Al Grey's wallet and contents including a letter from Rosalie Soladar, dated November 27, 1994, his driver license, Social Security card, etc.

This series also contains Al Grey's biographies, obituaries, memorial service and programs of tribute, and letters of sympathy to Ms. Soladar, including a copy of a fax from U.S. President Bill Clinton.

This series contains Ms. Soladar's personal papers, including her journals (circa 1978-2008) and itineraries of her travels on jazz cruises and other trips and events she attended (2001-2008).

This series includes personal letters and cards addressed to Al Grey and/or Rosalie Soladar. Part of the correspondence is organized by the name of the sender; they are: Mona and Milt Hinton, Gwen Paris and Clark Terry, David W. Jonas, Sophia and Robert Phillipson, Herman Leonard, Delia and Bill Gottlieb, Edie and Don Frye, cards from Al Grey's brother Richard Grey Jr., cards exchanged between Rosalie and Al Grey. Correspondence from other senders has no individual arrangement. The series includes also personalized blank greeting cards illustrated by Richardson.

More than 90 percent of the photographs in this series are personal, non-professional photos taken by Ms. Soladar. The series includes photographs of family celebrations, gatherings with friends, encounters with jazz musicians, Al Grey's rehearsals and performances, etc.

There are also several photographs by national and international professional photographers, these taken by Herman Leonard, Steve Treegoob of Philadelphia, Bill Martin, John Strickler of Pottstown, William Gottlieb, Thomas O. Kriegsmann, Robert A. Phillipson of Netherlands, Hans Harzheim of Dusseldorf, Peter W. Kuehne of Richmond, Steve J. Sherman of New York, Carlo Pieroni of Tolentino, and Millicent G. Muse of Philadelphia, among others. These photos depict Al Grey performances in the United States and abroad.

This series also contains photographs of members of Al Grey's family, and of his early life and career during the 1930s and 1940s.

The table below shows the location of some of the photographs that have been digitized.

Plaques and awards in this series were all awarded to Al Grey, with the exception of a medal from the University of Idaho presented to Rosalie Soladar in 2008. They include a diploma of completed course of study from the Pottstown Senior High School, 1994; a framed letter from U.S. President Bill Clinton for Grey's participation in the Inaugural week activities, 1993 and other letters, 1992-1994; a certificate in recognition of being an Honorary Member of the Regimental Band of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, New York), 1998; a certificate from the International Association of Jazz Educators on the occasion of the 20th Annual IAJE International Conference, San Antonio, Texas, 1993; an award from the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, in 1996; the Artist of Distinction Award from the Great Neck Arts Center, 1999; Benko Dixieland Band 25th anniversary plaque by Hungarian artist Endre Szaasz, 1979; a silver box from Tony Bennett for his participation in the album Tony Bennett Sings Ellington Hot and Cool; and plaques from the University of Idaho jazz festival, 1988-1993, 1995-1996, 1998, 2000; among others.

Some of these items have been digitized.

Included in this series are reel-to-reel tapes and video and audio cassettes.

The reel-to-reel tapes 1 to 19 are 10.5 inch reels of 2 inch tape. Songs include: My Romance -- The Very Thought of You -- Midnight Creeper -- Pretty Blue -- Dio Dati -- Cotton Tail -- Lover Man -- Save the Grease -- April in Paris -- Movin' and Groovin' -- Teach Me Tonight (February 1990, tapes 1-4) -- Christmas Song -- White Christmas -- Merry Christmas -- Santa Is Coming Down the Chimney -- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear -- Silent Night -- Jingle Bells -- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town -- Winter Wonderland -- O' Come All Ye Faithful (August 1990, tapes 5-6) -- I Love You. Yes, I Do -- The More I See You -- It's Only a Paper Moon -- Pretty Blues -- The Nearness of You -- Smile -- Tenderly -- Later Name -- Fab's Gab -- Tribute to Clark -- Pizza on the Park -- Unchained Melody (1991, tapes 7-11) -- Feels So Good -- Going to Chicago -- Over and Under -- Salty Papa -- Look Into the Mirror -- Night Train -- At It Again -- Heavy Women -- That Means So Much -- Blues Experience -- End of My Road -- Possum in My Tree (1992, tapes 12-15) -- Home Grown -- Caravan -- Manteca -- As Time Goes By -- Tacos and Grits (1993, tapes 16-19).

The reel-to-reel tapes 20 to 22 are 10.5 inch reels of 1/4 inch tape. Songs include: Christmas Song -- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear -- Jingle Bells -- Silent Night -- Winter Wonderland -- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town -- I Am Dreaming of a White Christmas (undated, tape 20) -- Cotton Tail -- Lover Man -- Teach Me Tonight -- Save the Grease -- Movin' and Groovin' -- My Romance (February 13, 1990, tape 21) -- Midnight Creeper -- The Very Thought of You -- April in Paris -- Lover Man -- Movin' and Groovin' -- Pretty Blue -- Teach Me Tonight -- Dio Dati -- Cotton Tail -- Save the Greese -- My Romance (February 1990, tape 22).

There are also a 10.5 inch reel of 1/2 inch tape identified as Al Grey (undated, tape 23) and two 7 inch reels of 1/4 inch tape, one identified as Mike Grey/Why Don't You Care (undated, tape 24) and another, unidentified (tape 25).

Video and audio cassettes in this series are personal, non-professional recordings made by Ms. Soladar, in different formats, including Al Grey's recording sessions, performances, etc, with a few demos by other artists. Among the audio cassettes are also three copies of the tape that accompanied Al Grey's book Plunger Techniques.

The videos were transferred to digital format and saved on DVDs by volunteer Graham Warger in 2011. Below is a list of the user digital copies of the videos. This is not a complete description of the content of the DVDs, but rather a preliminary overview.

Materials in this series belonged to Al Grey's father, Richard Edward Grey, born in 1892 and died in 1978. He led the Goodwill Boys and Girls Band of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, which Al Grey joined about the age of four, playing the baritone horn. The materials consist of the band's library and a couple of religious books, as follows.

Band books published by Lambs Music House, Pottstown (PA) (Pan-American Band Music Folio, 1906); C. L. Barnhouse (The Educator, 1910); Star Music, Eldred (PA) (Feist Band Publications, 1926); Emil Ascher, New York (Zephyr Band Book, 1937); Rubank, Chicago (IL) (Christmas Carols, arr. by G. E. Holmes, 1945 -- Americana Collection, 1942 -- All Melody Band Folio, by Henry W. Davis, 1937); The John Church Company, Bryn Mawr (PA) (The Sousa Band Book, by Joh Philip Sousa); Carl Fisher, New York (Cacavas-Osterling Favorite Band Book, 1966 -- Carl Fisher Elementary Band Book, by Leon V. Metcalf, 1955 -- Our Band Class Book/More Our Band Plays, arr. by C. Paul Herfurth and Hugh M. Stuart, 1962 -- Progressive Band Lessons, by Arthur A. Clappe 1922); Fillmore Music House-Carl Fisher, New York (The Gloria Band Book, arr. by Henry Fillmore, 1915); Fillmore Music House, Cincinnati (OH) (Will Huff Band Book, 1913 -- Folk Tune Band Book, by Leon V. Metcalf, 1930).

Other materials in this series are hymns and gospel melodies, including Hymns Ancient and Modern (William Clowes and Sons); a composition notebook and a memorandum with the name William N. Jones on the cover; band method books; pieces of sheet music; and handwritten music exercises, which perhaps are Al Grey's lessons from his father.

This series includes national and foreign newspaper clippings, posters, flyers, programs, two scrapbooks 1958-1973 and 1978-1981. The last scrapbook is mostly about the Al Grey and Jimmy Forrest Duo.

There is also a small number of programs, flyers, and other materials related to Al Grey's performances organized by year within contracts, etc in series 1, Professional Papers.

Some of these itms have been digitized.