Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Ray Brown Papers, circa 1953-2003
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Brown, Ray, 1926-2002
- Title
- Ray Brown Papers
- Dates
- circa 1953-2003 (inclusive)19532003
- Quantity
- approximately 1.5 cubic foot
- Collection Number
- IJC MG 20
- Summary
- Ray Brown was an American jazz double bassist. The collection includes awards, photographs, videotapes, compact discs, ephemera, the Ray Brown bass method book, and five of his ties.
- Repository
-
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public. Researchers must use the collection in accordance with the policies of the University of Idaho Special Collections and Archives.
- Languages
- This collection is in English.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Raymond Matthews Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in October 13, 1926. He was a jazz double bassist, cellist, and composer. Ray Brown played in Dizzy Gillespie's band from 1946 to 1951. Along with the pianist John Lewis, drummer Kenny Clarke, and vibraphonist Milt Jackson, he formed the Modern Jazz Quartet. He was married to singer Ella Fitzgerald from 1947 to 1952. They adopted Fitzgerald's half-sister’s son Ray Brown, Jr., who is a jazz and blues pianist and singer. Mr. Brown played in the Oscar Peterson trio from 1951 to 1966. He moved to Los Angeles in 1966 and was a founding member of the LA Four, which included drummer Shelly Mann, acoustic guitarist Laurindo Almeida, and Bud Shank on flute and alto saxophone. During Ray Brown’s impressive career, he also played with Diana Krall, Jazz at the Philharmonic, Tony Bennett, among others. He died in Indianapolis, Indiana, in July 2, 2002. He was married to Cecelia Brown for 48 years. In 2003 Mr. Brown was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Ray Brown Papers span the years circa 1953 to 2003.
The collection includes awards, photographs, videotapes, compact discs, ephemera, the Ray Brown bass method book, and five of his ties.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
This manuscript group is part of the International Jazz Collections-IJC.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
The photographs, plaques, and medals have been digitized.
Restrictions on Use
Consult Head of Special Collections and Archives on permissions for use.
Preferred Citation
Ray Brown Papers, IJC MG 20, Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | 6 photographs: 11 x 14 inch black and white photograph by Barry Thomson (Toronto, Ontario). Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton, and Benny Green at Bermuda Onion Club, Toronto, September 1992 -- 10 x 8 inch black and white photograph. Ray Brown (signed) -- 10 x 8 inch black and white photograph. Ray Brown playing the bass, facing right -- 10 x 8 inch black and white photograph. Ray Brown playing the bass, facing left -- 9 1/2 x 7 inch black and white photograph. Ray Brown -- 10 x 8 inch color photograph. Ray Brown | |
| 1 | 7 posters: 23 1/2 x 16 1/2 inch poster. Happy birthday Ray tour Europe 1996 (2 copies, signed Ray Brown, Benny Green, Greg Hutchinson) -- 22 x 16 inch poster. The legendary Ray Brown Trio, Dakota Bar and Grill -- 24 1/2 x 17 inch poster. Fundacion Municipal de Cultura Jose Luis Cano, Algeciras. Universidad de Cadiz -- 25 x 17 inch poster. Ray Brown Trio. Teatro Municipal Florida, February 20, 1997 -- 16 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch poster. Los Angeles Jazz Society's eleventh annual jazz tribute and awards concert honoring Ray Brown, October 10, 1993 -- 11 x 8 inch poster. Ray Brown trumpet summit, December 27-31, 2000 | |
| 1 | A book: Ray Brown's bass method: essential scales, patterns, and exercises (Hal Leonard, 1999) -- a program: The Links, Incorporated Beverly Hills West Chapter presents a tribute in the arts honoring the late Mr. Ray Brown (Skirball Cultural Center, October 19, 2003) -- a periodical: Bass world: the journal of the International Society of Bassists (v. 25, no. 3, Feb./May 2002) | |
| 1 | News clippings (9 items) | |
| 2 | 5 plaques: 7 1/2 x6 1/2 inch shield wood finish plaque with engraved plate. Ray Brown Bass Jazz Critics Poll Down Beat. 1958 -- 10 x 6 3/8 inch wood finish plaque with musical theme and engraved plate. Down Beat Award presented to Ray Brown Bass First Place. 1953 -- 12 x 9 inch wood finish plaque with engraved plate. Congratulations and Happy Birthday to the legendary bassist and godfather of The Blue Note Ray Brown on your 70th birthday. October 13, 1996 -- 10 x 12 inch wood finish plaque with engraved plate. Los Angeles Jazz Society salutes Ray Brown for his contribution Jazz Tribute Award. 1993 -- 14 x 11 1/2 inch wood finish plaque with engraved plate. The Blue Note salutes its Godfather jazz bassist Raymond (Ray) Brown on his 75th birthday. New York, October 13, 2001 | |
| 3 | 6 medals: 2 1/2 inch Playboy All-Star Jazz Poll Winner medal. Ray Brown, Bass, Special Award. 1963 -- 2 1/2 inch Playboy All-Star Jazz Poll Winner medal. Ray Brown, Bass. 1964 (2) -- 2 1/2 inch Playboy All-Star Jazz Poll Winner medal. Ray Brown. 1967 -- 2 1/2 inch Playboy All-Star Jazz and Pop Poll Winner medal. Ray Brown. 1970 -- 2 1/2 inch Playboy All-Star Jazz and Pop Poll Winner medal. Ray Brown, Bass. 1971 | |
| 4 | 11 compact discs: The L.A. 4 (CCD-4827-2 Concord Records) -- Super bass (74018-2 Capri Records) -- Triple treat III (CCD-4394 Concord Jazz) -- Evergreen 4403 (GML-20181) -- Some of my best friends are... guitarists (CD-83499 Telarc Jazz) -- Rockin' In Rhythm Piano and Fender Rhodes (CCD-4032 Concord) -- Bass hit!(829-2 Verve) -- Ray Brown's New Two Bass Hits (74034-2 Capri Records) -- Superbass 2 (CD-83483 Telarc Jazz) (2)-- In the pocket (CCD2-2154-2 Concord Records) | |
| 4 | 5 videotapes: Art of playing the bass, featuring Milt Hinton (v.1), John Clayton (v.2), Francois Rabbath (v.3) (Rayben Production) -- An evening with triple treat, featuring Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, Monty Alexander (Rayben Production) -- Ray Brown 75th birthday dinner, 10/15/2001 | |
| 5 | 5 Ties: by Ralph Marlin, Tabasco, Domenico Franco, Steven Harris, and Je suis |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- African American jazz musicians--Archives
- Jazz musicians--United States--Archives
- Jazz--History--20th century--Sources
Personal Names
- Brown, Ray, 1926-2002--Archives
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Brown, Cecelia (donor)
Finding aid prepared by Laura Guedes
2012
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
