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Permission to publish material from the Sam Agins fieldwork cassette tapes must
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The Sam Agins fieldwork cassette tapes (Folk Coll 30f) was donated by the Sam Agins Family and originally arranged and numbered by Mr. Agins. The original numbers are in brackets [].
Originally processed by John Powell and Randy Williams. Finding aid created by Randy Williams, July 2005; updated by Randy Williams, March 2012.
Sam Agins fieldwork cassette tapes, 1950-1996. (FOLK COLL 30f). Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Department.
Singin' Sam Agins was born in Denver, Colorado, on June 14, 1919. He was born with a congenital paralysis of both legs and only weighed 2 lbs. at birth. Agins was limited to using crutches or a wheelchair for mobility from childhood. Despite his disability he led an active life, playing guitar, making poetry, and writing and collecting music. In addition he was a leather craftsman, stringed instruments mechanic, and a maker of hand-tooled silver buckle jewelry and violins. Agins passion was writing, collecting and singing American folk songs, particularly of the West. During the 1940s and 1950s he entertained disabled youth, veterans, and children in hospitals, acting as an Ambassador of Goodwill Industries. In addition, he entertained prisoners in New Mexico, guests at dude ranches, and taught classes about folk singing throughout the American West. Agins was also the United States representative in 1976 at the Smithsonian Institution's Montreal Expo and also served as an expert on early American folk songs in Washington D.C. During the 1970s and 1980s he participated in the Festival of the American West and the Western Writers Conferences held in Logan, Utah. On November 19, 1957 he married Frederica Agins (born May, 1938) and they had two sons, Judd and Joseph Agins. Sam Agins died in Sun City, Arizona, on March 28, 1996.
Cassette tapes arranged numerically by assigned tape number.
Cassette tapes from the 1950s to 1996, which were recorded by Singin' Sam Agins; Mr. Agins own recordings made during sound recording sessions, folk festivals, radio interviews, conferences, etc. Musical content includes: cowboy songs and cowboy poetry, bluegrass, American folksongs, and folksongs of other nationalities. Also includes interviews, Hector Lee lecture, and an interivew conducted by John Powell (USU Manuscript Curator) with Mrs. Fredrica Agins, 24 September 1996).
[Original number: 136]
Side 1: Background Information for Trail Herd Incident: Old Saddle Bag Recording, Side 2: Blank [Original number: 220]
Side 1: Daryl and Betty Phillips and Glen Exley, Rodeo Cowboys, interview on cowboy ecology for an article. (All are Coloradans.), Side 2: Laska, Katie Lee, study tape. (Laska repeats several times; pipe organ at end). [Original number: 294]
Side 1: Songs, Side 2: Interview conducted by Sam Agins, including songs [Original number: 297]
Side 1: Blank, Side 2: Biggest Heart Radio Program (Denver) [Original number: 307]
Side 1: Singin' Sam Saddle Bag songs, 2: Mike's Mariachi, half of side [Original number: 308]
Side 1: Fife Folklore Conference Lecture, Side 2: Conclusion of lecture [Original number: 314]
Side 1: Jaye Valenzuela: vocal and lead guitar, Sam Agins: rhythm guitar; Sun City, AZ, circa 1994, shortly before Jaye died, Side 2: Blank [Original number: 315]
Side 1: White Stallion Guest Ranch (Tuscon, AZ) interviews: Alan and Doris True, owners and two songs by Jerry Davich, Side 2: White Stallion Guest Ranch (Tuscon, AZ) interviews: Mr. and Mrs. True and waitress Pauline (from Germany)[Original number: 320]
Side 1 & 2: Interview with Skipper Mapes (father of Louise Mapes), Triangle X Ranch, Moose, Wyoming [Original number: 322]
Side 1: Music by Jim Conner and lyrics by Singin Sam Agins, Side 2: Two mandolin pieces [Original number: 223]
Side 1: Sam Agins recording song to learn by Miss Cole, Preston, Idaho, Side 2: empty [Original number: 329]
Side 1: 1. Japanese song of Poston, Arizona Relocation Center, also the music the song was made up by, Side 2: Japanese songs by Harus Minami [Original number: 331]
[Original number: 340]
Side 1: George Lopez (Penitente), Cordova, NM, Side 2: Skipper Mapes (father of Louise Mapes), [Original number: 341]
Side 1: Festival [no year], Side 2: Blank [Original number: 347]
Side 1: Practice tape of Katie Lee singing "El Gallo de Cielo, written by Jim Russell, both sides [Original number: 343]
Side 1: Festival, Side 2: Blank [Original number: 347]
Side 1: Demo tape 2, Side 2: Blank [Original number: 350]
Side 1 & 2: Demo tape 1 [Original number: 354]
Side 1: Songs and Interview with Jim Hopkins, late 1950s, Side 2: Blank [Original number: 357]
Side 1: 1. Jim Conner sings "Sleeper Queen," by Singin' Sam Agins with song by Alvie Self, Side 2: East Indian newage lecture [Original number: 358]
Side 1: Two songs: Joe Wolverton: mandolin, Singin' Sam Agins: vocals and guitar, and Katie Lee: gallo, Side 2: Frank Wright [Original number: 359]
Side 1: 1. Bad Brahma Bull (read by SSA), 2. Coffee Pot Blues, 3. One Legged Man, Side 2: Blank [Original number: 360]
Side 1: Cowboy Songs, Side 2: Singin' Sam at Elkhorn Ranch, [Original number: 361]
Side 1: Reincarnation [practice tape] Side 2: Blank [Original number: 362]
Side 1: Interview with Fred and Emma Weltner, Harding, MT, Side 2: Continuation of interview [Original number: 363]
Side 1: Singin' Sam Agins reads poetry by Al Dale, Cottonwood, AZ, Side 2: Continuation [Original number: 364]
Side 1: Jam session (tape garbled), Side 2: Continuation [Original number: 365]
Side 1: Interview and songs with Harry Temple, Desert Willow Ranch, Tucson, AZ, 1950s [Original number: 366]
Side 1: Interview with Dr. Robert Archibald (Western Heritage Museum) and Kay Call; Bill Nichols Side 2: Bill Nichols, Jackson Hole, WY [Original number: 367]
Side 1: Singin' Sam recites his poetry Side 2: Singin' Sam recites his poetry [Original number: 368]
Side 1: Antonio Mendoza concert and lecture, Side 2: 1. Singin' Sam Agins and Colleen L'loyd, and others [Original number: 369]
Side 1: Singin' Sam Agins interview on KOIN radio, Billings, MT, Side 2: Alan Lomax Texas cowboy songs [Original number: 370]
Side 1: Interview with Grace, Bob and Jan Miller, Elkhorn Ranch, on guest (dude) ranching, Side 2: Continuation [Original number: 371]
Side 1: Mike Reed interviews Singin' Sam Agins, Nevada, April 1978, Side 2: Continuation [Original number: 372]
Side 1: Recording of Saddlebag of Songs, Side 2: Blank [Original number: 373]
Side 1: Ten Cent Can of Paint Trail Herd Incident, narrated by Singin' Sam Agins Side 2: Continuation [Original number: 374]
Side 1: Christmas Show from the Holy Cross Chapel: Singin' Sam sings "Roll on Little Doggies," and recites "Ranch Ruostabout's Christmas; and a radio interview and coverage of 1984 Wyoming State fiddling championship at Shoshni, WY, Side 2: Wyoming radio interview and songs by Hugh Mahler, River Grove Ranch [Original number: 375]
Side 1: Interview with Vassar Clements, Side 2: Continuation [Original number: 376]
Side 1: Singin' Sam Agins sings "Coffee Pot Blues," Side 2: Fredrica Agins recites selections from Singin' Sam's poetry collection [Original number: 377]
Side 1: Recording of Saddlebag of Songs, Side 2: Blank [Original number: 379]
[Original number: Tape 1]
[Original number: Tape 2]
[Original number: Tape 3]
[Original number: Tape 4]
Fredirica Agins notes: "John Wilkerson with Singin' Sam Agins at the Elkhorn Ranch in the early 1960s. John was 21 years old and working a summer job in the kitchen at Miller's Elkhorn Dude Ranch in Gallatin Canyon,[Bozeman] Montana. John wrote the music and lyrics of this folk material and may have recorded some of it at a later date. By the 1970s, John was working as a guitarist with Elvis Presley."[Original number: 300]
Fredirica Agins notes: "Al was MC-ing the Camp Verde Arizona Swapmeet during the 1980s, singing and playing his music live and recorded when he was on breaks. He sold his small label cassettes, duplicating them for customers on the spot. He was out of labels when we bought these two but they were duplicated by him for us and we bought them for $5.00 each." [Original number: 422]
Fredirica Agins notes: "Al was MC-ing the Camp Verde Arizona Swapmeet during the 1980s, singing and playing his music live and recorded when he was on breaks. He sold his small label cassettes, duplicating them for customers on the spot. He was out of labels when we bought these two but they were duplicated by him for us and we bought them for $5.00 each." [Original number: 423]
Fredirica Agins notes: "This is a possible jam session for their later album by the same name. It does not contain all the songs that are on the LP and at one point on the casette Katie askes Travis if he wants her to show him the chords. Included is a short bio on Katie Lee from Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott, Arizona." [Original number: 335]
Interview at Elkhorn, Sun Valley, Idaho.[Reel-to-reel of BB King performing at Sun Valley on 23 July 1981 found at Folk Coll 30d no. 17] [Original number: 336]
Side 1: 1. Nevada Sage, 2. Ringading, Munsoon, Ike's Last Medal, Prairie Dog, Side. 2: 1. The Terrible Truth about Cowboys, 2. Jordan James. Fredirica Agins notes: "Steve Makara contacted Sam during the '80s and sent this material. On one of the tapes he gives permission for Sam to record any of the material but requests that he be consulted if any changes are made to "Jordan James," which he may have later recorded. [Original number: 325]
Side 1: 1. Monsoon, 2. Jordan James, 3. Shotgun and Shells. Fredirica Agins notes: "Steve Makara contacted Sam during the '80s and sent this material. On one of the tapes he gives permission for Sam to record any of the material but requests that he be consulted if any changes are made to "Jordan James," which he may have later recorded. [Original number: 326]
[Original number: 140]
[Original number: 150]
[Original number: 179]
Fredrica Agins notes: "Field recordings by Singin' Sam Agins. Jam session with two different [unidentified] singers accompanying themselves on the guitar." Side 1: 1. Strawberrty Roan Parody, 2. Shear the Sheep in Old Montanta. [Original number: 304]