Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives
Deseret String Band collection
UUS_FOLK COLL 52
15 linear feet
28 boxes, 31 posters
1964-2008
This collection contains the working files, posters, and audio/visual materials of the Deseret String Band.
Material in English
Processed by Mara J. Ballard, July 2012; accruals added and finding add updated by Erin Sorensen, June 2014. Robison materials added by Randy Williams, November 2012. Later Hal Cannon materials added by Joe Kinzer, 2026.
Hal Cannon contacted Randy Williams by letter on 3 May 2011 inquiring about possible deposit of the Deseret String Band Collection at USU's Special Collections and Archives Fife Folklore Archives. Randy Williams wrote back on 24 May 2011 with an enthusiastic yes. On 4 August 2011, Randy Williams and Brad Cole retrieved the collection from Hal Cannon and Leonard Coulson at Coulson's store Acoustic Music in Salt Lake City, Utah. The donation included four boxes. June 2013, Leonard Coulson donated four more boxes to the collection, including photos, posters, newspaper clippings, CDs, mini-reels, and miscellaneous materials. Brad Cole retrieved the accruals.
In Fall 2012, Brent Robison contact Randy Williams with the desire of donating thirteen slides he had taken/had of the Deseret String Band at an outdoor concert in Orem, Utah, in June 1976. The donation was arranged and added to the collection November 2012.
Open to public research. To access the collection a patron must have the following information: collection number, box number and folder/reel/ number. The materials do not circulate and are available in USU's Special Collections and Archives. Patrons must sign and comply with the USU Special Collections and Archives Use Agreement and Reproduction Order form as well as any restrictions placed by the collector or informant(s).
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the Deseret String Band collection must be obtained from the Curator of the Fife Folklore Archives and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Deseret String Band collection, 1970-1999. (FOLK COLL 52, box, folder/reel/tapes no.). Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Department.
The Deseret String Band formed in 1972 and has performed throughout the US, Europe and Japan. The band's purpose was to explore pioneer and cowboy music of the 19th century West. It acquired a few aliases through the years, including The Bunkhouse Orchestra, The Orchestre de Bunque, The String Band of Desire and Secondhand Band. Playing fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, banjo-mandolin, banjo-cello, harmonica, various squeeze boxes and pitched fork, the band performs dozens of dance tunes, pioneer ballads, cowboy songs and old country melodies. The roots of the band are in the early 1970s in Rhode Island when Hal Cannon, Leonard Coulson, Skip Gorman and Tom Carter began playing music together. Members of the band have included: Cannon, Coulson, Groman, Carter, Mark Jardine, Stephen Jardine, Richard McClure, Ron Kane and Meghan Merker. Discography:
Utah Trail (1973)
Land Of Milk and Honey (1974) (LP Available in FOLK COLL 52)
New Beehive Songster, Volume 1 (Undated)
New Beehive Songster, Volume 2 (Undated)
Deseret String Band: 1980-1984 (1984) (Audio Cassette Available in FOLK COLL 52)
Old Cowboy Songs, Song Book and Cassette (1986)
Red Steer (1990) (Audio Cassette Available in FOLK COLL 52)
Utah: Songs of Statehood (1990)
The Round-Up (Undated)
Cluck Cluck (Undated)
Collection contains band files (including clippings of band promos, bios and features, correspondence, and concert ephemera), photos, posters, vinyl recordings, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, reel to reel tapes, and CDs.
The collection is organized by like media: band files (including correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs), reel-to-reels, cassette tapes, posters, and video tapes.
The Deseret String Band members Hal Cannon and Leonard Coulson donated the band files to Utah State University Library Special Collections and Archives.
Folklore and Folklife
Sound Recordings
Music
I. General files
1970-1999
Band Files: Promos
1970-1979
1
1-1a
Includes newspaper clippings, concert handbills and pamphlets, folk festival flyers, touring guides, record linear notes, and other promotional material.
Band Files: Promos
1980-1989
1
2-2b
Includes newspaper clippings, concert handbills and pamphlets, folk festival flyers, touring guides, record linear notes, and other promotional material.
Band Files: Promos
1990-1999
1
3-3a
Includes newspaper clippings, concert handbills and pamphlets, folk festival flyers, touring guides, record linear notes, and other promotional material.
Band Files: Promos
Undated
1
4
Includes newspaper clippings, concert handbills and pamphlets, folk festival flyers, touring guides, record linear notes, and other promotional material.
Band Files: Features and Bios
1975-1999
1a
1-1a
Includes newspaper clippings, newsletters, magazines, and awards.
Band Files: Correspondence and Misc.
1966-1997
1a
2
Includes postcards, cards, payment records, itineraries, performance confirmations, wedding invitations, set lists, and miscellaneous correspondence.
Band Files: Correspondence and Misc.
Undated
1a
3
Includes cards, payment records, itineraries, thank you notes, performance confirmations, set lists, comic strips, and concert ephemera.
Band Files: Special Appearances
1995-1998
1a
4
Includes special appearances at Christie Brinkley's wedding, the re-enactment of the Mormon trek, and the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.
Band Files: Misc. Instrument and Musician Info.
1980-1990
1a
5
Includes newspaper clippings about folk instruments and musicians, posters and pamphlets on folk instrument shows and repair businesses, and miscellaneous instrument ephemera.
Band Files: Misc. Folk Bands
Undated
1a
6
Includes photos, newspaper clippings, concert handbills and pamphlets, and miscellaneous tickets for a variety of folk and bluegrass bands contemporary to the Deseret String Band.
Band Files: Misc. Irish Folk Bands
Undated
1a
7
Includes concert handbills, pamphlets, and other miscellaneous concert ephemera for a variety of Irish and British folk bands contemporary to the Deseret String Band.
Concert posters/flyers
undated
3
News Clippings and Touring Documents
1980-1996
23
1
News Clippings, Programs, and Set Lists
1964-1998
23
2
Correspondence (Radio Appearences)
1974-1975
23
3
Correspondence and News Clippings
1971-1979
23
4
Promotional Papers
1992
23
5
Band Correspondence - Promotional
1976-1977
23
6
Newsclippings and Promotional Material
1975-1976
23
7
Handwritten Set Lists
circa 1982-1983
23
8
Album Recording Brochures and Paperwork
circa 1979
23
9
Touring Contracts and Promotional Materials
1982-1983
23
10
Draft Promotional Materials and Correspondence
1982-1983
23
11-12
Olympic Files - Nagano 1998, Salt Lake 2002, Legal/Oversized
1998, 2002
23a
1
Newspaper Photocopy
1983, January 27
23a
2
Tour Planning and Album Sales - Correspondence
1975
24
1
Tour Planning Correspondence and Assorted Venue Documents
1975-1990, bulk 1983
24
2
Band Promotional and Press Material
1979-1980
24
3
Band News Clippings, Promotional Material, and Sketches
1975-1982, bulk 1977
24
4
Assorted Promotional Material
1987-1999
24
5
DSB flyers
undated
24
6
Press Clippings, Promotional Material, Event Information, and Correspondence
1974-1976
24
7
Press Clippings, Promotional Material, Event Information, and Sketches
1978-1990
24
8
Press Clippings, Promotional Material, Contracts, and Correspondence
1977-1980, 1987
24
9
DSB Correspondence
1977-1991
24
10
Press Clippings
1975-1994
24
11
Press Clippings and Promotional Material
1977-1992
25
1
II. Photographs
1976-1990
Band Photographs: 3 Negatives of Album Covers
Undated
2
1
Band Photographs: 8 5x7 Black and White Concert Photos
1978-1987
2
2
Band Photographs: 7 Misc. Photos
Undated
2
3
Including photos from Christie Brinkley's wedding and other performance photos.
Band Photographs: 8 4x6/5x7 Black and White Photos
Undated
2
4
Including concert photos taken in Switzerland in '75 or '76, photos taken by Howard Hickson in Elko, and other misc. concert photos.
Band Photographs: 3 Misc. Mounted Photographs
Undated
2
5
Band Photographs: 20 Misc. Photographs
Undated
2
6
Including photos from Pinesong '88, the christening of "Mighty Mary" in March 1995, band portraits, and misc. concert photos.
Band Photographs: 12 8x10 Photos
Undated
2
7
Including photos from 1993 Cowboy Music Gathering, band portraits, and misc. performance photos.
Band Photographs: 8 8x10 Photos
Undated
2
8
Band Photographs: 2 Misc. 5x7 Black and White
Undated
2
9
Band Photographs: 18 Misc. 4x6/5x7 Photos
Undated
2
10
Band Photographs: Slides
13 slides
1976 June
2
11
Images of the Deseret String Band from an outdoor concert in Orem, Utah. Taken by Brent Robison (photo credit requested).
Band Photographs: Slides
45 slides
1990
2
12
Images of Intermountain Guitar and Banjo for a feature in the Salt Lake Tribune. Taken by Al Hartmann
Band Photographs: 17 Negatives of Deseret String Band and Leonard's Banjos
Undated
2
13
Band Photographs: 30 Negatives of OKLA
Undated
2
14
Band Photographs: 14 Misc. Negatives
Undated
2
15
(10008, 10007, London Zoo, and Trafalgar Sq.)
Band Photographs: 22 Misc. Negatives
Undated
2
16
(MTNS W/125 hazy, Trip to NJ in Nov., and Jan. 75)
Band Photographs: 34 Misc. Negatives
Undated
2
17
Band Photographs: 31 Misc. Negatives
Undated
2
18
Band Photographs: 38 Misc. Negatives
Undated
2
19
DSB Slides
1982-1997, Bulk undated
2a
1
Assorted Band Photographs - 4x6, 3.5x5, 4x5
undated
2a
2
Assorted Band Photographs - Large
undated
2a
3
10 1/4 x 10 1/2 - Mat Board Photo
undated
2a
4
Assorted Negatives with Some Prints
undated
2a
5
8 x 10, 5 x 7, and 5 x 4 Band Photographs
undated
2a
6
III. Audio/Visual Media
VHS tapes
DSB, Rough Cut/Digital Video/No Mix (57:15)
undated
4
1
The Frontier: Rediscovering America, Jonathan Donald Production, International Version (50:13)
undated
4
2
Fiddle Tunes, DSB (120:00)
1992
4
3
Fiddle Tunes
1990 July 7
4
4
Lydia's Program
undated
4
5
[untitled]
1976
4a
1
DSB - 1977
1977
4a
2
Deseret String Band - 1977
1977
4a
3
Audio cassettes
[untitled]
1983
6
1
Old-Time Cowboy Songs, Bunkhouse Orchestra
undated
6
2
Gary Stratton Radio Show featuring DSB music
undated
6
3
DSB and friends and KUER
1976
6
4
Waddie and Bunkhouse, Zion
1982
6
5
DSB: Southern Utah Folklife Festival
1999
6
6
DSB-Park City, Riders in the Sky
1982
6
7
Waddie and Bunkhouse, Elko
1987
6
8
The DSB: Boise and Dogs Amongst the Bush
1982
6
9
Waddie Mitchell and the Bunkhouse Orchestra, OC Tanner Amphitheater, Springdale, UT
1987
6
10
[untitled]
1990
6
11
DSB: Early Oklahoma Fiddling, Dance Tunes from the Thede Collection
undated
6
12
Brigham Young-KSL
undated
6
13
Waddie and Bunkhouse, Elko (original)
1987
6
14
KCRL Radio Show, Uncle Lympies Low Downtown Dandelion Pickers
1981
6
15
Edited DSB concert
1983
6
16
Bunkhouse Orchestra: Old-Time Cowboy Songs
undated
6
17
Country '88
1988
6
18
DSB 20th A.
1992
6
19
DSB: Kingsbury Hall with Riders in Sky
1982
7
1
The DSB: Hal's selection
undated
7
2
DSB - Tucson, AZ
1982
7
3
[untitled]
undated
7
4
[untitled]
undated
7
5
DSB Hotel Utah
1980
7
6
[untitled]
1976
7
7
Northern Rockies Folk Festival
1979
7
8
DSB Kingsbury Hall
1982
7
9
DSB Bicknell, Utah (original)
1980
7
10
Tom Carter-Hal Cannon
1980
7
11
DSB (LP)
undated
7
12
Practice Tape II
undated
7
13
Riders in Sky-SLC (original)
1983
7
14
DSB-UT-test tape
1996
7
15
DSB, Live at Guild Theatre, Denver
1981
7
16
DSB, Planetarium songs
undated
7
17
The DSB, by Shanachie Records Corp.
1984
7
18
[untitled]
undated
8
1
Practice Tape/dub
undated
8
2
Carbon Co. Sampler
undated
8
3
DSB, Land of Milk and Honey (master)
undated
8
4
[untitled]
undated
8
5
Bunkhouse Orchestra, Old-Time Cowboy Songs (cassette master)
undated
8
6
Work Mix, Bunkhouse
undated
8
7
(Master)
undated
8
8
DSB/Rough
undated
8
9
DSB, Red Steer
1990
8
10
Bunkhouse Orchestra Practice
1987
8
11
Northern Rockies Folk Festival
1979
8
12
W and B.O. Master
undated
8
13
NPR DSB
undated
8
14
DSB, WT Recording Studios (Master)
undated
8
15
[untitled]
undated
8
16
Bunkhouse Orchestra - Old-Time Cowboy Songs w/out Script
undated
8
17
B.H.O. Practice Tape
undated
8
18
DSB Practice
undated
8
19
DSB 20th A.
1992
9
1
ICCRL #2
1981
9
2
DSB Weekend Edition
undated
9
3
Toms' Sauber, Carter Cannon, KRCL
1981
9
4
Bertian Levy and Hal Cannon
1986
9
5
The DSB, Shanachie Records
1984
9
6
Ron Kane and Hal Cannon, Snowbird
undated
9
7
[untitled]
undated
9
8
[untitled]
undated
9
9
DSB, Blues and Buckin' Dun,
1983
9
10
DSB at Utah State Western Arts
1975 June
9a
1
The Deseret String Band by Shanachie Records
undated
9a
2
The Deseret String Band by Okehdokee Records (Master)
undated
9a
3
Deseret String Band: Bloomington, Indiana
1975 September 30
9a
4
Orcal E, [Illegible], Mr. Shorty and others
2008
9a
5
DSB - Bicknell Ut
1980
9a
6
Deseret String Band with Riders in the Sky: Moab, UT
undated
9a
7
DSB at [Illegible]: Skip, Hal, Leo, Rich, Ron
1975
9a
8
Red Steer: Select cuts from the vast American frontier (2 Copies)
1990 June 12
9a
9
DSB
1976 June
9a
10
DSB in Price
1978 April 12
9a
11
Hotel Utah
1981
9a
12
Bunkhouse Orchestra: Old Time Cowboy Songs
undated
9a
13
Bunkhouse/rough
undated
9a
14
Bunkhouse Orchestra KRCL Brown Bay
1985 June 19
9a
15
Bunkhouse Orchestra Brown Bay concert
1985 June 19
9a
16
Bunkhouse Band
1987 March 10
9a
17
DSB [illegible]
1990
9a
18
DSB
1990
9a
19
DSB 20th Anniversary
1992
9a
20
Deseret String Band, Price, Utah
1995 April
9a
21
DSB practice
undated
9a
22
DSB practice
undated
9a
23
Soldier's Heart work tape
undated
9a
24
DSB - Live at Demet's
undated
9a
25
Digital audio cassettes
Western Tape/DSB (Master)
undated
19
1
2nd Hand Band - Trax
undated
19
2
Bunkhouse Orchestra, Old Time Cowboy Songs
undated
19
3
Red Steer/Deseret St. Band (Master)
undated
19
4
Deseret String Band: Land of Milk and Honey
undated
19
5
Bunkhouse Orchestra, Backup DAT
undated
19
6
Utah Symphony - Deseret String Band
undated
19
7
Deseret String Band, CD Pre-Master Safety DAT
1996 March 18
19
8
Deseret String Band: Songs of Statehood, Okehdokee, cassette dupe master
undated
19
9
Deseret String Band - Ambience Approval Only
undated
19
10
Red Steer/DSB (Master)
1990
19
11
Deseret String Band UT/CD
undated
19
12
DSB 20th Anniversary #1
undated
19
13
DSB 20th #1 [2]
undated
19
14
DSB 20th #3
undated
19
15
DSB 20th
undated
19
16
DSB 20th Concert
undated
19
17
Vow - St Pet's 2nd half music
undated
19
18
5-Inch reel to reel
Okehdokee-Tails Cut 2
undated
5
1
Carbon County Music Master
1976
5
2
"Oh Sisters" Soundtrack, out-takes
undated
5
3
Out-Takes from "Utah Trail"
undated
5
4
[untitled]
undated
5
5
15 IPS 1/2 Track Stereo-Trails Out, The Boaster
undated
5
6
DSB Concert Side 1: DSB concert recording at the Hansen Planetarium in 1994 and other folk music. Side 2: Portions of radio recordings from the 1975 Mariposa Folk Festival on NPR and Okehdokee Radio Hour on KUER Salt Lake.
undated
9a
1
DSB II (Leo Coulson) Side 1: Misc. folk music and interview recordings. Side 2: Misc. folk music.
undated
9a
2
7-Inch reel to reel
DSB, Original Tape (Babe, Going Down the River, Red Whiskey, Cuttin at Point, Old Paint Waltz)
undated
12
1
DSB, Original Tape (Back to the Range, Yearlings in the Canebrake, Creek Nation, Boastin, Salt Lake City Blues)
undated
12
2
DSB, Original Tape (Lars Mortensen Polka, Mormon Cowboy, Old Christmas, Amongst the Awful Mormons, Fire on the Mountain, Harmona)
undated
12
3
DSB, Kanab Utah, Red Hills Convention Center
1977
12
4
DSB, Kanab Utah, Red Hills Convention Center
1977
12
5
DSB, Land of Milk and Honey
undated
12
6
DSB, Rich Lepage Recording Services (1 of 5)
1984
13
1
DSB, Rich Lepage Recording Services (2 of 5)
1984
13
2
DSB, Rich Lepage Recording Services (3 of 5)
1984
13
3
DSB, Rich Lepage Recording Services (4 of 5)
1984
13
4
DSB, Rich Lepage Recording Services (5 of 5)
1984
13
5
DSB (Doc Remeres Favorite, Texas Rangers, We Left our Home in Utah, Granville Pace)
1983
14
1
D.S.B Logan, UT
1974
14
2
Old Time Cowboy Songs, Bunkhouse Orchestra
undated
14
3
DSB (Western Pioneer)
1983
14
4
DSB (Salt Lake City Blues, Wyoming Home)
1983
15
1
DSB, Out-takes, Western Tape
undated
15
2
DSB, Out-takes, Western Tape
undated
15
3
Re-Mix, 15IPS (Bury Me Not, Mustang Grey)
undated
15
4
Deseret S.B. - 7" Reel-to-Reel
undated
20
1
Tom Sauber, Hal Cannon, and Tom Carter - Live Fret N Fiddle 19 Nov 81 Tape 1 - 7" Reel-to-Reel
1981 November 19
20
2
Tom Sauber, Hal Cannon, and Tom Carter - Live Fret N Fiddle 19 Nov 81 Tape 2 - 7" Reel-to-Reel
1981 November 19
20
3
Tom Sauber, Hal Cannon, and Tom Carter - Live Fret N Fiddle 19 Nov 81 Tape 3 - 7" Reel-to-Reel
1981 November 19
20
4
Vinyl records
Vinyl recording, 45: Okehdokee (2 copies)
1976
16
1
Heads: The Boaster; Tails: Never Been East of the Rockies, Trouble Up the Nine Mile, Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
Land of Milk and Honey
Undated
16
2
11 1/2-Inch reel to reel
Master Tape
undated
10
1
Master Tape
undated
11
2
[untitled]
undated
16
1
[untitled]
undated
16
2
[untitled]
undated
16
3
Utah Trail (Tape 1, Master)
undated
16
4
The Bunkhouse Orchestra, "Old-Time Cowboy Songs" (Side 2, DBX)
undated
16
5
Bunkhouse Orchestra, "Old Time Cowboy Songs" (Tape 1)
undated
16
6
Old Time Cowboy Songs (Side 1, 15 IPS, Tail)
undated
17
1
Old Time Cowboy Songs (Side 2, 15 IPS, Tail)
undated
17
2
DSB, Okehdokee Records, The Utah Trail (Side 2, Tails)
undated
17
3
DSB, Okehdokee Records, The Utah Trail (Side 1, Heads)
undated
17
4
DSB (Side 2, Dolby "A")
undated
17
5
DSB (15 IPS, Dolby "A")
1974
17
6
The Bunkhouse Orchestra (Tape 2)
1987
18
1
[untitled]
undated
18
2
The Bunkhouse Orchestra, "Old-Time Cowboy Songs" (Side 1, DBX Tails)
undated
18
3
DSB (Side 1, Dolby "A")
undated
18
4
[untitled]
undated
18
5
Other Media
DSB: Portions of radio recordings from the 1975 Mariposa Folk Festival on NPR and Okehdokee Radio Hour on KUER Salt Lake. Compact Disc
undated
19
1
DSB: Recording of miscellaneous folk music and an interview (glass blowing). Compact Disc
undated
19
2
DSB, Part 3: DSB concert recording at the Hansen Planetarium in 1994. Compact Disc
undated
19
3
Deseret String Band - 3/4" UC-60 U-Matic tape
1976 April 22
21
1
Deseret String Band Feb 8. 1978 - Produced by Judith Dwan (s.p.) Hollet - kutv - U-Matic tape
1978 February 8
22
1
IV. Posters
1975-1987
Located in Folk Collection poster cabinet, drawer 7
Utah Repertory Dance Theatre's Event at the Kingsbury Hall
Item 1
[?] May 10-11
7
1
Festival du Beaujolais
Item 2
1976 May 8-23
7
1
[Text in French]
The Deseret String Band at Kingsbury Hall
Item 3
[?] April 25
7
1
The Deseret String Band at The Hansen Planetarium
Item 4
[?] June 11-12
7
1
Leo Kottke and his guitar at Capital Theatre
Item 5
1975 July 10
7
1
The Deseret String Band
Item 6
Undated
7
1
The Deseret String Band at Kingsbury Hall
Item 7
[?] January 9
7
1
Northern Rockies Folk Festival; Sun Valley, Idaho
Item 8
1979 August 9-11
7
1
The Deseret String Band
Item 9
Undated
7
1
Bunkhouse Orchestra with Ray Lashley, Cowboy Poet
Item 10
Undated
7
1
Folk Festival with Deseret String Band
Item 11
[?] May 22
7
1
[Text in French]
The Annual McCall Summer Music Festival at M.D. High School Music Room
Item 12
1987
7
1
Sweet Pea Bluegrass Jamboree; Bozeman, Montana
Item 13
1978 August 4-5
7
1
Live on the Lawn: the Deseret String Band
Item 14
1978 August 1
7
1
The Deseret String Band
Item 15
Undated
7
1
The Annual McCall Summer Music Festival at M.D. High School Music Room
Item 16
1987
7
1
c.2
Deseret String Band sponsored by Utah Rural Arts Consortium
Item 17
Undated
7
1
Festival Folk Epalinges
Item 18
1976 May 14-16
7
1
[Text in French]
The 4th Saratoga Bluegrass Festival; Lehi, Utah
Item 19
1979 September 1-2
7
1
Wild West Week; Telluride and Ridgway, Colorado
Item 20
[?] September 24
7
1
Northern Rockies Folk Festival; Sun Valley, Idaho
Item 21
[?] August 29-September 1
7
1
The Deseret String Band Record Promo
Item 22
Undated
7
1
Oquirrh Ridge Drifters at Wood and Cowboy
Item 23
[?] September 18-19
7
1
Save our Public Lands - Utah presents Old Time Music and Dance with the Sagebrush Cotillion
Item 24
[?] May 9
7
1
McClain Family Band in Concert; Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah
Item 25
1981 April 9-10
7
1
5 Band Posters
1978-1987
7
1
Assorted posters
1976-1989
7
1