Oral history interview with Monte Ballou, 1980 September 16
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Ballou, Monte
- Title
- Oral history interview with Monte Ballou
- Dates
- 1980 September 161980-09-161980-09-16
- Quantity
- 0.1 cubic feet, (1 audiocassette (59 min., 42 sec.) + transcript (20 pages))
- Collection Number
- SR 9342
- Summary
- Oral history interview with Monte Ballou conducted by Linda S. Dodds on September 16, 1980. Ballou was a jazz musician in Portland, Oregon.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
Monte Ballou, also known as Ralph Hosea Ballou, was born in Waterport, New York, in 1902. His family moved to Oregon in 1911. He developed an interest in music at an early age, particularly jazz music. He played mandolin, banjo, and guitar. He was a leader of the Castle Jazz Band, which was part of the West Coast revival of traditional jazz. Ballou died in 1991.
Content Description
This oral history interview with Monte Ballou was conducted by Linda S. Dodds on September 16, 1980, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. At the time of the interview, Dodds' name was Linda S. Brody. A transcript of the interview is available.
In this interview, Ballou discusses his family background and early life in Amity, Oregon, including his early interest in playing music, particularly the banjo and mandolin. He talks about playing in bands, particularly the Castle Jazz Band; about the music community in Oregon, particularly in Portland; and about running jazz clubs in Portland. He closes the interview by reflecting on his long career as a musician and talking about musicians he worked with.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available
Audio and transcript available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Monte Ballou, by Linda S. Dodds, SR 9342, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Administrative Information
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Bars (Drinking establishments)--Oregon--Portland
- Jazz musicians--Oregon--Portland
- Musicians--Oregon--Portland
Personal Names
- Ballou, Monte
Corporate Names
- Castle Jazz Band
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
- oral histories (literary works)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Dodds, Linda S. (interviewer)
