Collection is open for research.
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.
Oral history interview with Monte Ballou, by Linda S. Dodds, SR 9342, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Commercial recordings by the Castle Jazz Band are part of SR 8000 at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
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.
Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA,