AMERICAN MUSIC SERIES                                                                                          13 a,b

William "Bill" Russell

with Vivian Perlis

March, 1972

New York, NY

                                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Side a:                                                                                                            pp. 1-34

Childhood, early years in midwest‑‑violin study‑‑‑move to New York City in 1929‑‑experiences with new music societies and guilds‑‑study at New School and interest in ethnomusicology‑‑Cowell as influence‑‑Pan American program and anecdote about Varèse‑‑fugue for percussion instruments‑‑Merce Cunningham‑‑Lou Harrison and Chinese instruments, also Ives interest‑‑study with Schoenberg at UCLA‑‑interest in jazz, 1940‑‑use of violin in early New Orleans days‑‑Jelly Roll Morton, story about nickname‑‑travels with the Redgate Shadow Players, 1930‑34‑‑begins serious record collecting‑‑Joplin sheet music‑‑Dick Allen and Tulane project‑‑Buddy Bolden‑‑proposed book on Manuel Manetta.

Side b                                                                                                                        pp. 34-56

More on Tulane‑‑second proposed book, New Orleans Style‑‑interviews with Baby Dodds, Johnny St. Cyr, Pops Foster, Kid Ory, et al‑‑Louis Armstrong‑more on Jelly Roll Morton‑‑more on Henry Cowell‑‑‑interviews with Sidney Bechet, Zutty Singleton‑‑tracking down Bunk Johnson, with help of Louis Armstrong‑‑anecdote inserted about Ravel, Jim Noone‑‑back to Bunk Johnson‑provided dental care, new instrument for Johnson‑‑‑sets up record business‑current participation in ragtime band‑‑collecting Jelly Roll manuscripts, correspondence‑‑more on Bunk Johnson, Johnson vs. Armstrong.

AMERICAN MUSIC SERIES                                                                              13 c,d

William Russell

with Vincent Plush

Aptos, California

August 20, 1984

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Side c                                                                                                                         pp.1-14

Previous interview for Oral History American Music -- member of New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra -- notation and improvisation -- changes in New Orleans and in jazz over the past 30 years -- Latin American influence -- influence of electronic age on performing tradition -- research on history of jazz and book on Jelly Roll Morton -- interviewing musicians for book on New Orleans jazz style -- reason for giving up composing -- surname Wagner changed to Russell -- hearing his music performed a Cabrillo Festival after 40 years -- comparison of contemporary performances with those of 50 years ago -- recreation of 1940 concert -- percussion pieces associated with dance -- Three Dance Movements, March Suite -- revision -- keeping copies of his music.

Side d                                                                                                                                    pp. 14-24

Thoughts about resuming composing -- The Fugue, Three Dance Movements, The March Suite, Three Cuban Pieces, Chicago Sketches -- Haitian ballet -- Made in America -- influence of Henry Cowell -- using ideas from booklet published by Ludwig Drum company -- interest in Chinese opera -- accompanist for Chinese Shadow Plays -- American sound of his music -- possibility of composing in the future.