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Finding Aid for the John Richbourg Collection (MUM00673)

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The John Richbourg Collection is open for research.

Finding Aid for the John Richbourg Collection



Descriptive Summary

PURL: http://purl.oclc.org/umarchives/MUM00673/
Title: John Richbourg Collection
Dates: 1942-1986
Collector: Richbourg, John
Physical Extent: 5 boxes
Repository: University of Mississippi. Department of Archives and Special Collections. University, MS 38677, USA
Identification: MUM00673
Location: Blues
Language of Material: English
Abstract: Collection of recordings, clippings, correspondence and ephemera of John Richbourg

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Collection donated by Margaret Richbourg.

Additions

No further additions are expected to this collection.


Subject Terms

Richbourg, John
Disc jockeys -- United States
Blues (Music)
Blues musicians


Formats

sound recordings
audiocassettes
45 rpm records
photographs
clippings (information artifacts)
magazines (periodicals)
certificates
ephemera
correspondence


Scope and Content Note

John Richbourg Collection includes tapes of airchecks of his programs, primarily from the 1960s, cassettes of commercials used on his broadcasts, photographs from throughout his career, framed certificates and memorabilia, and 45 rpm records he produced, primarily on the Sound Stage label. Three cassettes containing samples from his aircheck tapes were made for distribution in 1985.

Clippings, articles, and a brief handwritten memoir document his career as a broadcaster, as a record producer, and as an educator who founded a school of broadcasting for black students in the 1950s. Other articles and photographs pertain to a fundraising "Tribute to John R" held in March 1985, at which a number of prominent musicians performed. Correspondence is limited to a few items.


User Information

Prefered Citation

John Richbourg Collection, Archives and Special Collections, J.D. Williams Library, The University of Mississippi

Access Restrictions

The John Richbourg Collection is open for research.

Copyright Restrictions

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use", that user may be liable for copyright infringement.


Separated Material

Garland, Phyl. The Sound of Soul. Chicago: 1969. Cataloged: ML2811 .G35

Guralnick, Peter. Feel Like Goin' Home. New York: 1981. Cataloged: ML385 .G95 1981

Passman, Arnold. The Deejays. New York: 1971. Cataloged: ML406 .P38


Container List

Recordings
Cassettes
Box 1 "John R Just As It Was" Tapes 1-3
"Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame" [Radio program? Demo tape?]
Box 4 34 tape cassettes of commercials
45s Produced by John Richbourg on the Sound Stage label
Box 1 SS 45-2564 Joe Simon. "Long Hot Summer" / "Teenager's Prayer"
SS 45-2577 Joe Simon. "Travelin' Man" / "My Special Prayer"
45-2589 Joe Simon. "The Girl's Alright with Me" / "Nine Pound Steel"
45-2602 Joe Simon. "Come On and Get It" / "No Sad Songs" (DJ Copy)
45-2608 Joe Simon. "Long Hot Summer" / "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" (DJ Copy)
SS7-2611 Ella Washington. "Starving for Love" / "Done Made It Up in My Mind" (DJ Copy)
SS7-2617 Joe Simon. "I Worry About You" / "Message from Maria" (DJ Copy)
SS7-2622 Joe Simon. "Standing in the Safety Zone" / "Looking Back"
SS7-2628 Joe Simon. "The Chokin' Kind" (DJ Copy: mono and stereo sides)
SS7-2634 Joe Simon. "Baby, Don't Be Looking in My Mind" / "Don't Let Me Lose the Feeling" (DJ copy)
SS7-2641 Joe Simon. "It's Hard to Get Along" / "San Francisco is a Lonely Town" (DJ copy)
Mell-O-Sound 8001 Joe Simon. "Alone At Last" / "Stay Love" (2 copies)
Smash S-2013 John R. "Night Train" / "Stag O' Lee" (DJ copy)
Tape recordings (7-inch reels)
Box 2 1961 (2 reels)
1966 (1 reels)
1967 (18 reels)
1968 (2 reels)
1970 (3 reels)
Box 3 Undated reels (6 reels)
1967 (2 reels)
1969 (1 reel)
1973 (1 reel)
"Spiritual, late 60s or early 70s"
"Hey John R" theme
"Dig These Blues
James Brown interview, 1970
Motown songs
"Cassette #4" (2 reels ; 7-inch and 12-inch)
"Spiritual - late 60s" (2 reels)
"Black church service"
Unlabeled reel
Papers
Folder 1.1 Correspondence, 1936; 1970-1986
Folder 1.2 Memento of Navy A.E.M. School, Jacksonville, Florida, 1947
Folder 1.3 WLAC - publications and articles
Folder 1.4 Advertising flyers for "The John R Show"
Folder 1.5 Church activities and special programs, 1984-1985
Folder 1.6 Tribute to John R, Nashville, 26 March 1985
Tribute to John R - clippings
Folder 1.7 Clippings, 1966-1972 (album pages)
Folder 1.8 Clippings and articles, 1972-1986
Folder 1.9 Clippings and articles, undated
Folder 1.10 Obituaries, 1986
Folder 1.11 Handwritten memoir for Washington Post, 1976 (photocopy)
Folder 1.12 Business card file
Folder 1.13 Greeting cards from family members
Folder 1.14 Get-well cards from friends
Folder 1.15 Sympathy cards
Folder 1.16 Miscellaneous materials
Photographs
Folder 1.17 Early family photos
Folder 1.18 Navy service
Folder 1.19 WLAC, 1943-1973
Folder 1.20 Family snapshots, 1964
Folder 1.21 Informal photos (black and white, undated)
Folder 1.22 NATRA Board (undated, 1960s?)
Folder 1.23 Group photos with recording artists (undated)
Folder 1.24 Photos with James Brown (color, 1985?)
Folder 1.25 Tribute to John R, March 26, 1985 (color snapshots, negatives)
Box 1 Framed photographs. John R with Joe Simon (2 photos)
Magazine Issues
Box 1 TV Radio Mirror, March 1971
TV and Movie Screen, April 1972
Hank, October 1977
It Will Stand, 1985
Tennessean Showcase, March 24-30, 1985
Soul Survivor, Spring 1985
Esquire, May 1985
Hawthorne Horn, July 1985
Juke Blues, October 1985
Wavelength, November 1985
Framed Certificates
Box 1 NATRA Award of Appreciation, 16 August 1969
Society for the Advancement of African American Achievements and Contributions, Certificate of Appreciation, 25 March 1985
Miscellaneous
Box 4 Trophy: Sterling Magazines Personality of the Month tee shirts from John R tribute
Book. Guralnick, Peter. Lost Highway. Boston: 1979. Inscribed to John R by the author
Oversized Items
Box 5 Canfield, Clarke. "John R eulogized as music influence, friend." Nashville Banner Volume 111, No. 314. 18 February 1986.
Front page of the Nashville Banner -- one from the first edition and one from the final edition -- encased in a sealed clear plastic sleeve. 18 February 1986 (2 copies)
Poster titled: "Sound Seventy Presents The Roots of Rhythm & Rock A Tribute to the Legendary John R. -- The Hitmaker." It lists 16 performers or groups and is dated Tuesday 26 March -- Grand Ole Opry House From 7:00 PM Until. [1985]
Framed plaque of the State of Louisiana Executive Department appointing John Richbourg "Colonel on the Staff of Governor Edwin W. Edwards and as Aide=de=Camp, Governor's Staff." 13 March 1985.
Framed proclamation of John Richbourg's accomplishments by Joe Frank Harris, Governor of the State of Georgia. 26 March 1985.
Framed plaque of the Governor's Award from Edwin W. Edwards of Louisiana to John Richbourg for "Your vast contribution to the to the [sic.] exposure and promotion of Louisiana Music and Artist Through Broadcasting." 12 March 1985.
Mounted plaque from Sound Stage Seven Records to J. R. Enterprises "For contributing to Developing Joe Simon into a Major Recording Artist, enabling his recording of "The Chokin' Kind" for Sound Stage Seven Records, Inc. to sell in excess of 1,000,000 records. Signed by John D. Richbourg and Allen J. Orange.