Ed Ramsey Detroit Jazz Scrapbooks

Collection

Identifier: MUSIC-015

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

Dates

Creation: 1973-1981

Extent

0.5 Cubic Feet (One oversize 74-page scrapbook and one envelope.)

Creator

Ramsey, Ed (Collector) (Collector, Person)

Scope and Contents

The contents of the small autograph scrapbook include signed photos of musicians and letters. The oversize scrapbook contains material related to McKinney's New Cotton Pickers, a Detroit-based jazz band that formed in the early 1970s. The band was the second iteration of the original McKinney's Cotton Pickers, a popular Detroit jazz band from 1926-1934. McKinney's New Cotton Pickers included one member of the original band - Dave Wilborn, vocalist and banjo player. The scrapbook contains a variety of material, including promotional flyers, articles, newsletters, advertisements and programs. Also included is original correspondence between Ed Ramsey and Dave Wilborn, as well as Bob Chester, a well-known dance band leader. In addition, there are articles about and photographs of the Graystone Ballroom, where the original band played. Of particular note are two documents: a contract between Dave Wilborn and the Detroit Federation of Musicians, and a State of Michigan Tribute Legislative Resolution in honor of Dave Wilborn.

Biographical / Historical

Ed Ramsey was a young collector of Big Band and Swing music. After his death, his family donated his collection to the Music Library and Bill Schurk Sound Archives. The scrapbooks were part of a large collection of big-band related sound recordings, photographs and other documents.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The contents of the small autograph scrapbook were removed and placed in an envelope, kept with the oversize scrapbook.

Separated Materials

Sound recordings from the collection have been cataloged individually in BGSU's library catalog. Some additional photographs from the collection may be in MLBSSA's collection of autographed materials.