Guide to the Sonny Burke Papers, ca. 1949-1951 and undated
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleSonny Burke Papers, ca. 1949-1951 and undated
Creator
Burke, Sonny, 1914-1980
Extent
5 flat boxes
76 complete big band charts
Repository
76 complete big band charts
Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Language
English.
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Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in the Sonny Burke Collection have not been transferred to Duke University. The user is advised that rights for performance may be retained by the original composer and/or original arranger. For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Provenance
The papers of Sonny Burke were acquired by Duke University in 1987.
Processing Information
Processed by: Lois Schultz
Completed July 11, 1996
Encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Biographical Note
| 1914, March 22 | Born Joseph Francis Burke in Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| 1937 | Graduated from Duke University |
| 1930's to 1940's | Big band leader in New York (including Sam Donahue's band) |
| 1940's to 1950's |
Band arranger, including Charlie Spivak & Jimmy Dorsey bands
Is credited as co-composer of Midnight Sun, the Lionel Hampton tune with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.
Active as an arranger & bandleader in major recording studios, including Decca Records; Burke was musical director of Reprise Records and was responsible for many of Frank Sinatra's albums
Bandleader for recordings of leading singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Torme.
|
| 1980, May 31 | Died |
Partial discography: Sonny Burke plays Mambos (1951) Sonny Burke and his Orchestra I & II (1951) The Sonny Burke-Don Elliott Six (ca. 1960)
Further biographical information may be found in:
The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Chester, CT: New England Pub. Associates. 1992 , v. 1, p. 368.
[top]Collection Overview
The Sonny Burke Collection (chiefly undated, but some dated between Nov., 1949 and June, 1951) has as its focal point 76 arrangements of popular music for
"Big Band."
These charts were used by Burke's band during the 1940's-1950's for performances in the United States and Mexico. Most of the arrangements appear to be by Sonny Burke, but other composers/arrangers include: Frank Erickson, Hal Schaefer, Stan Kenton, John Valentine Eppel, Laurindo Almeida, and Ray Conniff. Some of the arrangements were made for recordings on the Decca Records label. The most common instrumentation is for two alto saxophones/clarinets, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, four trumpets and four trombones, although other combinations exist. The instrumentation is noted for each title in the Container List.
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Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
- Burke, Sonny, 1914-
- Decca Records (Firm).
- Big band music.
- Big bands--United States.
- Jazz musicians.
- Jazz--1941-1950.
- Jazz--1951-1960.
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Sonny Burke Papers, 1949-1951 | ||||||
Detailed Description of Collection
Sonny Burke Papers, 1949-1951
(5 flat boxes)
Box 1
Artistry en mambo
Chart no.: 00
Composer: Stan Kenton
Arranger/Copyist: Johnny O'Valle
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Begin the beguine
Chart no.: 121
Instrumentation: Alto sax/clarinet (2), tenor sax/clarinet (1), baritone sax/bass clarinet (1), trumpets (4), trombones (3)
Provenance: George Kaitz
Bela
Chart no.: 96
Instrumentation: Reed (1,2,4), trombones (4)
Blue velvet
Arranger/Copyist: Rudy Hermann
Chart no.: 94
Instrumentation: Alto sax/clarinet (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Dated: 9/22/51
Blues
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 58
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (2), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Decca Records, 11/21/49
Caracas
Composer: Frank Erickson
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4), conga
Cha-Cha-Cha
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), bass sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4), bass trombone (1), bass, piano, bongos/congas
Cocoanuts
Chart no.: 86
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Contemplation
Instrumentation: Alto sax (1 [1st alto missing]), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Dubonnet
Chart no.: 100
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Embreacable [Embraceable] you
Arranger/Copyist: Babe Russin
Chart no.: 79
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Fiesta bells
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Foggy day
Arranger/Copyist: Ray Conniff
Chart no.: 80
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Following you
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Box 2
Get happy
Composer: Sonny Burke
Chart no.: 62
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (2), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 6/27/50
Ghost of a chance
Chart no.: 98
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Note: extra copies of trumpet parts for different performers:
Juan,
Mac,
Mickey,
Ollie, & Pete
Guy is a guy
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Happiness is this
Chart no.: 73
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Performers: Andrews Sisters, 4/6/51
Happy pay day
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 66
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 4/17/50
Hot timbales (Topanga, Balboa)
Chart no.: 87
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
I want to be happy
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 6/27/50
I wished on the moon
Arranger/Copyist: George V. Yocum
Instrumentation: Clarinet, alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (3)
Performers names on parts: Ollie,
Hugo,
Clint,
Don,
Bob,
Macbeth,
Pete,
Mickey,
Paul,
Jimmy,
Ray
If you're gonna love me, love me
Arranger/Copyist: Cueo Valtierra
Chart no.: 99
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
I'm yours to command
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 72
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Dated: 7/28/51
I've got to fall in love again
Arranger/Copyist: George V. Yocum
Chart no.: 68
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Joe's mambo
Chart no.: 83
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Jing-a-ling mombo
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 56
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 10/13/50
Juke joint mama
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 60
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Dated: 11/21/49
Box 3
June
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (2), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Just one of those things
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 61
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 4/17/50
Koo koo mombo
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 55
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (2), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 10/13/50
Lady bug
Chart no.: 105
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Lazy day
Chart no.: 107
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Little bud mombo
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 53
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 11/1/50
Main street
Chart no.: 91
Instrumentation: Alto sax/clarinet (2), tenor sax/clarinet (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Mambo man
Arranger/Copyist: Rudy Hermann
Chart no.: 74
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4) (2 copies of 4th part)
Provenance: Vic Schoen, 6/6/51
Mambo on my mind
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Mandingue (Mahn-ding-gay)
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Midnight sun
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (5), trombones (4 - 2nd part missing)
Missouri waltz (Hush-a-bye, ma baby)
Composer: John Valentine Eppel
Arranger/Copyist: Vic Schoen
Instrumentation: Alto sax (1), tenor sax (1), trumpets (2), trombones (2)
Published material: Chicago: Forster Music, c1943.
Mist
Composer: Frank W. Erickson
Chart no.: 103
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Mom boogie
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 54
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 11/1/50
Box 4
Mombo #5
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 51
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 10/13/50
Montevideo
Composer: Hal Schaefer
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Moods in mombo
Chart no.: 57
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
More! more! more!
Chart no.: 93
Instrumentation: Alto sax/clarinet (2), tenor sax/clarinet (1), baritone sax/bass clarinet (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Mr. & Mrs. Sippi
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 69
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 3/23/51
Mr. Pessimist (I'm a pessimist)
Chart no.: 88
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Mulholland Drive
Chart no.: 90
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
New sound for the blues
Composer: Hal Schaefer
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Ramona
Instrumentation: Soprano sax/clarinet, alto sax (1), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (3), tuba, piano
Samba Americano
Composer: Laurindo Almeida
Arranger/Copyist: Radames Gnattali
Chart no.: 95
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Sammy's little shaker
Chart no.: 75
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
September song
Composer: Ray Conniff
Chart no.: 76
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Side walk shufflers
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 70
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 3/1/51
Slow freight
Chart no.: 108
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Soliloquy
Composer: Frank W. Erickson
Chart no.: 53
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Star-spangled banner
Arranger/Copyist: Damrosch/Sousa
Instrumentation: Clarinet (1), baritone sax (1), trombones (4), bass
Published material: G. Schirmer, c1918
Stompin' at the Savoy
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 64
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 4/17/50
Strange interlewd [interlude]
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Sweetn'n stuff
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 67
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 3/23/51
Box 5
T. blues [Tenor blues?]
Instrumentation: Tenor saxophones (3)
Tango-langa
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Tea for two (T 4 2)
Chart no.: 82
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), trumpets (5), trombones (4)
Ten times
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 59
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 11/21/49
Tenderly medley
Chart no.: 85
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
That's the one for me
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 71
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 3/1/51
Three cornered tune
Chart no.: 89
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Three-D (3-D)
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Undecided
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Unless medley
Chart no.: 78
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Wanna love you
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
What is this thing
Arranger/Copyist: Frank W. Erickson
Chart no.: 102
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
What, where, when
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 65
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 3/22/50
Wonnerful, wasn't it
Composer: Sonny Burke
Arranger/Copyist: Marty Seliger
Chart no.: 68A
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Provenance: Decca Records, 3/29/51
Would I love you
Chart no.: 77
Instrumentation: Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)
Miscellaneous
Complete parts (Alto sax (2), tenor sax (1), baritone sax (1), trumpets (4), trombones (4)) for 3 arrangements. One has the notation: [chart #] 81, another is arranged by Frank Erickson.
2 Programs and a complimentary ticket for Saturday, July 5, 1952.
Miscellaneous unidentified or incomplete arrangements, including some scores. Some have titles:
Bows (trumpet 3)
Ravel's Bolero (trombone, 1st alto, 2nd tenor)
Baby Doll (chart #106, 2nd trumpet)
Someone on Your Mind (1st alto sax)
The Sunny South by J. Bodewalt Lampe (2nd-3rd clarinets)
Them Their Eyes (baritone sax excerpt, trombone ending)
