Inventory of the Cuthbert Simpkins Interviews on John Coltrane, 1971-1974
[top]Descriptive Summary
Repository
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University
Creator
Simpkins, Cuthbert Ormond, 1947-
Title
Cuthbert Simpkins Interviews on John Coltrane, 1971-1974
Language of Material
Material in English
Extent
3.0 Linear Feet
65 original audiocassettes (with CD use copies for patron access)
Abstract
65 original audiocassettes (with CD use copies for patron access)
Author and medical doctor Cuthbert O. Simpkins (b. 1947) wrote the first biography of jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane (1926-1967), titled Coltrane: A Biography (Perth Amboy, NJ: Herndon House Publishers, 1975).
The collection contains audio recordings of interviews Simpkins conducted with various family members, friends, and colleagues of Coltrane between 1971-1974 as a part of his research.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research. However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this 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.
In addition, Box 1 (containing original audiocassettes) is CLOSED to patron use. CD use copies for all original audio material in the collection are located in Box 2 and are open to patron use.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Copyright Notice
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Cuthbert Simpkins Interviews on John Coltrane, Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Cuthbert Simpkins Interviews on John Coltrane were received by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a gift in December 2008.
Processing Information
Processed by Jeremy Smith, April 2009
Encoded by Jeremy Smith, April 2009
Accession 2008-0299 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Biographical Note
Author and medical doctor Cuthbert O. Simpkins (b. 1947) wrote the first biography of jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane (1926-1967), titled Coltrane: A Biography (Perth Amboy, NJ: Herndon House Publishers, 1975). Coltrane was born in Hamlet, N.C., and his family moved to High Point in 1927, where he lived until 1943. Beginning in the mid-1940s, he regularly performed on tenor saxophone as a sideman, including stints in bands led by Jimmy Heath, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk. By the early 1960s, Coltrane was leading his own ensembles, including an influential quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones. As a saxophonist, he brought renewed attention to the soprano saxophone in the 1960s, and as a composer and an improviser, Coltrane contributed to a number of harmonic and melodic innovations in jazz.
[top]Collection Overview
The Cuthbert Simpkins Interviews on John Coltrane comprises 65 audio cassettes of interviews conducted by Simpkins between 1971-1974 while researching his 1975 biography of Coltrane. Simpkins interviewed family members, friends, musicians, and other associates from throughout Coltrane's career. The interviews address such topics as: Coltrane's family history, his childhood in North Carolina, the development of his musical style, his influence on other musicians, and his personality. Many also contain personal anecdotes related to Coltrane from throughout his life. The materials include multiple interviews with Calvin Massey, Jimmy Garrison, Larry Young (Khalid Yasin), Ornette Coleman, and others. The audiocassettes have been digitized for patron access, and portions of some interviews have been transcribed, with the transcriptions included in the collection.
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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.
- Audiocassettes.
- Coleman, Ornette.
- Coltrane, John, 1926-1967.
- Coltrane, John, 1926-1967--Biography.
- Compact discs.
- Garrison, Jimmy.
- Jazz.
- Jazz--1941-1950.
- Jazz--1951-1960.
- Jazz--1961-1970.
- Jazz--History and criticism.
- Jazz musicians.
- Jazz musicians--Interviews.
- Jones, Elvin.
- Massey, Cal, 1927-1972.
- Saxophonists--United States--Biography.
- Simpkins, Cuthbert Ormond, 1947-
- Tyner, McCoy.
- Young, Larry, 1940-1978.
Related Material
David Tegnell Interviews on John Coltrane
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Audio Recordings of Interviews, 1971-1974 | ||||||
Detailed Description of Collection
Audio Recordings of Interviews, 1971-1974
2 Boxes
Interviewee names and interview dates are taken directly from written information on the original cassettes.
RESTRICTIONS: Box 1, containing original audio cassettes, is CLOSED to patron use. CD use copies are open to patrons and are available in Box 2.
Box 1
Original Audio Cassettes 101-165
CLOSED TO PATRON USE
Box 2
CD Use Copies of all Audio Material
This box contains CD use copies for all original audio material in the collection. Additionally, it contains a folder with more detailed descriptions of the file naming scheme and the relationship between the original media and the digital files. The folder also contains all currently available interview transcriptions, which are noted below.
Folder 1
Interview transcripts and information
Contains partial transcriptions of some of the interviews, noted below. Also contains additional details about the interviews and the file naming scheme.
CD
1
JAD-2008-0299-101A:
Track 1 - Interview with Pete LaRocca, 16 mins, July 5, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-102A:
Track 2 - Interview with Dr. James C. Morgan, 7 mins, no date
Partial transcript available in folder.
JAD-2008-0299-102B:
Track 3 - Interview with Walter Hoover, 27 mins, no date
Partial transcript available in folder.
CD
2
JAD-2008-0299-103A:
Track 1 - Interview with Gary Bartz, 15 mins, April 13, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-103B:
Track 2 - Interview with Gary Bartz, 15 mins, April 13, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-104A:
Track 3 - Interview with Steve Kuhn, 46 mins, May 22, 1972
CD
3
JAD-2008-0299-104B1:
Track 1 - Interview with Ray Draper, 27 mins, May 20, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-104B2:
Track 2 - Interview with Richard Davis, 17 mins, May 22, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-105B:
Track 3 - Interview with Rashied Ali, 15 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-106A:
Track 4 - Interview with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, 2 mins, no date
CD
4
JAD-2008-0299-107A:
Track 1 - Interview with Shepard S. Whitted, 15 mins, fall 1972
Partial transcript available in folder.
JAD-2008-0299-107B1:
Track 2 - Interview with Dr. James C. Morgan, 19 mins, fall 1972
Partial transcript available in folder.
JAD-2008-0299-107B2:
Track 3 - Interview with Shepard S. Whitted, 11 mins, fall 1972
JAD-2008-0299-108A1:
Track 4 - Interview with Cuthbert Simpkins, 16 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-108A2:
Track 5 - Interview with Samuel Burford, 6 mins, no date
Partial transcript available in folder.
CD
5
JAD-2008-0299-108B:
Track 1 - Interview with Samuel Burford, 30 mins, no date
Partial transcript available in folder.
JAD-2008-0299-109A:
Track 2 - Interview with Calvin Massey, 22 mins, June 1971
JAD-2008-0299-110A:
Track 3 - Interview with Larry Young (Khalid Yasin), 25 mins, no date
CD
6
JAD-2008-0299-111A1:
Track 1 - Interview with Odean Pope, 11 mins, June 28, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-111A2:
Track 2 - Interview with James Kinzer, 16 mins, June 28, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-111B:
Track 3 - Interview with James Kinzer, 22 mins, June 28, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-112A1:
Track 4 - Interview with Joe Termini, 17 mins, May 14, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-112A2:
Track 5 - Interview with Larry Young (Khalid Yasin), 13 mins, May 15, 1971
CD
7
JAD-2008-0299-112B1:
Track 1 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 19 mins, May 12, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-112B2:
Track 2 - Interview with Joe Termini, 10 mins, May 14, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-113B:
Track 3 - Interview with James Boyd, 30 mins, no date
Partial transcript available in folder.
CD
8
JAD-2008-0299-114A1:
Track 1 - Interview with Mr. Isadore Granoff, 22 mins, Feb. 14, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-114A2:
Track 2 - Interview with Mr. Lewis, 4 mins, Feb. 14, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-114B:
Track 3 - Interview with Mr. Lewis, 13 mins, Feb. 14, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-116B:
Track 4 - Interview with Ethel Wilson, 6 mins, no date
Partial transcript available in folder.
CD
9
JAD-2008-0299-117A:
Track 1 - Interview with John Erskine "Rocky" Boyd, 30 mins, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-117B:
Track 2 - Interview with John Erskine "Rocky" Boyd, 30 mins, 1972
CD
10
JAD-2008-0299-118A:
Track 1 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 15 mins, Jan. 18, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-118B:
Track 2 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 15 mins, Jan. 18, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-120B:
Track 3 - Interview with Odean Pope, 45 mins, June 28, 1972
CD
11
JAD-2008-0299-121A1:
Track 1 - Interview with James Forman, 23 mins, June 30, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-121A2:
Track 2 - Interview with Hank Mobley, 7 mins, June 30, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-121B1:
Track 3 - Interview with Hank Mobley, 20 mins, June 30, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-121B2:
Track 4 - Interview with Warren McClinton, 10 mins, June 30, 1972
CD
12
JAD-2008-0299-122A:
Track 1 - Interview with Carl Grubbs, 30 mins, Feb. 8, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-122B:
Track 2 - Interview with Carl Grubbs, 9 mins, Feb. 8, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-123A1:
Track 3 - Interview with Mal Waldron, 16 mins, Jan. 6, 1974
JAD-2008-0299-123A2:
Track 4 - Interview with Elvin Jones, 10 mins, Jan. 6, 1974
JAD-2008-0299-123A3:
Track 5 - Interview with unidentified subject, 5 mins, Jan. 6, 1974
CD
13
JAD-2008-0299-123B:
Track 1 - Interview with Mal Waldron, 45 mins, Jan. 6, 1974
JAD-2008-0299-124A:
Track 2 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 15 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-124B:
Track 3 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 15 mins, no date
CD
14
JAD-2008-0299-125A1:
Track 1 - Interview with George Russell, 5 mins, June 17, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-125A2:
Track 2 - Interview with Johnny Coles, 38 mins, June 19, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-126A:
Track 3 - Interview with Pat Patrick, 30 mins, August 20, 1972
CD
15
JAD-2008-0299-126B:
Track 1 - Interview with Pat Patrick, 23 mins, August 20, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-127A:
Track 2 - Interview with Mrs. Hughes (and unidentified interviewees from High Point), 27 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-127B:
Track 3 - Interview with Mrs. Dunavant, 29 mins, no date
CD
16
JAD-2008-0299-128A:
Track 1 - Interview with Michael Lawson, 30 mins, July 5, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-128B1:
Track 2 - Interview with Michael Lawson, 25 mins, July 5, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-128B2:
Track 3 - Interview with Pete LaRocca, 5 mins, July 5, 1972
CD
17
JAD-2008-0299-129A:
Track 1 - Interview with Calvin Massey, 30 mins, June 29, 1971
JAD-2008-0299-129B:
Track 2 - Interview with Calvin Massey, 30 mins, June 29, 1971
CD
18
JAD-2008-0299-130A:
Track 1 - Interview with Calvin Massey, 30 mins, June 28, 1971
JAD-2008-0299-130B:
Track 2 - Interview with Calvin Massey, 23 mins, June 28, 1971
CD
19
JAD-2008-0299-131A:
Track 1 - Interview with Gary Bartz (and unidentified associates), 43 mins, June 9, 1972
CD
20
JAD-2008-0299-131B:
Track 1 - Interview with Roy Haynes, 40 mins, June 8, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-132A:
Track 2 - Interview with Gary Bartz (and unidentified associates), 8 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-133A:
Track 3 - Interview with Wayne Shorter, 30 mins, July 6, 1972
CD
21
JAD-2008-0299-133B:
Track 1 - Interview with Wayne Shorter, 5 mins, July 6, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-134A:
Track 2 - Interview with Larry Young (Khalid Yasin), 15 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-135A:
Track 3 - Interview with Orrin Keepnews, 31 mins, Jan. 18, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-135B:
Track 4 - Interview with Orrin Keepnews, 10 mins, Jan. 18, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-136A:
Track 5 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 13 mins, April 18, 1972
CD
22
JAD-2008-0299-136B:
Track 1 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 13 mins, April 18, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-137A:
Track 2 - Interview with McCoy Tyner, 30 mins, Jan. 27, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-137B:
Track 3 - Interview with McCoy Tyner, 6 mins, Jan. 27, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-138A:
Track 4 - Interview with McCoy Tyner, 30 mins, Jan. 27, 1972
CD
23
JAD-2008-0299-138B:
Track 1 - Interview with McCoy Tyner, 30 mins, Jan. 27, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-139A:
Track 2 - Interview with Zita Carno, 30 mins, July 3, 1972
CD
24
JAD-2008-0299-139B:
Track 1 - Interview with Zita Carno, 26 mins, July 3, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-140A:
Track 2 - Interview with Jimmy Heath, 31 mins, no date
CD
25
JAD-2008-0299-140B:
Track 1 - Interview with Jimmy Heath, 31 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-141A:
Track 2 - Interview with George "Big George" Russell, 26 mins, Jan. 20, 1972
CD
26
JAD-2008-0299-141B:
Track 1 - Interview with George "Big George" Russell, 24 mins, Jan. 20, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-142A:
Track 2 - Interview with George "Big George" Russell, 26 mins, Jan. 19, 1972.
CD
27
JAD-2008-0299-142B:
Track 1 - Interview with George "Big George" Russell, 30 mins, Jan. 19, 1972.
JAD-2008-0299-143A:
Track 2 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 32 mins, Jan. 6, 1973
CD
28
JAD-2008-0299-145A:
Track 1 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 21 mins, April 18, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-145B:
Track 2 - Interview with Jimmy Garrison, 21 mins, April 18, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-147A:
Track 3 - Interview with Rahsaan Roland Kirk (and Ron Burton), 30 mins, no date
CD
29
JAD-2008-0299-147B:
Track 1 - Interview with Rocky Boyd, 14 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-148A:
Track 2 - Interview with Franklin Brower, 40 mins, July 20, 1972
Partial transcript available in folder.
CD
30
JAD-2008-0299-148B:
Track 1 - Interview with Franklin Brower, 43 mins, July 20, 1972
Partial transcript available in folder.
JAD-2008-0299-149A:
Track 2 - Interview with George Braith, 31 mins, April 23, 1972
CD
31
JAD-2008-0299-149B:
Track 1 - Interview with George Braith, 30 mins, April 23, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-150A:
Track 2 - Interview with Larry Young (Khalid Yasin), 32 mins, April 15, 1972
CD
32
JAD-2008-0299-150B:
Track 1 - Interview with Larry Young (Khalid Yasin), 31 mins, April 15, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-151A:
Track 2 - Interview with Jimmy Oliver, 31 mins, Feb. 18, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-151B1:
Track 3 - Interview with Jimmy Oliver, 12 mins, Feb. 18, 1972
CD
33
JAD-2008-0299-151B2:
Track 1 - Interview with Hasan Abdullah, 9 mins, Feb. 18, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-152A:
Track 2 - Interview with Harold Lovette, 15 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-153A1:
Track 3 - Interview with Archie Shepp, 4 mins, Jan. 29, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-153A2:
Track 4 - Interview with Rashied Ali, 27 mins, Jan. 30, 1972
CD
34
JAD-2008-0299-153B:
Track 1 - Interview with Rashied Ali, 30 mins, Jan. 30, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-154A:
Track 2 - Interview with George Russell, 42 mins, June 17, 1972
CD
35
JAD-2008-0299-154B:
Track 1 - Interview with Elvin Jones, 39 mins, June 15, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-155A1:
Track 2 - Interview with Cuthbert Simpkins, 2 mins, June 27, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-155A2:
Track 3 - Interview with Pandit Ronu Majumdar, 11 mins, June 27, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-155A3:
Track 4 - Interview with Art Blakey, 21 mins, June 27, 1972
CD
36
JAD-2008-0299-155B:
Track 1 - Interview with Harold Lovette, 45 mins, June 2, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-156A1:
Track 2 - Interview with Mrs. Ingram, 9 mins, June 28, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-156A2:
Track 3 - Interview with Odean Pope, 5 mins, June 28, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-156A3:
Track 4 - Interview with Johnny Coles, 11 mins, June 28, 1972
CD
37
JAD-2008-0299-156A4:
Track 1 - Interview with unidentified subject, 19 mins, June 28, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-156B:
Track 2 - Interview with Jymie Merritt, 17 mins, June 30, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-157A:
Track 3 - Interview with Michael Babatunde Olatunji, 31 mins, May 31, 1972
CD
38
JAD-2008-0299-157B:
Track 1 - Interview with Reggie Workman, 35 mins, June 23, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-158A:
Track 2 - Interview with Ornette Coleman, 42 mins, May 20, 1972
CD
39
JAD-2008-0299-158B:
Track 1 - Interview with Ornette Coleman, 15 mins, May 20, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-159A1:
Track 2 - Interview with Ornette Coleman, 15 mins, June 1, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-159A2:
Track 3 - Interview with Sonny Rollins, 14 mins, June 1, 1972
CD
40
JAD-2008-0299-159B:
Track 1 - Interview with Reggie Workman, 44 mins, June 23, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-160A:
Track 2 - Interview with Rashied Ali, 30 mins, Jan. 30, 1972
CD
41
JAD-2008-0299-160B:
Track 1 - Interview with Rashied Ali, 30 mins, Jan. 30, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-161A:
Track 2 - Interview with Albert Dailey, 44 mins, May 25, 1972
CD
42
JAD-2008-0299-162A:
Track 1 - Interview with Max Roach, 9 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-162B1:
Track 2 - Interview with Art Blakey, 7 mins, June 21, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-162B2:
Track 3 - Interview with Sun Ra, 38 mins, June 29, 1972
CD
43
JAD-2008-0299-163A:
Track 1 - Interview with Max Roach, 44 mins, June 9, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-163B:
Track 2 - Interview with Max Roach, 5 mins, June 9, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-164A:
Track 3 - Interview with Sun Ra, 27 mins, June 29, 1972
CD
44
JAD-2008-0299-164B:
Track 1 - Interview with Sun Ra, 28 mins, June 29, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-165A:
Track 2 - Interview with Warren McClinton, 30 mins, June 30, 1972
CD
45
JAD-2008-0299-115A
:
Track 1 - Interview with Franklin Brower, 45 mins, July 20, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-115B:
Track 2 - Interview with Franklin Brower, 19 mins, July 20, 1972
CD
46
JAD-2008-0299-144A
:
Track 1 - Interview with Ornette Coleman, 20 mins, July 7, 1972
JAD-2008-0299-146A1:
Track 2 - Interview with Thelonious Monk, 8 mins, no date
JAD-2008-0299-146A2:
Track 3 - Interview with Larry Young (Khalid Yasin), 38 mins, no date
