Description:

ALTON PURNELL
(1911-1987) American jazz pianist, a longtime performer of Dixieland jazz. A collection of twenty letters, two by Purnell and the others either to him or regarding him, (nearly all by recording engineer David B. Jones of Empirical Records. Both of Purnell's A.L.S.s are on his personal letterhead and dated 1957, reading in part: ‘...George Lewis...asked me to inform you of the problems involved...neither George Lewis nor any of his men have received any money for the spirited recordings...George will take up the matter with the American Federation of Musicians Union...Would appreciate that all further dealings of the Spiritual Recordings be handled thru Alton Purnell...the band must be paid according to the scale of the Musicians Union...We would be very happy to record for you...very happy...that the terms of the agreement were acceptable...'. The subsequent letters are all in connection with getting the mentioned Spiritual Record completed and paying the band members. A Feb. 6, 1957 letter from David to his correspondent John stated that the band manager Nick Gagliano was given money to pay the band but the members never received it, in part: ‘...If I could afford it I would pay the band myself and go after Nick...a suit against Nick through the AFM is the best recourse they have at this point...It is terrible to see these people victimized...'. By June 1957 it appears the George Lewis Jazz Band had a new manager, Dorothy Tait, who writes to David on behalf of George Lewis informing him that ‘no one has any authority whatsoever to negotiate for recordings'. Much of the previous correspondence was done while Lewis was on tour with a different band and became rather irate when learning of agreements made behind his back between Purnell and Jones. The June 11, 1957 letter from Tait reads in part: ‘you have been negotiating on recordings with a former band member, Alton Purnell...George...received, through Alton, certain contracts for additional recordings...the first Empirical recordings resulted in grave trouble for George with the Federation....He will not sign these present contracts...Your letters and your negotiations should have been in this present instance – and at all times – with the leader of the band...'. Also present are four Empirical Recording order forms for the record, signed by Jones. Included with this lot are twenty-one pieces of related ephemera, comprised of: programs for performances by the George Lewis Band; ‘Riverside Records Catalog'; two newspaper clippings; a Dixieland performance advertisement; album descriptions and layout; ‘Summary of Employment' for David B. Jones; copies of a news release for the Spiritual Record, bearing emendations; and a business card for Nick Gagliano while manager of the band.

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January 19, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000