Interview with Jim Prohaska, April 12, 1996

Partial Transcript: Pittsburgh--

Segment Synopsis: Schmidt Horning and Prohaska talk about a researcher named Rick Kennedy who is researching regional record labels in Ohio, who Prohaska met at the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in Chicago (Ill.). Schmidt Horning and Prohaska then talk about Terry Knight of Grand Funk Railroad. They also talk about the bands that recorded with Jeanette Records.

Keywords: Beiderbecke, Leon “Bix”; Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival; Chicago (Ill.); Cincinnati (Ohio); Cleveland (Ohio); Dayton (Ohio); Grand Funk Railroad (Artist); Horseshoes; Indiana; Jeanette Records; Kennedy, Rick; Knight, Terry; Lombardo, Gaetano “Guy” (Artist); Lucky Records; Record companies; Record labels; Recording studios, regional; Records, kinds of: 45 rpm seven-inch; Regional recording studios; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; Springfield (Ohio); Terry Knight and the Pack (Artist); Western Reserve Historical Society

Subjects: Beiderbecke, Bix, 1903-1931.; Chicago (Ill.); Cincinnati (Ohio); Cleveland (Ohio); Dayton (Ohio); Grand Funk Railroad (Musical group); History of science and technology; Horseshoes; Indiana; Knight, Terry; Lombardo, Guy, 1902-1977; Music; Record labels; Record labels.; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History; Springfield (Ohio); Western Reserve Historical Society.

Partial Transcript: Why, why don't you tell me what you know about the, the earliest recording activity you know of in Cleveland, that was actually done here?

Segment Synopsis: Schmidt Horning and Prohaska discuss early recording labels in Cleveland (Ohio), such as Vocalian Records, Eagle Records, and OKeh Records. They also talk about how the recording in Cleveland (Ohio) occurred primarily for larger record labels such as Victor Records and OKeh Records with portable recording equipment.

Keywords: City directories; Cleveland (Ohio); Club Madrid; Detroit (Mich.)Recording, on location; Eagle Records; Eagle Talking Machine Company; Excelsior Records; Hotels; Martha Lee Club; Martha Lee Club Orchestra; Ohio Theater; Okeh Records; Record companies; Record labels; Record pressing; Recording; Recording, on location; Recording, remote; Victor Records; Vocalion Records

Subjects: Cleveland (Ohio); Detroit (Mich.); History of science and technology; Hotels; Music; OKeh Records (Firm); Ohio Theatre (Columbus, Ohio); Record labels; Record labels.; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History

Partial Transcript: So, I mean, as I understand it, Cleveland Recording was incorporated in 1934.

Segment Synopsis: Schmidt Horning and Prohaska discuss the creation and early days of Cleveland Recording Studios, which started as a radio transcription service. They also talk about home recording lathes and how they work. Prohaska then talks briefly about Hank Schneider and Schneider Recording, as well as his own background as an accordion player. Prohaska talks about Curtis White Studios, a recording business and used record shop located in Mayfield Heights (Ohio). They then talk about Eddie South, a jazz violinist who recorded at Cleveland Recording.

Keywords: Accordions; Announcers; Atwater, Windsor; Audio Recording Studios; Bar mitzvahs; Big bands; Boddie Recording; Boddie, Louise; Boddie, Thomas; Cleveland (Ohio); Cleveland Recording Studios; Curtis White Studios; Gigax, Bruce; Hamann, Kenneth Richard; Hudak, Andy (Artist); Incorporation; Jazz music; Mayfield Heights (Ohio); Michigan; Musicians; Radio transcriptions; Record cutting; Record lathes; Recorders, direct to disc; Recorders, home; Recorders, personal; Recorders, reel to reel; Recorders, tape; Recorders, wire; Recording studios; Records, kinds of: zinc plastic and other blank; Rek-O-Kut; Rek-O-Kut transcription; Royal Gardens Records; Schneider Recording; Schneider, Hank; South, Eddie (Artist); Telzrow, Brian; Transcriptions; Victor Talking Machine Company; White, Curtis; Wolf, Fred; World War II; Yankovic, Frank (Artist)

Subjects: Accordion; Bar mitzvah.; Big bands; Cleveland (Ohio); History of science and technology; Jazz; Mayfield Heights (Ohio); Michigan; Music; Musicians; Record labels.; Schneider, Hank; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History; South, Eddie; South, Eddie, 1904-1962; Victor Talking Machine Company; White, Curtis; Wolf, Fred; World War, 1939-1945; Yankovic, Frank

Partial Transcript: As far as actual records, uh, it wasn't until, uh, post-war--

Segment Synopsis: Schmidt Horning and Prohaska talk about Paramount Records and Lucky Records. They then talk about two musicians who recorded in Cleveland (Ohio), Johnny Powell and jazz trumpeter Freddie Webster. The two then discuss the difference between matrix numbers and catalogue numbers, which are both systems used to identify records. They then talk about the record labels that recorded music in Cleveland (Ohio), such as Plaid Records and Raven Records. Prohaska then explains how expense and the development of tape recording led to a decline in the number of recording studios in Cleveland (Ohio) post-World War II. They also talk about Jam Records, which labeled its records with ‘Johnson’s Break Resistant Vinyl’ and King Records of Cincinnati, (Ohio). Schmidt Horning and Prohaska also talk about Barry Gordy’s Motown Records. They then talk about Steven Popovich’s Cleveland International Records.

Keywords: Baltimore Ravens (Football team); Boston (Mass); Catalogue numbers; Cincinnati (Ohio); Cleveland International Records; Cleveland Recording Studios; Columbus (Ohio); Country music; Detroit (Mich).; Early, Gerald Lyn; Gordy, Barry; Jam Records; Jazz music; Johnny Powell Orchestra (Artist); Johnson’s break resistant vinyl; King Records; Lucky Records; Matrix numbers; Motown Records; One Nation Under A Groove: Motown and American Culture (Book); Paramount Records; Philadelphia (Pa.); Plaid Records; Popovich, Steven; Powell, Johnny (Artist); Raven Records; Ray Vincent Quartet (Artist); Record pressing; Recorders, tape; Recording studios; Records, kinds of: 45 rpm seven-inch; Records, kinds of: lacquer masters; Rhythm and blues (R&B); Rock music; Rock ’n’ roll; Schneider Recording Studios; Sutton, Alan; Vincent, Ray (Artist); Webster, Freddie; World War II

Subjects: Baltimore Ravens (Football team); Boston (Mass); Cincinnati (Ohio); Columbus (Ohio); Country music; Detroit (Mich).; Early, Gerald Lyn; Gordy, Berry.; History of science and technology; Jazz; Motown Record Corporation.; Music; Paramount (Sound recording label); Philadelphia (Pa.); Popovich, Steve J.; Powell, Johnny; Record labels.; Rhythm and blues music.; Rock music; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History; Sutton, Alan; Vincent, Ray (Composer); Webster, Freddie, 1916-1947; World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: But how would these little record companies, I mean, did they just do, I mean you say they did a lot, so they did a lot of different recordings.

Segment Synopsis: Prohaska talks about when OKeh Records came to record in Cleveland (Ohio) in the 1920s. He then talks about Peer’s accomplishments as a recording director, recording such greats as Jimmie Rodgers and Jelly Roll Morton.

Keywords: Brunswick Records; Carter Family (Artist); Cleveland (Ohio); Columbia Records, Inc.; Detroit (Mich.); LaMothe, Ferdinand “Jelly Roll Morton”; Moten, Bennie (Artist); OKeh Records; Peer, Ralph; Recording directors; Recording, on location; Recording, remote; Records, kinds of: long-playing (LP); Rodgers, Jimmie (Artist); Southern Music Corporation

Subjects: Carter Family (Musical group); Cleveland (Ohio); Columbia Records, Inc.; Detroit, (Mich.); History of science and technology; Morton, Jelly Roll, -1941.; Moten, Bennie, 1894-1935; Music; OKeh Records (Firm); Peer, Ralph Sylvester, 1892-1960; Record labels.; Rodgers, Jimmie, 1897-1933.; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History

Partial Transcript: I'm trying to think what else I want to ask you.

Segment Synopsis: Prohaska and Schmidt Horning briefly discuss her dissertation topic. Prohaska then recalls stories of recording jazz greats such as King Oliver and Louis Armstrong. They then talk about the remastering of a Duke Ellington recording. Schmidt Horning then talks about jazz musician Billy Strayhorn.

Keywords: Armstrong, Louis (Artist); Balance; Beiderbecke, Leon “Bix” (Artist); Boddie, Thomas; Borders Books; Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland (Ohio); Editing; Ellington, Edward Kennedy "Duke" (Artist); Equalization; Jeanette Records; Limiting; Mastering; Music; Natasha Records; Oliver, Joseph Nathan “King Oliver” (Artist); Recording horns; Recording studios; Rock ’n’ roll; Stereo; Strayhorn, Billy (Artist); Van Delure, Walter; Wax Stacks

Subjects: Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971.; Beiderbecke, Bix, 1903-1931.; Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland (Ohio); Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974.; History of science and technology; Music; Oliver, King, 1885-1938; Record labels.; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History; Stereophonic sound systems.; Strayhorn, Billy.

Partial Transcript: But, yeah, they, they did a whole bunch of wild stuff.

Segment Synopsis: Schmidt Horning and Prohaska talk about extraneous noises, such as dogs barking and trains, that ended up in recordings. Schmidt Horning then talks about Telarc Records and their refusal to use multi-microphone recording. Prohaska then talks about the placement of microphones in recordings from the 1920s.

Keywords: Barking; Beach Boys, the (Artist); Beiderbecke, Leon “Bix” (Artist); Big bands; Columbia Records, Inc.; Dogs; Drugs; Jazz music; Jeanette Records; Microphone booms; Microphones, multiple; Microphones, placement of; Morgan, Sam (Artist); Pet Sounds (Album); Renner, Jack; Telarc Records; Trains; Victor Records; Whiteman, Paul

Subjects: Beach Boys.; Beach Boys. Pet sounds; Beiderbecke, Bix, 1903-1931.; Big bands; Columbia Records, Inc.; Dogs; Drugs; History of science and technology; History of science and technology Sound--Recording and reproducing; Jazz; Microphone; Morgan, Sam; Music; Record labels.; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History; Whiteman, Paul, 1890-1967.

Partial Transcript: There is that connection, I know in, in California, in Los Angeles, there's this connection between studios and the movie studios.

Segment Synopsis: Schmidt Horning and Prohaska talk about the influence that radio transcription services and motion picture sound recording studios had on the music recording business. They then talk about a book that traces the early years of acoustical recording, "From Tin Foil to Stereo: The Acoustic Years of the Recording Industry, 1877-1929."

Keywords: Burt, Leah Brodbeck Stenzel; Consoles (recording); Craft, James; From Tin Foil to Stereo: The Acoustic Years of the Recording Industry, 1877-1929 (Book); Jazz studies; Los Angeles (Calif.); Morgenstern, Stan; Motion picture studios; Musicians; Radio; Radio transcription; Recording studios; Recording, live; Recording, studio; Rutgers University; Unions; Welch, Walter

Subjects: Burt, Leah Brodbeck Stenzel; Craft, James; History of science and technology; Jazz.; Los Angeles (Calif.); Motion picture studios.; Motion pictures; Music; Musicians; Record labels.; Rutgers University; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History; Welch, Walter L. (Walter Leslie), 1901-1995

Partial Transcript: I mean, you had a guy in Chicago, who was developing electric recordings in 1923, a couple of years before--

Segment Synopsis: Prohaska talks about a man who developed electrical recording in 1923 and talks about early audio engineer Arnie Nordskog, who first recorded an African-American jazz band. He then talks about his work with the New Amberola Graphic, a magazine that focuses on early recording until the mid-1930s.

Keywords: African Americans; Autograph Records; Chicago (Ill.); Cultural history; Jazz music; LaMothe, Ferdinand “Jelly Roll Morton”; Los Angeles (Calif.); Marsh, Orlando; New Amberola Graphic, the (Magazine); Nordskog Records; Nordskog, Arnie; Oliver, Joseph Nathan “King Oliver” (Artist); Paramount Records; Recording, electric; Records, kinds of: lacquer masters; Records, kinds of: vinyl; Wisconsin

Subjects: African Americans; Chicago (Ill.); Cultural history; History of science and technology; Los Angeles (Calif.); Morton, Jelly Roll, -1941.; Music; Oliver, King, 1885-1938; Paramount (Sound recording label); Record labels.; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History; Wisconsin

Partial Transcript: When I first met John, his, his hair was totally black, and that was only a year ago.

Segment Synopsis: Prohaska shows off his record collection, including 'Red Hot Peppers,' an album done by jazz musician Jelly Roll Morton. He also gives an explanation of the meaning behind the matrix numbers on records and the meaning behind the information on a record sleeve.

Keywords: Audio Recording Studios; Basin Street Blues (Song); Chicago (Ill.); Columbia Records, Inc; Ellington, Edward Kennedy "Duke" (Artist); Gigax, Bruce; Grandpa's Spells (Song); Jeanette Records; LaMothe, Ferdinand “Jelly Roll Morton”; Matrix numbers; Melrose Music; Music producers; Red Hot Peppers (Album); Someday Sweetheart (Song); Telarc Records; Webster Hotel; Westinghouse; Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.

Subjects: Chicago (Ill.); Columbia Records, Inc; Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974.; History of science and technology; Morton, Jelly Roll, -1941.; Music; Record labels.; Sound recording industry; Sound recording industry--History; Sound recordings; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing--History; Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.