L to R: King Oliver, Bradley Kincaid, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Thomas A. Dorsey
   Informative Links for Additional Starr-Gennett Info 
 
  Click on any heading in the outline below to view related links.
  1. Starr Piano Company History
    1. Gennett Records Division
      1. Jazz
        1. Gennett Jazz Musicians
        2. Red Hot Jazz Archive - Gennett Musicians
      2. Old-Time Country
        1. Gennett Old-Time Country Musicians
      3. Blues
        1. Gennett Blues Artists/ Personalities
      4. Gospel
      5. Ethnic
      6. Historic
    2. Gennett Family
    3. Starr Piano Company
  2. Phonographs / 78 rpm Records
  3. Antique Pianos
  4. Resources
    1. Publishers, Magazines, Periodicals
    2. Organizations
  5. Research
    1. Gennett Collections at other institutions
    2. Discography
    3. Music History
  6. Museum and Archive Links
  7. Partners
  8. Richmond/Wayne County, Indiana and Surrounding Area Links

Please email the Foundation if you notice any broken links.

Starr Piano Company History

Gennett Records Division

  1. Jazz
    1. Red Hot Jazz Archive
      Scott Alexander’s guide to early jazz history. Includes biographies of many Gennett artists.
    2. All About Jazz
      Comprehensive guide to jazz past and present.
    3. Jazz Roots
      Tom Morgan’s site about early jazz history and roots.
    4. Solid!
      “Online encyclopedia of lounge, big band, classic jazz and space-age sounds.”
    5. Big Bands Database Plus
      Sizeable database of jazz band information. Search using “Gennett” for related information.
      1. Gennett Jazz Musicians
        1. Louis Armstrong
          1. Louis Armstrong House
            Louis Armstrong House and Archives.
          2. Louis Armstrong Discography
            Discography of Louis Armstrong’s recordings.
        2. Sidney Bechet
          1. The Sidney Bechet Society
            Organization dedicated to the music of Sidney Bechet.
        3. Bix Beiderbecke and his Wolverine Orchestra
          1. Bix Beiderbecke Resources: A Bixography
            Detailed informational site about Bix Beiderbecke.
          2. Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society
            Host of the annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in Davenport, Iowa. Website includes biographical information.
        4. Hoagy Carmichael
          1. The Hoagy Carmichael Collection
            Indiana University’s comprehensive online collection of materials relating to Hoagy Carmichael.
          2. The Official Hoagy Carmichael Site
            Website of Hoagy Carmichael estate with biography, discography, and other information.
        5. Duke Ellington (NYC Studio)
          1. Duke Ellington, The Official Website
            Official website of the Duke Ellington estate
          2. Duke Ellington Centennial Celebration
            A collaborative site dedicated to bringing the world of Duke Ellington to life for students and others interested in his life and music.
        6. Guy Lombardo
          1. The Guy Lombardo Wing
            Includes biography of Lombardo, London, Ontario’s favorite son, and information about London, Ontario.
        7. Jelly Roll Morton
          1. Jelly Roll Morton Page by Monrovia Sound Studios
            Great resource with many original source materials re-printed online.
        8. Artie Shaw
          1. The Official Artie Shaw Website
            Website of the late Artie Shaw with biography and information regarding Artie Shaw orchestra
          2. The Artie Shaw Collection
            University of Arizona’s site devoted to Artie Shaw and the Artie Shaw Collection.
        9. Thomas “Fats” Waller
          1. Fats Waller Forever Digital Exhibit
            Comprehensive online exhibit from the Institute of Jazz Studies detailing Waller’s career, music, recordings, and biography.
          2. Fats Waller’s Jam and Jive
            Site created for all record collectors, researchers, and fans of the great jazz pianist and entertainer Thomas "Fats" Waller.
      2. Gennett Artists in the Red Hot Jazz Archive
        1. Walter Anderson and his Golden Pheasant Hoodlums
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        2. Bailey’s Lucky Seven
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        3. Bucktown Five
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        4. Jimmy Durante
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        5. Coleman Hawkins
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        6. Fletcher Henderson
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        7. Earl Hines
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
          1. Deppe’s Serenaders
            Hines’ first recordings were made with Deppe’s Serenaders.
        8. Ladd’s Black Aces
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        9. Art Landry and His Call of the North Orchestra
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        10. Joe “Wingy” Manone
          1. Barbeque Joe and His Hot Dogs
            Listen to “Tar Paper Stomp” and hear where Glen Miller’s famous “In the Mood” originated.
        11. Josie Miles
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        12. Jelly Roll Morton
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        13. New Orleans Rhythm Kings
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        14. King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        15. Original Indiana Five
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        16. Red Onion Jazz Babies
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        17. State Street Ramblers
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        18. Alphonso Trent
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        19. The Washingtonians
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
        20. Mary Lou Williams
          Includes biography, discography, and links.
  2. Old-Time Country
    1. The Old-Time Music Home Page
      David Lynch’s excellent old-time music resource.
    2. Gordon Banks’ Old-Time Music Page
      Site with old-time music information.
    3. Roots of American Fiddle Music
      Detailed and comprehensive information about early fiddle music. Includes several Gennett artist biographies.
      1. Gennett Old-Time Country Musicians
        1. Gene Autry
          1. The Official Website of Gene Autry
            Gene Autry Estate’s website.
        2. Vernon Dalhart
          1. Vernon Dalhart
            Article by Jack Palmer about Vernon Dalhart.
        3. Carson Robison
          1. The Carson Robison Collection
            Includes brief biography and collection description. From the Axe Library at Pittsburgh State University.
        4. Uncle Dave Macon
          1. Uncle Dave Macon Days
            Murfreesboro, Tennessee, website about Uncle Dave Macon and Murfreesboro’s annual Macon celebration.
        5. Fiddlin' Doc Roberts
          1. Doc Roberts Papers, Southern Appalachian Archives
            Includes biographical information and details about Roberts’ materials at Berea College’s Southern Appalachian Archives.
        6. Ernest Stoneman
          1. Ernest Stoneman at Folkways Records
            From the liner notes of Anthology of American Folk Music.
        7. Da Costa Woltz’s Southern Broadcasters
          1. Roots of American Fiddle Music
            Information about the band with discography.
  3. Blues
    1. Blues World
      Provides numerous links to blues-related websites.
    2. The Blue Highway
      Informational site with links, message boards, and articles.
    3. Early Blues
      Detailed history about early blues in America.
    4. BluesNet
      Internet repository for information about blues performers.
      1. Gennett Blues Artists/ Personalities
        1. Blythe and Burton
          Blythe and Burton discography at the Red Hot Jazz Archive.
        2. Big Bill Broonzy
          Fan tribute to Bill Broonzy.
          1. William Lee "Big Bill" Broonzy
            Starkville High School’s Mississippi Writers and Musicians Project.
        3. Leroy Carr
          Fan tribute to Leroy Carr.
        4. Jaybird Coleman
          From the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
        5. Cow Cow Davenport
          Red Hot Jazz Archive page with biography, discography, and links.
        6. Thomas A. Dorsey (Georgia Tom)
          NPR site with educational, biographical, and background information on Thomas A. Dorsey.
          1. Biography of Thomas A. Dorsey
            You will need Adobe Acrobat to read this document.
          2. Thomas Dorsey Interview
          3. Essay on Dorsey as a businessman
        7. Edna Hicks
          Red Hot Jazz Archive page with biography, discography, and links.
        8. Alberta Hunter/Josephine Beatty
          Red Hot Jazz Archive page with biography, discography, and links.
          1. Alberta Hunter Interview at University of Michigan
        9. Blind Lemon Jefferson
          A biography of Blind Lemon Jefferson at the University of Texas.
        10. Lonnie Johnson
          Red Hot Jazz Archive page with biography, discography, and links.
        11. Charley Patton
          From the liner notes of Anthology of American Folk Music.
          1. Charley Patton Biography
            Starkville High School’s Mississippi Writers and Musicians Project
          2. Patton
            Underground comic book depiction by R. Crumb.
        12. Roosevelt Sykes
          From the African-American Registry
        13. H.C. Speir
          Interview with Mississippi “talent broker” who helped launch many early blues artists’ careers at Gennett and other labels.
  4. Gospel
    1. Allison’s Sacred Harp Singers
      Alabama Folklife Collection of Sacred Harp Singing.
    2. Homer Rodeheaver
      Bob Olson’s Homer Rodeheaver biography.
    3. Vaughan Quartet
      Article about the first Vaughan Quartet. Starr Piano’s recording division regularly pressed recordings for the Vaughan custom label and of the Vaughan Quartet.
  5. Ethnic
    1. Vaso Bukvich
      Early Croatian Tamburitza musician who recorded for Gennett’s custom “Jugoslavia” label.
    2. Frank Ferera
      Tim Gracyk’s article about early Hawaiian guitar player and Gennett artist Frank Ferera.
    3. John McKenna
      Article about early Irish musician and Gennett artist, John McKenna.
  6. Historic
    1. William Jennings Bryan
      William Jennings Bryan recording in the Gennett studio. On the Mainspring Press website.

Top of Page Top

Gennett Family

    1. Fred Gennett
      Judith Gennett’s page about Fred Gennett with many original source materials.
    2. Henry Gennett
      Judith Gennett’s page about Henry Gennett with many original source materials.

Top of Page Top

Starr Piano Company

    1. Gennett Theatre Postcard Image
      Morrisson Reeves Library's digitized postcard of the former Gennett Theatre.
    2. Early Company History
      Information about the company’s history before moving to Richmond, Indiana.
    3. RSD-TC
      Refrigeration Supply Distributor/Total Control is the current incarnation of the Pacific Division of the Starr Piano Company. Good overall history summary of the early Starr Piano Company.
    4. Starr Propeller
      During WWI, Starr manufactured wooden airplane propellers like this one.
    5. Starr Piano Factory
      Morrisson-Reeves Library site with historic images of the Starr factory.
    6. Starr Radio Speaker
      Rare example of Starr-made radio speaker.
    7. Benjamin Starr
      Morrisson-Reeves Library biography of Benjamin Starr.
    8. James Starr
      Morrisson-Reeves Library biography of James Starr.
    9. Starr Phonograph Manual
      Historic instruction book for the operation of the Starr phonograph.
    10. Starr Piano Serial Numbers and Dates
      Guide to Starr Piano serial numbers and associated manufacture dates.
    11. Gennett Transcription Turntable
      Original depiction of Gennett-made broadcast transcription turntable.

Top of Page Top

Phonographs / 78 rpm Records

    1. Collecting
      1. 78-L List
        Offers links to both the 78-L e-mail list and archives, and the 78Label e-mail list with archives, extensive label images, and the Steve Abrams discographic archive in both viewable and downloadable form.
      2. Basics of the Acoustic Phonographs
        Brief overview of the operation of an acoustic phonograph.
      3. 78 rpm records reference articles
        New Zealand site about 78s and related topics.
      4. Antique Record Machines
        Tim Gracyk’s comprehensive and detailed site about phonographs, phonograph recordings, and related topics.
      5. 78 rpm Record Home Page
        Offers many collecting links and information.
      6. Nauck’s Vintage Records
        International auctioneers of original 78 rpm and cylinder records and phonographs.
    2. Organizations
      1. The International Association of Jazz Record Collectors The name says it all!
      2. Save Our Sounds
        Joint effort of the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress.
      3. Association for Recorded Sound Collections
        ARSC is a non-profit organization dedicated to research, study, publication, and information exchange surrounding all aspects of recordings and recorded sound.
      4. California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz
        A state-chartered institute at the California State University created to preserve and promote the great American cultural heritage and social history of jazz music by building a bridge to diverse communities through education and outreach.
      5. Canadian Antique Phonograph Society
        Dedicated to sharing information about, collecting, and preserving phonographs, gramophones, historic sound recordings and related artifacts, especially those of Canadian content.
      6. Michigan Antique Phonograph Society
        Provides scholarly information, services and entertainment to persons interested in collecting and preserving antique phonographs, and other mechanical music making devices, including records and cylinders; assists the newcomer to the hobby by promoting authentic restoration and repair of damaged or worn machines; and rescues old records before they are destroyed and lost forever. MAPS also donates funds to museums, such as the Edison Birthplace in Milan, Ohio and the Edison National Historic Site in West Orange, New Jersey.

Top of Page Top

Antique Pianos

    1. What is my piano worth?
      From Pianoworld.com.
    2. Vintage Piano Shop
      Offers appraisal, information, and restoration services.
    3. Blue Book of Pianos
      Information on all kinds of pianos.
    4. The Piano Page
      The Piano Technicians Guild site.
    5. The Antique Piano Collection Web Site
      Check out the link for the Starr Upright Grand.
    6. John Tuttle's Player-Care
      Provides information about and services for antique player pianos. Check out the information on Starr player mechanisms.

Top of Page Top

Resources

    1. Publishers, Magazines, Periodicals
      1. Mainspring Press
        Specializes in high-quality, peer-reviewed books for researchers, librarians, archivists, and advanced collectors of historic recordings.
      2. The Sing Out! Home Page
        Non-profit organization dedicated to folk and traditional music.
      3. The Old Time Herald
        Magazine devoted to old-time music.
      4. Mississippi Rag
        The voice of traditional jazz and ragtime.
      5. VJM’s Jazz and Blues Mart
        Online home for VJM, a jazz and blues record trading magazine with thousands of 78s and LPs from dealers and collectors throughout the world. Also includes great articles and information.
    2. Organizations
      1. America’s Jazz Heritage
        Smithsonian Institution’s American Jazz Heritage Program
      2. The Jazz Foundation of America
        Promotes jazz and administers the Jazz Musicians’ Emergency Fund to help struggling and elderly jazz artists.
      3. The International Association for Jazz Education
        Devoted to the continued worldwide growth and development of jazz and jazz education.
      4. Jazz Corner
        Great source for information on many jazz musicians.
      5. JazzReach
        Non-profit jazz education organization based in New York City.
      6. Alabama Folklife Association
        Non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote knowledge and appreciation of Alabama folklife through activities such as festivals, conferences, fieldwork, videos, recordings and publications.
      7. Traditional Arts Indiana
        Dedicated to expanding public awareness of Indiana’s traditional practices.
      8. Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society
        Preserves, perpetuates, promotes, and encourages the performance of classic/traditional jazz music.
      9. Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association
        Supports and promotes live bluegrass events within 200 miles of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
      10. City of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society
      11. Paramount Grooves in Grafton
        Working to save the legacy of the New York Recording Labratories in Grafton, Wisconsin.

Top of Page Top

Research

    1. Gennett Collections at other institutions
      1. The Institute of Jazz Studies
        The largest and most comprehensive library and archive of jazz and jazz-related materials in the world. The IJS owns many original documents and business-related materials from the Starr Piano Company/Gennett Records.
      2. John Mackenzie Collection
        The Indiana Historical Society’s collection of MacKenzie’s research devoted to the history of the Starr Piano Company and Gennett Records.
      3. Gennett Collection at UCLA
        Written listing of UCLA’s Gennett recordings.
      4. Archives of Traditional Music
        The largest university-based ethnographic sound archives in the United States. Holdings include a significant amount of Gennett-related materials and the Hoagy Carmichael Collection.
      5. The William Ransom Hogan Archive of New Orleans Jazz
        World-renowned resource for New Orleans jazz research.
      6. Southern Appalachian Archives
        Includes Doc Roberts Papers and Bradley Kincaid Papers.
    2. Discography
      1. The Online Discography Project
        Includes discographical listings for Gennett, Champion, and other Gennett-related labels.
      2. Riverside Records Discography
        The label that revived Gennett in the 1950s. Includes some Gennett-related listings up to 1924.
      3. The Compo Company
        Details the Canadian Compo Company and its relationship to Starr Piano.
    3. Music History
      1. Worldwide Internet Music Resources
        Comprehensive list of links from Indiana University's Libraries.
      2. Recording Technology History
        Detailed website about sound recording history.
      3. Oral History Questions for Musicians
      4. British Dance Bands
        Documents British dance bands of the 1920s and 30s.

Top of Page Top

Museum and Archive Links

    1. Alabama Music Hall of Fame
      Includes some information about three Gennett artists—Cow Cow Davenport, Y.Z. Hamilton, and Jaybird Coleman.
    2. The American Folklife Center
      The Library of Congress’ folklife division.
    3. American Jazz Museum
      Kansas City museum devoted to American jazz history.
    4. Archives of Appalachia
      East Tennessee State University’s collection of Appalachian materials.
    5. Basic Concepts and Principles of Archives Management
      Brief introduction to archival principles.
    6. Birthplace of Country Music Museum
      Bristol, Tennessee, site of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance.
    7. Bluegrass Music Museum
      Owensboro, Kentucky museum devoted to bluegrass music history.
    8. Country Music Hall of Fame
      Nashville, Tennessee museum devoted to country music history.
    9. Delta Blues Museum
      Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi devoted to Delta-style blues.
    10. Delta Music Museum
      Museum in Ferriday, Louisiana devoted to all styles of Delta music.
    11. Edison National Historic Site
      Thomas Edison historic site, managed by the National Parks Service.
    12. International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives
      The premiere international organization for sound and audiovisual archives.
    13. Jazz/Blues Archives, Collections, and Museums
      University of Chicago’s comprehensive listing of jazz and blues-related institutions.
    14. Johnson Victrola Museum
      Delaware museum devoted to the memory of E.R. Johnson and the Victor Talking Machine Company. Holdings include many phonograph and 78 rpm related artifacts.
    15. Recorded Sound Reference Center
      The Library of Congress’ recorded sound division.
    16. Sound Savings: Preserving Audio Collections
      Proceedings from the 2003 Sound Savings Symposium on audio preservation.
    17. Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum
      Pigeon Forge, Tennessee museum devoted to southern gospel history.
    18. Standards for Archival Description: A Handbook
      Online version from the Society of American Archivists.
    19. Virtual Gramophone
      Site for historic Canadian recordings. Very informative.
    20. Wayne County Historical Museum

Top of Page Top

Partners

    1. Duncan Schiedt
      Information about his photographic work. Mr. Schiedt provided many of the images on the Foundation’s site.
    2. Huffine Design
      Jeff Huffine’s marketing and design business site.
    3. Delmark Records
      Bob Koester, Sr., author of the Joe Davis article on the Foundation’s site, started Delmark records in 1953.
    4. Charles Wolfe
      Dr. Charles Wolfe’s site at Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. Wolfe is the author of Gennett and Early Country Music on the Foundation’s site.
    5. Charlie Dahan
      Charlie is working with Malcolm Rockwell on a master Gennett and subsidiary label discography for the Foundation.
    6. Maclolm Rockwell
      Malcolm is working with Charlie Dahan on a master Gennett and subsidiary label discography for the Foundation.
    7. Suzanne Fischer
      Suzanne is a Curator of Material Cultures at the Louisiana State Museum and author of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings Profile on the Foundation’s site.
    8. Sterling Entertainment
      Musical entertainment from jazz to classical
      in all major cities of the USA.

Top of Page Top

Richmond, Indiana and Wayne County, Indiana and Surrounding Area Links

    1. WayNet.org
      Community information for the Richmond-Wayne County area.
    2. Cardinal Greenway Trail
    3. , Connects to the Whitewater Gorge Trail, which runs through the Starr Piano factory site.
    4. Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Eastern Office
    5. History of the Whitewater Gorge
    6. , Information about the Gorge on WayNet.org.
    7. Indiana National Road Association
    8. , Works to preserve, protect, and promote the Historic National Road across the Hoosier state.
    9. Jazz from Bloomington
    10. JazzAdvocate
    11. , Ohio couple, Ron and Rosemary Gable, are great supporters of the tri-state jazz scene through this site.
    12. Main Street Richmond/Wayne County
    13. , Working towards the prosperity and health of Richmond's central business district.
    14. Millionaire's Row
    15. , Location of the Gennett Mansion in Richmond.
    16. Richmond-Wayne County Chamber of Commerce
    17. Richmond-Wayne County Convention & Tourism Bureau
    18. Wayne County, Indiana, Foundation

Top of Page Top

 

 

© 2005 Starr-Gennett Foundation, Inc., All Rights Reserved