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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 3.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 2000 items) |
Abstract | In 1991, David C. Morton, a white author, published DeFord Bailey: A Black Star in Early Country Music. Bailey (1899-1982) was a legendary African American harmonica player who performed on WSM's Grand Ole Opry, a weekly radio show broadcast from Nashville, Tenn. Bailey began his career soon after Nashville's WDAD radio station came on the air in 1925. He continued to play until 1941, becoming well known for his tune, "Pan American Blues." The collection contains text and photographic documentation, sound recordings, and a videotape chiefly relating to Morton's work with DeFord Bailey. Documentation consists of correspondence concerning Morton's biography of DeFord Bailey and other matters relating to Bailey; newspaper and magazine clippings referring to Bailey's contributions to country music; calendars with photographs of Bailey; memorial information; a tributary brochure; publicity photographs and other images; and a poster for the segment on DeFord Bailey and the Grand Ole Opry that aired on 24 November 2000 as part of National Public Radio's Lost and Found Sound series. Sound recordings include reel-to-reel tapes and audiocassettes from interview sessions between David Morton and DeFord Bailey; they contain conversations and music recordings of Bailey on harmonica, guitar, and banjo. Also included are some recordings of performances by Bailey, recordings of National Public Radio programs related to Bailey, and interviews with other Grand Ole Opry employees. The videotapes are DeFord Bailey: A Legend Lost that was developed for Nashville Public Television, Inc., and Waiting in the Wings: African Americans in Country Music, produced by Henri Giles. There is also a 16mm film with sound of a DeFord Bailey performance. Other materials include Hohner advertising posters featuring Walter Horton, an African American harmonica player, and promotional photographs and a hand-held fan that depict white performers Sidney J. "Fiddlin' Sid" Harkreader and Jamup and Honey wearing blackface makeup. |
Creator | Morton, David, 1945- |
Curatorial Unit | Southern Folklife Collection |
Language | English. |
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
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In 1991, along with Charles K. Wolfe, David C. Morton (1945- ), a white author, published a book titled DeFord Bailey: A Black Star in Early Country Music (University of Tennessee Press). DeFord Bailey (1899-1982) was a legendary African American harmonica player, who performed on WSM's Grand Ole Opry, a weekly radio show broadcast from Nashville, Tenn. Bailey began his career soon after WDAD came on the air in 1925. He continued to play on the radio show until 1941, becoming well known for his tune, "Pan American Blues." Bailey traveled extensively, entertaining audiences along with Roy Acuff and other members of the Grand Ole Opry throughout the South and the Midwest during what was a dangerous and difficult period for African Americans to receive basic services in hotels and restaurants.
In 1973, David Morton was employed by the Metropolitan Housing and Development Agency in Nashville, Tenn. Morton set out to write a story for the public housing newsletter about DeFord Bailey's musical accomplishments. Bailey was then a resident of Nashville's public housing. Morton was warned that Bailey would be unwilling to be interviewed. He eventually found Bailey, developed a friendship with him, and spent many hours recording Bailey's stories and songs. In 1974, soon after the interviews began, Morton wrote an article for Nashville! magazine about the legendary country music player, entitled "Every Day's Been Sunday." Later, with the urging of DeFord Bailey and the help of Charles K. Wolfe, a biography was written.
A historical marker in honor of DeFord Bailey's contributions to the musical community was erected in Nashville's Edgeville neighborhood where Bailey lived and maintained a shoeshine shop after his career with the Grand Ole Opry ended in the early-1940s. His cemetery grave marker, also located near Nashville, reads, "Harmonica Wizard."
Back to TopThe David Morton collection contains text and photographic documentation, sound recordings, and videotapes chiefly relating to the work of David C. Morton, a white author, with African American harmonica player DeFord Bailey.
Documentation consists of correspondence concerning Morton's biography of DeFord Bailey; the placement of a historical marker dedicated to Bailey in the Edgehill community in Nashville, Tenn.; and a letter from a German auto parts manufacturer requesting approval to use a photograph of Bailey in an advertising campaign. There are also newspaper and magazine clippings referring to Bailey's contributions to country music, including a 1974 article that David Morton wrote for Nashville! magazine. Other items are calendars with photographs of Bailey, memorial information with a map pointing to Bailey's gravesite, and a tributary brochure. Also included are publicity and other photographs of Bailey, including images for WSM's Grand Ole Opry and a poster created by the Hatch Show Print Company for the segment on DeFord Bailey and the Grand Ole Opry that aired on 24 November 2000 as part of National Public Radio's Lost and Found Sound series.
Sound recordings consist of reel-to-reel tapes and audiocassettes. Reel-to-reel tapes document interview sessions between David Morton and DeFord Bailey; they contain conversations and music recordings of Bailey on harmonica, guitar, and banjo. Most audiocassettes were made between 1973 and 1980 and include DeFord Bailey interview sessions, music recordings, and performances. Other audiocassettes include interviews of other Grand Ole Opry performers and of WDAD employees, conducted by David Morton; and recordings of National Pubilc Radio programs related to DeFord Bailey. The videotapes are a 28-minute production called DeFord Bailey: A Legend Lost that was developed for Nashville Public Television, Inc., and and Waiting in the Wings: African Americans in Country Music, a 90 minute documentary produced by Henri Giles in 2004. There is also a 16mm film with sound of a DeFord Bailey performance.
Other materials include Hohner advertising posters featuring Walter Horton, an African American harmonica player, and promotional photographs and a hand-held fan that depict white performers Sidney J. "Fiddlin' Sid" Harkreader and Jamup and Honey wearing blackface makeup.
Back to TopDocumentation consists of correspondence concerning Morton's biography of DeFord Bailey; the placement of a historical marker dedicated to Bailey in the Edgehill community in Nashville, Tenn.; and a letter from a German auto parts manufacturer requesting approval to use a photograph of Bailey in an advertising campaign. There are also newspaper and magazine clippings referring to Bailey's contributions to country music, including a 1974 article that David Morton wrote for Nashville! magazine. Other items are calendars with photographs of Bailey, memorial information with a map pointing to Bailey's gravesite, and a tributary brochure. Also included are a black-and-white publicity shot of Bailey for WSM's Grand Ole Opry and a poster created by the Hatch Show Print Company for the segment on DeFord Bailey and the Grand Ole Opry that aired on 24 November 2000 as part of National Public Radio's Lost and Found Sound series.
Arrangement: Reel-to-reel tapes appear first, followed by audiocassettes. Audiocassettes are arranged by subject, with DeFord Bailey recordings appearing first, in chronological order.
Sound recordings consist of open reel audio tapes and audiocassettes. Open reel audio tapes document interview sessions between David Morton and DeFord Bailey; they contain conversations and music recordings of Bailey on harmonica, guitar, and banjo. The bulk of the audiocassettes were made between 1973 and 1980 and include DeFord Bailey interview sessions, music recordings, and performances. Other audiocassettes include interviews of other Grand Ole Opry performers and of WDAD employees, conducted by David Morton; and recordings of National Public Radio programs related to DeFord Bailey.
Moving images featuring DeFord Bailey. Includes a 1973 performance by Bailey on 16mm motion picutre film, a 28-minute video production called DeFord Bailey: A Legend Lost that was developed for Nashville Public Television, Inc. circa 2002; and Waiting in the Wings: African Americans in Country Music, a documentary produced by Henri Giles in 2004.
Film F-20373/1 |
DeFord Bailey Performance, 1973 #20373, Series: "3. DeFord Bailey Moving Images, circa 1973-2004." F-20373/116mm motion picture film 150 ft. (4 minutes) black and white; soundFilm of DeFord Bailey performing harmonica. |
Videotape VT-20373/1 |
DeFord Bailey: A Legend Lost, Nashville Public Television, Inc. #20373, Series: "3. DeFord Bailey Moving Images, circa 1973-2004." VT-20373/1VHS 28 minutes |
Videotape VT-20373/2 |
Waiting in the Wings: African Americans in Country Music #20373, Series: "3. DeFord Bailey Moving Images, circa 1973-2004." VT-20373/2VHS 90 minutes Acquisitions Information: Accession 100337 |
Oversize Paper Folder OPF-20373/1 |
Hohner advertising posters featuring Walter Horton #20373, Series: "4A. Other Materials (Additions of 2006-2016)." OPF-20373/1Acquisitions Information: Accession 100316 |
Folder 8 |
Jamup and Honey hand-held fan #20373, Series: "4A. Other Materials (Additions of 2006-2016)." Folder 8Acquisitions Information: Accession 101212 Image depicts white performers wearing blackface makeup. |
Image Folder PF-20373/16 |
"Fiddlin' Sid" Harkreader promotional photograph, circa 1920s #20373, Series: "4A. Other Materials (Additions of 2006-2016)." PF-20373/16Acquisition Information: Accession 100467. Image depicts a white performer wearing blackface makeup. |
Image Folder PF-20373/17 |
"Fiddlin' Sid" Harkreader promotional photograph, circa 1940s #20373, Series: "4A. Other Materials (Additions of 2006-2016)." PF-20373/17Black-and-White Photographic Print 1 image Acquisition Information: Accession 102672. Photograph appears to be autographed by Harkreader. |
Acquisitions Information: Accessions 20200228.2, 20200228.3
This accession contains additional born digital materials that are not processed and are currently not available to researchers. For information about access to these materials, contact Research and Instructional Services staff. Please be advised that preparing unprocessed materials for access can be a lengthy process.
Included are DeFord Baily recordings; National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials Conference presentation on DeFord Bailey by David Morton, 17 October 1999; All Things Considered: Pan American Blues, 2000; audiocassette of tunes taped for Wilson Morton, 15 December 1973, on harp, guitar, and banjo; interviews with DeFord Bailey Jr. recorded on 16 December 1989, 5 October 1991, and 14 December 1991; recording of "Deford Bailey Jr. playing like his father"; and a brief biography of DeFord Bailey from 20 September 2013, written by Robert K Oermann.
SFC Audio Cassette FS-20373/18189 |
DeFord Bailey, tunes taped for Wilson Morton, 15 December 1973 #20373, Series: "5A. Additions of February 2020, 1973, 1999-2000." FS-20373/18189Audiocassette |
Image Folder (PF-20373/1-18)
Oversize Paper (XOP-20373/1, OPF-20373/1)
Audiocassettes (FS-7572-7643, FS-18189)
Audiotapes (FT-11672-11675)
Film (F-20373/1)
Videotape (VT-20373/1-2)
Back to TopProcessed by: Allyn Meredith, February 2004; Emily Jack, March 2006; Jodi Berkowitz, January 2017; Nancy Kaiser and Patrick Cullom, April 2021
Encoded by: Allyn Meredith, February 2004
Revisions: Sarah Arnold, February 2011
Since August 2017, we have added ethnic and racial identities for individuals and families represented in collections. To determine identity, we rely on self-identification; other information supplied to the repository by collection creators or sources; public records, press accounts, and secondary sources; and contextual information in the collection materials. Omissions of ethnic and racial identities in finding aids created or updated after August 2017 are an indication of insufficient information to make an educated guess or an individual's preference for identity information to be excluded from description. When we have misidentified, please let us know at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.
This collections contains images that depict white performers wearing blackface makeup.
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