Photograph of Stan Kenton posing with an unidentified group of people.

Photograph of Mercer Ellington, Jack Teagarden, and Willis Conover, likely in a backstage dressing room. Teagarden is in the center, playing trombone.

Portrait of Willis Conover for a publicity photo for radio station WWDC.

Photograph of Stan Kenton and six other men at the November 1946 Schirmer opening in Brooklyn, N.Y. They are standing around a water cooler, from left to right: Murray Boykin, Walter Rivere, Lou Ferrara, John Cooney, Stan Kenton, and Al Levine.

Photograph of Stan Kenton and five otehr men at the November 1946 Schirmer opening in Brooklyn, N.Y. From left to right: Murray Boykin, Walter Rivere, Lou Ferrara, John Cooney, Stan Kenton, and Al Levine. The men are wearing suits and holding up cups in a toast.

Twenty-four exercises for solo piano

Photograph of Willis Conover in a publicity photo for radio station WWDC.

Photograph of Willis Conover in a publicity photo for radio station WWDC.

Photograph of Willis Conover and 3 unidentified men at radio station WWDC.

Photograph of Willis Conover interviewing three unidentified men.

Photograph of Willis Conover and an unidentified man in an apparent publicity photo for radio station WWDC.

Recording of a radio comedy, Hazel and Harold, featuring Willis Conover as Harold and Nathalie Sherman as Hazel. The program is reminiscent of the early Ethel and Albert programs he did with Peg Lynch at WTBO in Cumberland, Maryland, before the Second World War.

Recording of a radio comedy, Hazel and Harold, featuring Willis Conover as Harold and Nathalie Sherman as Hazel. The program is reminiscent of the early Ethel and Albert programs he did with Peg Lynch at WTBO in Cumberland, Maryland, before the Second World War.

The Mountain Broadcast and Prairie Recorder was dedicated to information about folk and country songs and singers in the United States. These issues are from the collection of Floy Case, a pioneering music journalist who wrote many articles for this publication.

Recording of a radio comedy, Hazel and Harold, featuring Willis Conover as Harold and Nathalie Sherman as Hazel. The program is reminiscent of the early Ethel and Albert programs he did with Peg Lynch at WTBO in Cumberland, Maryland, before the Second World War.

Kenton band at the Metropolitan Theatre in Providence, RI.

Photograph of Stan Kenton, wearing a striped suit and standing in front of a dark wall with his arms raised. Imprint on the back: Capitol Records, Hollywood Master.

Photograph of Willis Conover, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and other band members and friends.

In Part 1, Willis Conover's Saturday Night Dance Party program begins with Artie Shaw's "Just Kiddin' Around." Conover then discusses the rarity of some of the records he will play during this program, which is dedicated to the music of Duke Ellington, with selections "Animal Crackers," (sound drops briefly) "Bugle Call Rag," Freeze and Melt," and "Black and Tan Fantasy." In Part 3, Conover and Emerson Parker, an Ellington expert, record collector, and broadcaster at station WQQW, introduce selections including "Black Beauty" and "I've Got the World on a String."

In Part 2, Conover introduces Emerson Parker, an Ellington expert, record collector, and broadcaster at station WQQW, who introduces "Take It Easy," "Mood Indigo," "Sweet Mama," and "Hot and Bothered." In Part 4, Conover and Parker introduce "I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter," "Ebony Rhapsody," "Stompy Jones," and "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" (the end of the introduction and the tune are in part 5). Gil Lilly is credited as working in the control room.

Recording of Duke Ellington playing solo piano, following a late-night interview with Willis Conover at radio station WWDC.

In Part 5, Emerson Parker's introduction of "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" concludes, followed by the tune, along with "Solitude," "Clarinet Lament," "Ring Dem Bells," and "Hodge Podge" (introduction only, tune is in part 6). In Part 7, after station identification, Conover notes that Jerry Rhea will be joining the discussion soon, and reminisces about broadcasting during a stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center while in military service; Conover also asks listeners to send comments on the program. Parker and Conover introduce "Tootin' Through the Roof," "Pitter Panther Patter," "Warm Valley," and "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear from Me."

In Part 6, "Hodge Podge" is followed by Willis Conover and Emerson Parker introducing, "Braggin' in Brass," "Boy Meets Horn," "Mobile Bay, and "Night Song." In Part 8, "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear from Me" is followed by Cottontail, and Conover and Parker discussing "Take the A-Train," and "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'." Conover talks about seeing Ellington live for the first time just a few months before, at Turner's Arena.

In Part 9, Conover introduces Duke Ellington himself, along with Billy Strayhorn, to Emerson Parker, and interviews Ellington about his personnel, travel plans, and early recordings. In Part 11, the interview continues after selections from Ellington's Black, Brown & Beige Suite.