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Archival description
Fonds Herb Johnson
P0088 · Fonds · 1898-1987

Le fonds documente la scène des orchestres de danse et de musique de jazz des années 1930 aux années 1980, surtout à Montréal. C'est une source de documentation de grande valeur sur le bebop, style musical de jazz qui emergeat dans les années 1940 et sur l'Association des musiciens séniors et de l'orchestre qui en est issu.

Le fonds comprend de la musique publiée et manuscrite, incluant les arrangements de Herb Johnson; de la correspondance personnelle; des livres et des articles sur les techniques du saxophone et de la clarinette; des livres et des articles sur les arrangements, les harmonies et d'autres facettes de la musique; des photographies; des carnets de notes; des documents financiers personnels; des programmes, des coupures de presse et d'autres souvenirs; des magazines. Le fonds inlcut des enregistrements sonores ainsi que des objets comme des cartables de musique, des mouchoirs de poche et une valise pour les disques. Il y a aussi des documents liés aux activités syndicales du musicien comme de la correspondance, des documents financiers, des documents de fondation, la constitution, les règlements, des questionnaires, des bulletins de vote, des agendas, des procès-verbaux et des carnets d'adresse.

Le fonds est organisé selon les séries et sous-séries suivantes:

P088/1 Correspondents
P088/1A Family and friends
P088/1B Music colleagues
P088/1C Personal business correspondents
P088/2 Personal files
P088/2A Personal interests and personal affairs
P088/2B Music industry
P088/2C Music technique
P088/2D Photographs
P088/3 Union activity
P088/3A Musicians' Guild of Montreal
P088/3B Senior Musicians' Association
P088/4 Print and manuscript music
P088/5 Technique books, manuals, tutors, methods
P088/6 Magazines and promotional literature
P088/7 Collection of sound recordings
P088/7A Privately recorded sound recordings
P088/7B Commercial sound recordings

Johnson, Herb
P0088/5 · Series · 1898-1976
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

In this series are music technique books, tutors, methods, and manuals. Topics covered include saxophone and clarinet performance, as well as arranging, harmony, chords, scoring, ad-libbing and improvising, sight-reading, ear training, conducting, recording and mixing, and performance of various genres such as blues and rock and roll, and others.

P0088/4 · Series · [190-]-[198-]
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The series consists of the print and manuscript music library accumulated from various sources by Herb Johnson, as well as the hundreds of pieces of music he arranged and transcribed. The series documents Herb Johnson's professional activity as an instrumentalist; as a leader of quartets, nonettes, and other combos, as well as orchestras including the Herb Johnson Orchestra and the Senior Musicians' Orchestra; as an arranger and transcriber; and as a teacher.

The series includes lead sheets, chord charts, scores, sheet music, song books, song collections, and music folios, as well as play lists and notes. In addition to published music, the series includes manuscript music transcribed by Herb Johnson for the Louis Metcalfe International Band and other orchestras and combos, including his bebop arrangements. There are also signed manuscript arrangements by other arrangers.

Music theory and technique
P0088/2C · Subseries · 1907-1981
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The sub-series contains music scores, note book exercises and other textual items concerning music theory and technique relating to Herb Johnson.

Personal files
P0088/2 · Series · 1907-1987
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The series consists of materials related to Herb Johnson's ongoing professional development as a musician and his work in the music industry, as well as his other personal interests and his personal affairs.

The series includes articles on music and musicians and clippings of music scores and technical exercises clipped from Down Beat magazine and other sources, photographs, correspondence, price lists, concert and souvenir programs, notebooks, advertising sheets, contracts, lists of musicians, pamphlets, business and visiting cards, and publicity materials, as well as financial, tax, legal and other documents.

The series is arranged in the following sub-series:

P0088/2A Personal affairs and interests.
P0088/2B Music industry.
P0088/2C Music theory and technique.
P0088/2D Photographs.

Commercial sound recordings
P0088/7B · Subseries · [193-]-[197-]
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The sub-series contains audiocassettes and audio discs, including 78 rpm, 45 rpm, and 33 1/3 rpm phonograph recordings collected by Herb Johnson. The majority are 78 rpm recordings of jazz and big band performances.

Some of the 10-inch 78 rpm audio discs are in files, organized by Herb Johnson. Many of the audio discs are undated. A good number were pressed in Montreal.

P0088/7 · Series · [193?]-[198-]
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The series consists of sound recordings that were collected or made by Herb Johnson. Most are commercial recordings. There is a small number of privately maderecordings. There is a record carrying case that he used for carrying 78 rpm audio discs.

The series is arranged in two sub-series:

P0088/7A Privately recorded sound recordings
P0088/7B Commercial sound recordings.

P0088/2A · Subseries · [1930s]-1986
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The sub-series contains letters, newspaper, and other textual items concerning the personal affairs and interests of Herb Johnson.

Correspondents
P0088/1 · Series · 1935-1987
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The series reflects Herb Johnson's relationships with his extended family, friends, and fellow musicians.

The series contains letters and other correspondence received, and in a few cases sent, by Herb Johnson. It is arranged in the following sub-series:

P0088/1A Family and friends.
P0088/1B Music colleagues.
P0088/1C Personal business correspondents.

P0088/1C · Subseries · 1935-1986
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The sub-series contains 8 folders, chronologically arranged, of correspondence received by Herb Johnson. The documents reflect his interests, his personal and family affairs, his music business, and his involvement in musicians' union affairs.

Union activity
P0088/3 · Series · 1939; 1955; [197-]-1987
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The Musicians' Guild of Montreal was Local 406 of the American Federation of Musicians (A.F. of M.). The Senior Musicians' Association of the Montreal Guild was officially formed in 1975.

Family and Friends
P0088/1A · Subseries · 1948-1987
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The sub-series contains letters, cards, and other items received from (and some copies of his correspondence to) Herb Johnson's family and friends.

Music Colleagues
P0088/1B · Subseries · 1953-1979
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The sub-series contains correspondence received from friends and acquaintances in the music business.

P0088/7A · Subseries · [196-]-[198-]
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

Included (according to the handwritten notes) are recordings of jazz radio programs, copies of recorded music, and recordings made of the Senior Musicians Orchestra in performance.

There appear, in addition, to be copies of recordings by performers such as the Glen Miller Band, Art Morrow, Thad Jones, Oliver Nelson, and others. Some tapes include comedy routines by Redd Foxx and others.

Some of the privately recorded audio reels and audio cassettes are accompanied by notes and lists that were made by Herb Johnson. Many of these are inserted in the sound recording enclosure, but others are stored in a file folder and it may be possible to relate these to specific recordings. Most of the notes include the date of creation of the reproduction and playing times, and some include the date of the original recording session.

P0088/3B · Subseries · 1974-1987
Part of Fonds Herb Johnson

The Senior Musicians' Association was registered with the Department of National Revenue in August 1974 to qualify as a charitable organization, and obtained its certification in January 1975. Its purpose, according to the documents: "to provide an opportunity for retired musicians to get together socially, form an orchestra and give free concerts to golden age residences, hospitals, etc." Its funding came from government grants and the musicians union through its Music Performance Trust Funds, as well as private sponsors and donors. Led by Herb Johnson, the Senior Musicians Orchestra played from 1975 through 1987.

The documents in the sub-series are primarily administrative records reflecting the formation and activity of the Association.