Pelé: Athlete and Ambassador, 1940 – 2022
Posted by: Matthew Barton
Matt Barton, via the rich audio history of the radio show "Sports Byline U.S.A.," looks back and the remarkable career of the immortal Pele.
Posted in: Radio, Recorded Sound, Sports
Category: Recorded Sound
Happy Anniversary “Schoolhouse Rock!”
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
As the beloved ABC interstitials turn 50, in an essay exclusive to the Library of Congress, TV historian Billy Ingram, looks back at the very entertaining and very educational series.
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound
The White House Record Library–in the Library of Congress?
Posted by: Laura Jenemann
In 1969, the Recording Industry Association of America offered to donate a collection of recordings to the White House “reflecting the wide range of American interest in recorded music, as well as drama, prose and poetry” (White House Historical Association, 1973). This donation resulted in the White House Record Library, a collection of approximately 2,000 …
Posted in: Recorded Sound, Recorded Sound Research Center
Exploring African Music Through the Collections of the Library of Congress
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
The following is a guest post by Harrison Behl, Reference Librarian at the Library of Congress’ Recorded Sound Research Room. One of the consistent joys of reference work is fielding a question that opens a new avenue into a subject and then tracing a lead through our collections. The scale of our holdings in the …
Posted in: Recorded Sound, Recorded Sound Research Center
Remembering Jerry Lee Lewis (1935 – 2022)
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Not surprisingly, Jerry Lee Lewis (who passed away last month at age 87) was a very early addition to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. For his song “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” recorded in 1957 and added to the NRR in 2005, author Joe Bonomo wrote for the LC the following essay on/tribute …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound
Good Times Are Here!: New to the National Jukebox
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
The following is a guest post by David Gibson and David Sager of the Recorded Sound Division of the Library of Congress. Since its initial launch in 2011, the National Jukebox has provided researchers the ability to stream thousands of acoustic sound recordings from the very earliest days of the commercial record industry. As the …
Posted in: Early Recording Industry, Jukebox, Recorded Sound, Recorded Sound Research Center
The Library of Congress Remembers Its Own: Larry Miller
Posted by: Matthew Barton
Even if you have been to the Recorded Sound Research Center of the Library of Congress in person, most of you never met Larry Miller, a longtime staff member of the section who died suddenly on September 26th. But if you have used the Library’s recorded sound holdings in some way, whether as a researcher …
Posted in: Jukebox, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Recorded Sound
When Shawn Found Joni
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Since the start of her own illustrious career as a singer and songwriter, Grammy-winner Shawn Colvin has noted the important role that Joni Mitchell has played in inspiring and influencing her. Back in 2007, the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry welcomed Mitchell’s 1972 album “For the Roses” to its esteemed ranks. Knowing of Ms. …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound
An Actor, a Singer, a Writer, a Director: The Library of Congress Remembers Adam Wade
Posted by: Laura Jenemann
Last month, we were saddened to learn of the passing of Adam Wade. While his name may not be top-of-mind, his career is certainly one to be celebrated. Wade was a singer, musician, actor, and the first Black American to host a nationally-televised game show. The Library of Congress National Audio-Video Conservation Center hosts a …
Posted in: Civil Rights, Recorded Sound, Television