Dominic James "Nick" LaRocca papers, 1885-1961 | Hogan Jazz Archive

By Samantha Bruner

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Collection Overview

Title: Dominic James "Nick" LaRocca papers, 1885-1961

Predominant Dates:1915-1961

ID: HJA/MS 008

Primary Creator: LaRocca, Nick

Extent: 100.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement: The materials have been arranged into twelve series according to medium or subject: newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, journals and magazines, sheet music, publicity, business and personal documents, deposition, oversize materials, scrapbooks, books, albums and test pressings. Each series has its own box and folder list.

Date Acquired: 05/18/1960

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection contains newspaper clippings, fliers, posters, programs and other publicity materials, along with photographs, books, test pressings of O.D.J.B. records, correspondence and sheet music. The collection also includes five scrapbooks, created by Nick LaRocca.

Biographical Note

Dominic James "Nick" LaRocca (1889-1961) was a self-taught New Orleans cornetist who became the leader of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which made the first recording of jazz in New York City in 1917. Based on the popularity of the recording and live performances, the O.D.J.B. became a sensation, traveling to England in 1919. After returning to the U.S. in 1920, the band broke up in 1925 and then refomed briefly from 1936-38, after which LaRocca Returned to New Orleans to resume work as a contractor.

Administrative Information

Repository: Hogan Jazz Archive

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Acquisition Source: Dominic James "Nick" LaRocca

Acquisition Method: Donation

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Newspaper Clippings],
[Series 2: Correspondence, 1917-1960],
[Series 3: Photographs],
[Series 4: Journals and Magazines],
[Series 5: Sheet Music],
[Series 6: Publicity],
[Series 7: Business and Personal Documents],
[Series 8: Deposition],
[Series 9: Oversize Materials],
[Series 10: Scrapbooks],
[Series 11: Books],
[Series 12: Albums and Test Pressings],
[All]

Series 12: Albums and Test Pressings

Box 16: 10 Inch Albums

Albums arranged by record lable and release number.

Item 1: Aeolian Vocalian: 12097: "Indigo Blues" / "Oriental Jazz." "Indigo Blues" by DAbney's band with Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic. "Oriental Jazz" by the O.D.J.B.
Item 2: Columbia: 2420: "Ole Miss Rag" / "The Hooking Cow Blues." Played by Handy's Orchestra.
Item 3: Good Time Jazz: EP 1011: 6 inch recording. "Riversie Blues" and "Cakewalkin' Blues" / "Tiger Rag" and "Come Back Sweet Papa." By Lu Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band.
Item 4: The Master Sound System: "Tiger Rag" / A Message to the Creator of Jazz from Brian Rust. "Tiger Rag" recorded by Original Barnstormers Spasm Band (Brian Rust, Director).
Item 5: Storyville: SEP 358, 9/21/1958: Jailhouse Jazzmen. "Tears" and "Papa Dip" / "Canal Street Blues" and "Southern Stomps."
Item 6: Victor: 18717: "Margie" / "Palesteena." By the O.D.J.B.
Item 7: Victor: 18722: "Broadway Rose" / "Sweet Mama (Papa's Getting Mad)." By the O.D.J.B.
Item 8: Victor: 18729: "Home Again Blues" / "Crazy Blues." By the O.D.J.B.
Item 9: Victor: 18798: "Dangerous Blues" / "Royal Garden Blues." By the O.D.J.B.
Item 10: Victor: 18850: "Bow Wow Blues" / "Railroad Blues." "Bow Wow Blues" by the O.D.J.B. "Railroad Blues" by The Benson Orchestra of Chicago.
Item 11: Victor: Test Pressing: "Bluin Blues"
Item 12: Victor: Test Pressing: "Jazz Band Ball"
Item 13: Victor: Test Pressing: "Jazz Band Ball"
Item 14: Victor: Test Pressing: "Livery/Barnyard Blues"
Item 15: Victor: Test Pressing: "Sensation Rag"
Item 16: Victor: Test Pressing: "Sensation Rag"
Item 17: Victor: Test Pressing: "Clarinet Marmalade"
Item 18: Horst H. Lange Radio Program, 3/10/1960: "Who Created Jazz?" Broadcast from Berlin.

Box 17: 12" Albums

Item 1: Capitol Records T-573: Dixieland Classics by Pee Wee Hunt.
Item 2: Columbia 748: "Tiger Rag" / "Look at 'Em Doing It" by the O.D.J.B.
Item 3: Columbia: 759: "Satanic Blues" / "Lasses Candy" by the O.D.J.B.
Item 4: Columbia: 804: "Mammy O'Mine" / "Tell Me" by the O.D.J.B.
Item 5: Columbia: 805: "My Baby's Arms" / "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" by the O.D.J.B.
Item 6: Columbia: 824: "Alice Blue Gown" / "Sphinx" by the O.D.J.B.
Item 7: Columbia: Release number and song titles have been scratched out. The album is by the O.D.J.B.
Item 8: "Electrical Transcription": Radio recording, "Nick LaRocca & Dixieland Band." From WABC and CBS.
Item 9: The Master Sound System: 331: "The Influence of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band" (broadcast 9/18/1954) / "Interview with Billy Jones." By Brian Rust.
Item 10: The Master Sound System: "Records for Nick LaRocca" (by Brian Rust?)
Item 11: Pathé Frères Phonograph Co.: 22086: "Plantation Echoes" / "Hesitating Blues" by 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band.
Item 12: RCA Victor: 0303-1: "Ostrich Walk" by the O.D.J.B.
Item 13: RCA Victor: 0498-1: "Skeleton Jangle" by the O.D.J.B.
Item 14: RCA Victor: LOC 1011: Show Biz by Abel Greene and Joe Laurie, Jr. Cover annotated by LaRocca.

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