The following is a press release announcing the future of the Maynard Ferguson Collection:
The Maynard Ferguson Music Library and Memorabilia Find a Home at UNT!
By Kim Ferguson Exon
The entire music library of jazz legend and trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and the extensive collection of his lifetime of memorabilia, horns, wardrobe, awards, and much more have just found a brand new home. The Ferguson Family is delighted to announce that Maynard's decades of big band and small band charts will soon be housed at The University of North Texas, alongside the historically significant library of Stan Kenton, one of Maynard's dearest fellow bandleaders and the giant who introduced him to America in the early 1950's. At the same time, the entire MF Collection is en route to Bill Collins III of the Collins-Binkley Foundation, destined to be the focus of a newly unveiled Jazz Museum in Denton, Texas. Orchestrating this perfect score, together with the Ferguson's, was Steve Wiest, currently the interim director of the One O'Clock Lab Band at UNT. Through his understated perseverance and vision, Wiest made this fantasy a reality. Steve's first hand knowledge of this library unfolded in the 1980's when, as lead trombone and composer for Maynard for many years, he had the joy and privilege to perform many of these charts with one of the hottest bands on the planet, and to get to know the man himself. Wiest had an emotional moment, when, upon inspecting the collection, found his own original notes and compositions still in the music book in storage since shortly after he had left the band in the 80's. He considers himself blessed for the experience, as do so many who passed through the jazz wing of UNT.
For many years, whenever Maynard needed a new band member, the first call would go to Neil Slater, the director of Jazz at UNT for 3 decades, who only recently retired. North Texas was one of Maynard's favorite schools, always delivering some of the best musicians and resulting in a long list of MF Band alumnus. The Ferguson Family is thrilled to see Maynard's library being launched for a second career where others will have the opportunity to study, experience, and perform the charts that were the identity of Maynard Ferguson, and continue the legacy of a man who brought tremendous joy to the world with his infectious power and passion for life.
The Maynard Ferguson Music Library and Memorabilia Find a Home at UNT!
By Kim Ferguson Exon
The entire music library of jazz legend and trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and the extensive collection of his lifetime of memorabilia, horns, wardrobe, awards, and much more have just found a brand new home. The Ferguson Family is delighted to announce that Maynard's decades of big band and small band charts will soon be housed at The University of North Texas, alongside the historically significant library of Stan Kenton, one of Maynard's dearest fellow bandleaders and the giant who introduced him to America in the early 1950's. At the same time, the entire MF Collection is en route to Bill Collins III of the Collins-Binkley Foundation, destined to be the focus of a newly unveiled Jazz Museum in Denton, Texas. Orchestrating this perfect score, together with the Ferguson's, was Steve Wiest, currently the interim director of the One O'Clock Lab Band at UNT. Through his understated perseverance and vision, Wiest made this fantasy a reality. Steve's first hand knowledge of this library unfolded in the 1980's when, as lead trombone and composer for Maynard for many years, he had the joy and privilege to perform many of these charts with one of the hottest bands on the planet, and to get to know the man himself. Wiest had an emotional moment, when, upon inspecting the collection, found his own original notes and compositions still in the music book in storage since shortly after he had left the band in the 80's. He considers himself blessed for the experience, as do so many who passed through the jazz wing of UNT.
For many years, whenever Maynard needed a new band member, the first call would go to Neil Slater, the director of Jazz at UNT for 3 decades, who only recently retired. North Texas was one of Maynard's favorite schools, always delivering some of the best musicians and resulting in a long list of MF Band alumnus. The Ferguson Family is thrilled to see Maynard's library being launched for a second career where others will have the opportunity to study, experience, and perform the charts that were the identity of Maynard Ferguson, and continue the legacy of a man who brought tremendous joy to the world with his infectious power and passion for life.
We here at UNT are so very excited to have
this incredible collection of music added to our library. Some of my all-time favorite writers, mentors and heroes will now have a home for their music, such
as: Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky, Mike Abene, Bill Holman, Marty Paitch, Willie Maiden, Denis DiBlasio (can you say "Dance of the Glowtoads"?), and
on-and-on it goes!
