The Maynard Ferguson Collection Finds a Home

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Yammie

Congratulations!

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Posts: 991

(08/20/08 07:26 AM)

Steve, this is awesome. It's the perfect home for his library, and it's a victory for Maynard's fans to know it will be put to use. And frankly, how many college programs besides UNT have the talent level year after year to pull charts out of that library and actually USE them? I'm also really pleased to see the remainder of the collection will be showcased in a museum, so thanks to Mr. Collins for his hand in this (I suspect he or his foundation played a significant role in funding this, but as I said that's just my assumption from reading the press release).

This is also the type of major coup for the UNT program that leads down the path towards removing "interim" from one's job description, so let's hear it for Steve! Let's see, you've been there what, a year?? I'm guessing your performance evaluation will go pretty well this year

hunnylvr

So happy

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Posts: 142

(08/20/08 07:34 AM)

Thank you, Steve!!! And congratulations!! I am thrilled to read this news as well. I've been checking this site regularly for two things - where the collection was going and news about the documentary.. I can't think of a better place for this collection to be, and I look forward to seeing it.

Side question - unrelated: Steve, are you a fellow yogi? I see you signed your post with "Namaste" and it gave me a big smile and a few goosebumps. Yoga is a practice that has become a real spiritual journey for me, and I know Maynard used many Hatha Yoga techniques as well. I have found a real connection to others who practice. Just wondering..

Eileen

"I am not alone, winds of change have blown, and the walls come tumbling down" Melissa Etheridge, Giant

JayNach

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Posts: 25

(08/20/08 07:51 AM)

Great News! Congrats to Steve and the Ferguson Family!
Jay

TomTQ

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Posts: 1064

(08/20/08 12:10 PM)

Great news that all this stuff will have a home and tribute concerts.
Good work Steve.
BTW where in Texas is UNT?

wwc3

jazz museum

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Posts: 30

(08/20/08 12:43 PM)

I would like to echo Kim's words about Steve Wiest. Steve worked almost daily for over 4 months to make this deal happen, and it wouldn't have happened without him. Thanks, Steve! I would also like to thank the Ferguson family for wanting to do the right thing. This deal was about everyone working together for what was best for Maynard's legacy, and for jazz history. I'm sure the Ferguson family turned down better offers monetarily, and they wanted to know that the MF collection would be used in the best way possible. So, thank you to the Ferguson family as well.

The Mf collection of memorabilia will be owned solely by a foundation, not by an individual. It will not be sold, and will be used in a non-profit museum for jazz education and preservation. We will be working with the city of Denton to maintain the museum. Several interested parties are forming a non-profit corporation in Denton to help with the funding of the museum, however, our foundation will provide the building and the memorabilia. Again, it will be group effort which is what jazz needs for projects like this. Anyone will be able to donate to this non-profit organization as soon as it gets set up.

Another aspect of this deal is to find a suitable building in Denton. We already had a building ready to go about 40 miles from Denton (in Sherman), but part of this deal was that the museum be in Denton. So, it will take some time to get a Denton location that works for our purposes. Denton is a better location, but it will delay our time table a bit.

Steve and I are looking at this thing as being the start, not the end of a project. We would like acquire other memorabilia from Maynard's earlier career to go with these estate items to make it an even better collection of MF items--all in one place for people to see. And, they will all be owned by a foundation to be passed down to the next generation, not by individuals who might be tempted to sell the items, possibly out of the country.

Finally, the MF collection will always belong to Maynard. We are only the stewards of his estate, and we want to pass it down to the next generation just as we received it. As a profession trumpet player for 35 years, no one appreciates Maynard more than I do. The next generation needs to hear what we heard. There will not be another Maynard Ferguson coming along, ever. This project is worth all of us working together on. This is all about jazz education and preservation. Thanks again to Steve and the Ferguson family for getting us started.

All the best,

Bill Collins III

k115810

Excellent.

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Posts: 1999

(08/20/08 01:01 PM)

Administrator

I think I speak for many when I say that I feel an enormous sense of relief and gratitude at the way that this is being handled. To know that the memorabilia will be on display and that the charts will be performed by a talented and dedicated group of musicians for years to come is, in my opinion, the best of all possible scenarios. Big thanks to Steve, UNT, the Ferguson family and Bill for pulling this off.

-Matt

bconroy

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Posts: 1183

(08/20/08 02:46 PM)

This news really made my day. What a perfect location for Maynard's legacy to be kept, and used! I had been wondering if it would end up being someone from here who got something to happen for Maynard's estate and music. It sure did, with Bill and Steve pulling it off beautifully. It makes so much sense and has a feeling of rightness that Maynard's library would go to the same place as the Kenton library, and where the big band is under the leadership of a guy who added to Maynard's library! Go Steve! Thank-you so much Bill.

leadplyr

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Posts: 1427

(08/20/08 04:00 PM)

Steve -

Did you also obtaint he publishing rights for audio/video? I fso, I have some info I would like to send you.

Please let me know

Kevin

Kevin
www.seeleymusic.com
www.anywhere.fm/highnote

18MaynardStreet

Go Wiest, Young Man

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Posts: 1931

(08/20/08 04:31 PM)

Here's a link to the UNT news item with a bit more information:
http://web3.unt.edu/news/story.cfm?story=11112

MelissaFRG

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Posts: 1644

(08/20/08 04:42 PM)

Alright! This is fantastic news! Made my day!

Dave Luepke

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Posts: 2242

(08/20/08 04:54 PM)

"Another aspect of this deal is to find a suitable building in Denton. We already had a building ready to go about 40 miles from Denton (in Sherman), but part of this deal was that the museum be in Denton."

Yes, Denton, on the campus, is where this stuff needs to be. Not way up in Sherman.

If it's up in Sherman, it might as well be in Alaska. (That's supposed to be a joke.)

Dave

Last Edited By: Dave Luepke 08/20/08 04:58 PM. Edited 1 times.

camel lips

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Posts: 1119

(08/20/08 05:23 PM)

Do I smell a Texas Tribute show/grand opening concert in progress?

Steve Wiest

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Posts: 85

(08/20/08 07:50 PM)

Hi Guys,

It does my heart good to see all the positive comments on this exciting deal! Thank you all so very much. As my partner (and hero!), Bill Collins, says so very eloquently: this collection belongs to Maynard and is all about preserving and furthering his legacy. This is indeed only the beginning. Job one was to make sure that all of this incredible music and all the memorabilia associated with this one-of-a-kind career had a stable home that everyone has access to. We are now well underway to establishing that one for the ages, now we will begin work on Job Two: bringing this music to life on a regular basis. After all, that was what Boss was into most: the joy of performing music from the heart and communicating love to the audience. Rest assured that this is exactly what will happen with this wonderful music at UNT.

We are indeed in the planning stages for a high-level tribute concert that will be the first of many such celebrations. Stay tuned: mucho fun in our very near future!

I also wanted to publicly underline the great work of Bill Collins and to thank him for his dream of this museum. I caught the bug right away when he told me about his dream during a Jim Riggs big band gig last year. After that, we never looked back and never gave up, and look what happened! I also want to send out my love and thanks to Kim Ferguson Exon. It was BIG fun to fly out to Ojai and hang with Kim and Jim, talk over old times...and NEW times, and to get a good look at the treasure that makes up this estate. Thanks for hangin' in there Kim and being so gracious and professional. I know that your dad is very, very proud.

And on a final note (for this reply anyway): Alas Eileen, I am not a Yogi. My wife is quite the Yoga person, and I respect greatly all those flexible human bodies that are Yoga-inclined...but I am Mr. Potato as far as exercise goes. I think I picked up some Hatha from Boss via osmossis, but beyond that: I aspire to such a life of fitness. I use the term Namaste whenever possible however, as that was Maynard's favorite greeting and acknowledgement to us on stage. Namaste has many different interpretations, but Maynard always said that it was: "an ackowledgement of all that is holy in you". I have always loved that about him, and love to use it whenever I refer to our great friend.

So, Namaste Eileen and all of the MF Forum. I look forward to discussing this further and often!

littlebigband

please check you inbox...

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Posts: 341

(08/20/08 08:02 PM)

Steve -- please check your inbox. Thanks, Skip

barrypartake

M. F. Collection

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Posts: 20

(08/20/08 08:08 PM)

Steve,
When do you think the Museum will be up and running. I am currently working in Carrollton, just a few miles away and would love to see it before I leave in November. Like everyone. I wish to say Job Well Done, I know Boss is grinning ear to ear in Heaven.

shooby

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Posts: 1446

(08/20/08 09:19 PM)

jvt560 wrote:
The perfect place! Okay, When is the museum opening so I can plan the road trip!

It's 206 miles to Denton, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.

Mikey

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Posts: 1193

(08/20/08 09:24 PM)

"Hit it!"

aggieed

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Posts: 100

(08/21/08 05:20 AM)

I think this is fantastic news. I already try and visit UNT about three times per school year so I'm definitely looking forward to seeing all this "stuff" when it's done. Good job, Steve and company!

BTW where in Texas is UNT?

About 30 miles north of Dallas.

hunnylvr

Namaste, Steve

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Posts: 143

(08/21/08 07:15 AM)

Thanks for the reply, Steve. It's not often enough that I see "Namaste" used as a greeting or otherwise, so I always love it and take notice when I do hear or see it. I didn't know Maynard used the term regularly, but I appreciate you telling me that. It warms my heart. The definition I was given is similar - it's all a matter of how we connect with each other:

"I honor the place in you where the whole Universe dwells and I honor that place in me. When you are in that place, and I am in the place, we are one."

On the day of Maynard's 80th birthday, I went to one of my favorite healing/wellness centers to spend a little alone time in meditation thinking about Maynard. He was a part of my life for over 25 years, and I couldn't think of a better way to honor him. The place I went to has a gorgeous wooded garden area in the back that one can use for this purpose. There is a large labyrinth made of wood built out there. I walked it and allowed my mind to access all the good memories and energy that I got from Maynard over the years. When I reached the center, I held my hands together in traditional prayer (like you'd see Maynard do every night as he bowed to his soloists) and I said aloud, "Namaste, Maynard." Of course, then I started crying. But it was as though I could feel him there. Good word, good thought, good energy. Thanks, Steve.. Namaste

"I am not alone, winds of change have blown, and the walls come tumbling down" Melissa Etheridge, Giant

KAMIKAZEKID

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Posts: 1329

(08/21/08 10:16 AM)

KAMIKAZEKID	I'm glad the information I received the first week of this month was good enough to make the post I did at that time! Jimmy. Maynards Estate	#3	[-]
Posts: 1326 (08/06/08 09:24 AM)	This is just a prediction based on info - call it a rumor if you want- that I just received. A Deal Has Been, Or Is being Made At This Time! If this info is good ..... It will all be going to one location. I am not at liberty to say where. And, even if I were, I wouldn't out of respect for Maynard, his family, and the individuals involved. It's their job to take care of those things when they happen. I hope we hear an announcement in the near future. Jimmy.

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