Lou Busch scores collection
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Not requestable
Scope and Contents of the Records
The Lou Busch scores collection consists of song arrangements written by Lou Busch. Many of the songs are original compositions, but the scores also include arrangements of classical pieces, jazz standards, popular songs, and novelty tunes written by others. The bulk of the arrangements date from the 1950s and 1960s and were recorded by Busch in the persona of ragtime pianist Joe "Fingers" Carr. Typically, the arrangements include a conductor's score with the music of all the instruments, as well as various parts. The majority of the scores are arrangements for a small group (piano, guitar, bass, and drums), but many include parts for brass, woodwinds, strings, and other instruments. Some of the arrangements are handwritten in pencil, but the majority were inscribed in ink by copyists for musicians' use.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1950-circa 1966
Creator
- Busch, Lou, 1910-1979 (Person)
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research use.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.
Biographical Note about Lou Busch
Lou Busch (1910-1979) was a musician, composer, and record company executive who also had a successful recording career as pianist Joe "Fingers" Carr. Born Louis Ferdinand Bush, he began playing piano professionally as a teenager, later also receiving formal conservatory training. Following Army service during the Second World War, he served as a musician and talent scout, and eventually producer and executive, for Capitol Records. As an accompanist, orchestra leader, or producer, Busch worked with such successful Capitol vocalists as Peggy Lee, "Tennessee" Ernie Ford, Jo Stafford, Kay Starr, and Margaret Whiting. He was married to Whiting for a time, and the pair had a daughter, Deborah.
Starting in 1950, Busch had a parallel career as a recording artist. Under the name Joe "Fingers" Carr, he had a number of hits with his ragtime piano performances, making over 20 albums by 1966. As Carr, he recorded for Capitol (1950-1958) and Warner Bros. (1960-1962) as well as Coral and Dot Records (1964-1966). While at Capitol, he also recorded orchestral pop and jazz under his own name with the Lou Busch Orchestra. He continued to work as a producer, arranger, and orchestra leader, having great success with the comedian Allan Sherman while at Warner Bros. Busch was still performing occasionally at the time of his death in 1979.
Extent
30.7 Linear Feet (in 25 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract:
Lou Busch (1910-1979) was a musician, composer, and record company executive who also had a successful recording career as pianist Joe "Fingers" Carr. The Lou Busch scores collection consists of orchestral and small-group arrangements of a variety of popular songs, many recorded by Busch.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by song title.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Debbi Whiting, 2010.
Processing Information
Processed by Tony Dinh, October 2013; descriptions by William W. Hardesty, May 2014. Arranged alphabetically by song title. In the Contents List, the composers and the date of the original composition are noted, as are the instrumental parts for each arrangement.
Subject
- Carr, Joe Fingers (Person)
- Title
- Lou Busch:
- Subtitle
- A Guide to His Scores Collection at Georgia State University Library
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- William Hardesty
- Date
- May 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)
archives@gsu.edu