Harpo Kidwell papers
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Not requestable
Scope and Content of the Papers
These papers consist of fifty-two photographs, a single piece of sheet music, three folders of printed materials, and one oversize folder relating to Harpo Kidwell and his career in country music. Included in the photographs are images of Kidwell alone, of Kidwell with various groups with whom he performed, and of other contemporary country musicians. The sheet music is a photocopy of "Moss Covered Mill," with words and music by Pete Cassell and Harpo Kidwell. The first of the three folders contains a letter and photocopies of handbills, programs, and clippings about Kidwell and his appearances in Ohio and Georgia. The second folder includes photocopies of WLW log sheets from 1952. In the third folder is a photocopy of an undated magazine titled Country Song Roundup that includes an article on the "Midwestern Hayride," the WLW show in which Kidwell appeared during the 1950s.
The oversize folder contains photocopies of clippings and handbills documenting Kidwell's professional activities.
Dates
- Creation: 1937-1978
Creator
- Kidwell, Harpo (Horace) (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.
Biography of Harpo Kidwell
Horace "Harpo" Kidwell was born on December 18, 1910, in South Irvine, Kentucky. As a member of Glenn Hughes's Roundup Gang, Kidwell primarily established himself as one of the most popular, well-known harmonica players active in Atlanta's early country music scene. Along with harmonica, he played guitar and sang, appearing on WSB Radio's "Cross Roads Follies" program from 1941 to 1953, later moving north to work on WLW's "Midwestern Hayride," broadcast out of Cincinnati simultaneously on radio and television, and NBC's "Cincinnati Music Hall." His compositions include "Boo Hoo Blues" and "Harpo's Waltz." A 1987 inductee in the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame, Harpo Kidwell died December 29, 2003, in Adairsville, Georgia.
Extent
0.2 Linear Feet (in 7 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract:
Horace "Harpo" Kidwell (1910-2003) was one of the most popular, well-known harmonica players active in Atlanta's early country music scene. He appeared on WSB Radio's "Cross Roads Follies" program, 1941-1953, and later on radio and television broadcasts from Cincinnati. His papers consist of fifty-two photographs, sheet music for one of his compositions, a letter, and photocopies of handbills, programs, a logbook, and clippings.
Off-Site Storage
Collection is stored offsite. Allow at least 2 working days for retrieval.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Horace ("Harpo") Kidwell, October 1984 (M1984-19).
Separated Materials
During processing various materials were separated to other Popular Music and Culture Music Collections. Consult the University Library's online catalog or contact Special Collections for access to sheet music.
Popular Music Sheet Music Collection
- "Moss Covered Mill," words and music by Pete Cassell and Harpo Kidwell
Bibliography
- Wayne Daniel, Pickin' on Peachtree, (Chicago and Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1990).
Processing Information
Processed by Christopher Ann Paton and Christine de Catanzaro at the file level, October 1987.
Subject
- WSB (Radio station : Atlanta, Ga.) (Organization)
- WLW (Radio Station : Cincinnati, Ohio) (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Harpo Kidwell:
- Subtitle
- A Guide to His Papers at Georgia State University Library
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Georgia State University Library
- Date
- October 1987
- 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