Visit the Stan Kenton Research Center website and learn more about their physical archive in Staunton, Virginia. If you have Kenton memorabilia, donations are most welcome.
Additionally, supporters can help to keep the Kenton flame alive with monetary gifts.
Visit our Donation Page
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What’s new
6 March 2024
It’s been a year since there have been any significant updates. Some minor tweaks took place throughout the site. For instance, all of the photos in the images section were vastly improved with AI enhancing software.
But there is one major addition today, A section on the Kenton Presents series, featuring combos under the Kenton umbrella. There is cover art, audio, and other details to check out.
5 March 2023
We are slowly working our way through the generous donation of recordings and other memorabilia from Dan Salmasian. The latest posting is a set from St. Louis in 1966.
28 February 2023
The treasures hidden in the generous donation by friend and Kenton scholar, Tony Agostinelli, keep coming. Check out this 1987 concert by the Department of Third Stream Studies at the New England Conservatory. Perhaps the most original concert of Kenton material I have heard..
24 January 2023
I always love getting a package from Jeff Amlotte, son of Jim Amlotte, former trombonist and band manager for Kenton. This time there were a few hundred slides, which have been scanned and uploaded to the Photos section.
21 July 2022
The final playoff between the six finalist bands from the 1960 Notre Dame College Jazz Festival was captured on tape and still sounds good over 60 years later.
17 July 2022
An early recording of the Mellophonium Orchestra, this one from Des Moines in 1961, featuring Gabe Baltazar and Marvin Stamm in solos spots.
15 July 2022
A dance date from 1967 was found in the Jim Amlotte donation.
9 July 2022
Remember that time Stan was ill and Willie Maiden filled in on piano? Listen to a show from 1972 in Michigan, part of a donation from Dan Salmasian.
7 July 2022
I discovered another radio broadcast from the 1953 band in the collection donated by Jeff Amlotte. In the midst of the weekly Concerts in Miniature broadcasts the band often was featured on other shows. This one comes from the Armed Forces Radio Service, August 1953.
18 June 2022
In 1967 Kenton broke from the National Stage Band Camps and began the Stan Kenton clinics at Redlands University and San Jose State College. Thanks to a donation from Jim Amlotte's son, we now have recordings of every concert from that week in San Jose, including the Kenton band and all student bands.
1 June 2022
A treasure trove of recordings arrived at the Stan Kenton Research Center. One gem that sticks out is from a Kenton Clinic in 1963 at Michigan State University.
23 April 2022
A recording from a live concert at Indiana State University was recently uncovered.
22 April 2022
In 1961 Kenton took his orchestra into the studio to record a handful of arrangements featuring the new mellophonium. The project was aborted and never released.
10 December 2021
Bassist John Worster passed away last week. Read my remembrance.
11 April 2021
As I go through 180 Digital Audio Tapes (DATs) that were recently donated, I am coming across some goodies. I just added a missing Concert Encore radio show from 1953 at Birdland.
3 March 2021
I've started a page dedicated to the 1968 film Bound to Be Heard. Stay tuned, There is still a lot to be added.
8 January 2021
Brent Fischer provided an insight into his father Clare’s composition Piece for Soft Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion.
25 September 2020
Between his stints with Maynard Ferguson and Stan Kenton, Willie Maiden composed music for a Maundy Thursday service for a church in California. For the first time ever, listen to the rehearsal tapes of this music.
25 August 2020
I’ve added a few recordings from the early 1960s Stage Band camps at Jazz Education. And I added a recording from the 1953 tour of Europe.
26 June 2020
I’ve begun a new page under the Adventures section, called Jazz Education. The page will grow in time, but for starters there is an essay of mine along with a rare recording of a high school band performing at the 1962 National Stage Band Camp.
25 June 2020
A new radio broadcast featuring the 1962 mellophonium band at the Sunnybrook Ballroom has just been added.
24 June 2020
It’s been a busy time these last few months setting up the Stan Kenton Research Center. There will be a lot of news from that front in the near future. In the meanwhile, I just added a recording from Music ’55, featuring Kenton, Hoagy Carmichael and Ella Fitzgerald.
28 December 2019
I am excited to announce to opening of the Stan Kenton Research Center in Staunton, Virginia, the physical embodiment of ALL THINGS KENTON.
20 April 2019
I new series of photographs, highlighting life on the road for the Kenton band.
20 January 2019
An introductory video was uploaded, offering insights to this archive.
24 November 2018
I added a new page with ten concert programs, from the mid-40s thorough the Mellophonium band.
11 November 2018
Added a lot more information to the Music ’55 page.
9 November 2018
Added two episodes of Music ’55
9 May 2018
A new blog post on preserving the legacy of Stan Kenton.
4 April 2018
Have you ever read one of Leonard Feather's Blindfold Tests and wondered what they sounded like? Listen in as Kenton tells what he likes and dislikes about the discs played.
29 March 2018
Listen to this newly uploaded interview with Kenton, hosted by Gerald Wilson.
29 March 2018
A new recording was uploaded of the Stan Kenton band at the 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival. With Kenton in the hospital, Buddy Rich sits in for a couple of numbers.
19 March 2018
I discovered a rare recording from 1973 when Gene Roland dropped in and sang with Kenton. It's on Roland's arranger page.
6 March 2018
I am on a roll. Listen to a recording from 1968 in Warren, Ohio.
6 March 2018
A historic concert took place in 1972 when the Kenton band joined forces with the Boston Pops.
5 March 2018
Kenton fan Kevin Seeley has provided us with yet another rare live recording of the Kenton band, this one from a 1977 concert in Coral Gables.
3 March 2018
Another recorded concert has surfaced, featuring the band in performance at West Chester State College in 1975.
2 March 2018
A just received some Down Beat magazines and found an article about Gene Roland from 1963. It's been added to Roland's page in the Arrangers section.
1 March 2018
I’ve acquired another performance of the Kenton band at Disneyland, this time from 1974.
6 February 2018
I found two tracks recorded from the audience during the Kenton / Four Freshmen concert in 1972, offering alternatives to the versions found on the LP.
2 February 2018
Added two more videos to the Rendezvous 2000.
1 February 2018
A new section with a list of instrumentalists who played in the Kenton band.
29 January 2018
Bob Morgan’s magnificent dissertation on the music of Bob Graettinger is now a web page.
21 January 2018
Following up on the recently posted Rendezvous 2000 section, I’ve added a new section with videos from Rendezvous 1999.
18 January 2018
A new section has been added with a slew of videos from the Rendezvous 2000 event held in Surrey, England.
14 January 2018
I just posted an interview I did with Pete Rugolo almost two decades ago,
13 January 2018
Added an interesting essay by Barry Ulanov, condemning Kenton’s Progressive Jazz Orchestra — What's Wrong With Kenton?
30 December 2017
Added a new page with five unreleased Outtakes from the Live at Redlands sessions.
26 December 2017
Minor updates and corrections to The Singers, once again with the help of author/scholar Steven D. Harris.
22 December 2017
A major new section was added focussing on The Singers.
15 December 2017
A new page (with audio) added for the Creative World album “Some Women I’ve Known.”
12 December 2017
A few new audio tracks were added to the Progressive Jazz pages here and here.
11 December 2017
A few new were dates added to the Progressive Jazz Tour Calendar, thanks to Kenton scholar, Steven D. Harris.
A new video was added to the Video Page, featuring several numbers from Stan, June and the gang in 1947.
25 September 2020
Between his stints with Maynard Ferguson and Stan Kenton, Willie Maiden composed music for a Maundy Thursday service for a church in California. For the first time ever, listen to the rehearsal tapes of this music.
25 August 2020
I’ve added a few recordings from the early 1960s Stage Band camps at Jazz Education. And I added a recording from the 1953 tour of Europe.
26 June 2020
I’ve begun a new page under the Adventures section, called Jazz Education. The page will grow in time, but for starters there is an essay of mine along with a rare recording of a high school band performing at the 1962 National Stage Band Camp.
25 June 2020
A new radio broadcast featuring the 1962 mellophonium band at the Sunnybrook Ballroom has just been added.
24 June 2020
It’s been a busy time these last few months setting up the Stan Kenton Research Center. There will be a lot of news from that front in the near future. In the meanwhile, I just added a recording from Music ’55, featuring Kenton, Hoagy Carmichael and Ella Fitzgerald.
28 December 2019
I am excited to announce to opening of the Stan Kenton Research Center in Staunton, Virginia, the physical embodiment of ALL THINGS KENTON.
20 April 2019
I new series of photographs, highlighting life on the road for the Kenton band.
20 January 2019
An introductory video was uploaded, offering insights to this archive.
24 November 2018
I added a new page with ten concert programs, from the mid-40s thorough the Mellophonium band.
11 November 2018
Added a lot more information to the Music ’55 page.
9 November 2018
Added two episodes of Music ’55
9 May 2018
A new blog post on preserving the legacy of Stan Kenton.
4 April 2018
Have you ever read one of Leonard Feather's Blindfold Tests and wondered what they sounded like? Listen in as Kenton tells what he likes and dislikes about the discs played.
29 March 2018
Listen to this newly uploaded interview with Kenton, hosted by Gerald Wilson.
29 March 2018
A new recording was uploaded of the Stan Kenton band at the 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival. With Kenton in the hospital, Buddy Rich sits in for a couple of numbers.
19 March 2018
I discovered a rare recording from 1973 when Gene Roland dropped in and sang with Kenton. It's on Roland's arranger page.
6 March 2018
I am on a roll. Listen to a recording from 1968 in Warren, Ohio.
6 March 2018
A historic concert took place in 1972 when the Kenton band joined forces with the Boston Pops.
5 March 2018
Kenton fan Kevin Seeley has provided us with yet another rare live recording of the Kenton band, this one from a 1977 concert in Coral Gables.
3 March 2018
Another recorded concert has surfaced, featuring the band in performance at West Chester State College in 1975.
2 March 2018
A just received some Down Beat magazines and found an article about Gene Roland from 1963. It's been added to Roland's page in the Arrangers section.
1 March 2018
I’ve acquired another performance of the Kenton band at Disneyland, this time from 1974.
6 February 2018
I found two tracks recorded from the audience during the Kenton / Four Freshmen concert in 1972, offering alternatives to the versions found on the LP.
2 February 2018
Added two more videos to the Rendezvous 2000.
1 February 2018
A new section with a list of instrumentalists who played in the Kenton band.
29 January 2018
Bob Morgan’s magnificent dissertation on the music of Bob Graettinger is now a web page.
21 January 2018
Following up on the recently posted Rendezvous 2000 section, I’ve added a new section with videos from Rendezvous 1999.
18 January 2018
A new section has been added with a slew of videos from the Rendezvous 2000 event held in Surrey, England.
14 January 2018
I just posted an interview I did with Pete Rugolo almost two decades ago,
13 January 2018
Added an interesting essay by Barry Ulanov, condemning Kenton’s Progressive Jazz Orchestra — What's Wrong With Kenton?
30 December 2017
Added a new page with five unreleased Outtakes from the Live at Redlands sessions.
26 December 2017
Minor updates and corrections to The Singers, once again with the help of author/scholar Steven D. Harris.
22 December 2017
A major new section was added focussing on The Singers.
15 December 2017
A new page (with audio) added for the Creative World album “Some Women I’ve Known.”
12 December 2017
A few new audio tracks were added to the Progressive Jazz pages here and here.
11 December 2017
A few new were dates added to the Progressive Jazz Tour Calendar, thanks to Kenton scholar, Steven D. Harris.
A new video was added to the Video Page, featuring several numbers from Stan, June and the gang in 1947.
Did you attend a Stan Kenton Band Camp? Follow this link to add yourself to the registry and to add your comments and memories to the wall.
Welcome to the home of ALL THINGS KENTON. This is an ever growing collection of information, images and sounds that salutes the contributions of jazz great, Stan Kenton. —Terry Vosbein
This website would not be possible without the many scholars and fans who have contributed so much.
If there are elements to this site that you feel are missing, or inaccuracies found in the website, please let me know. It is an ever growing work in progress. Through a sharing and pooling of our data, this can become a great source for Kenton scholars and fans.
Click on the button below to see the latest updates.
Staunton, Virginia
