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Jazz in the Twin Cities Oral History Project: Interview with Hal Runyon

Titles: Jazz in the Twin Cities Oral History Project: Interview with Hal Runyon (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Runyon was born in Letts, Iowa, in 1903. After graduating from high school, he joined the Air Service. While serving in the Air Service in Rantoul, Illinois, he began playing with a band. He played with bands at state fairs and carnivals before playing with the George Smith Steamboat Band at the Marigold in Minneapolis. In 1927, he decided to make his home in Minneapolis his home. He played with numerous bands at nightclubs in the Twin Cities over the years. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: How he became involved with music; playing music in the Air Service; as a musician with the state fair and carnivals; playing with Little Benny's; The George Smith Steamboat Band and playing at the Marigold; moving to Minneapolis; playing with Red Clark; playing at the Castle Royal in St. Paul; smoking, drinking, and drugs; big bands playing arrangements vs. bands that improvised; improvising; Red Maddock; playing with Doc Evans; playing with Harry Blons; concert at the Walker Art Institute; Red Dougherty and the Mendota jazz spot; the appeal of Dixieland music; the Twin Cities as music towns; the Minneapolis and St. Paul Musician's Unions; musical involvement since retiring; playing on New Year's Eve in Fargo, North Dakota; Les Beigel.

Dates

  • 09/04/1987 (Creation)

Creation

Identifiers

  • Library Call Number: OH 129
  • Accession Number: AV1989.137.6

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

Quantity: 1 hour sound cassette 23 pages transcript

Format

  • Content Category: sound recordings
  • Content Category: text

Measurements

  • 01:26:01 running time

Subjects

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Documents

Audio:

Audio Part 1

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Audio Part 2

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