John O'Connor Papers, 1968-1997

By Kathryn Feazel, Noah Lenstra and Scott Schwartz

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Collection Overview

Title: John O'Connor Papers, 1968-1997

ID: 12/5/34

Primary Creator: O'Connor, John A.

Extent: 1.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: Chronologically.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1996

Subjects: Jazz, Medicare 7, 8 or 9, Music, School of, Music - United States

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of correspondence, program notes, performance payrolls, engagement contracts, tour itineraries, newsclippings, publicity materials, postcards, and photographs documenting the creation of the performance ensemble, Medicare 7, 8, or 9 and the management of the music group by Daniel Perrino. Topics of particular interest include Dad's Nite Out, 1976 National Jazz Festival in Wichita, Kansas, and the 1974 Music Educators National Conference in Anaheim, California.

Biographical Note

John O'Connor was an Extension Assosicate Professor of Continuing Education in the Music Office, and Medicare 7, 8 or 9 cornetist (1968-1983). John O'Connor joined the University of Illinois School of Music in 1967. In November 1969 John O'Connor, with Dan Perrino, brought together a group of faculty with experience in Dixieland Jazz to perform in the south lounge of the University Illini Union building, known at the time at as the "free speech area." The effort was motivated by a desire to strengthen communications between an unrestful student body and faculty. This concert, called "Dialog in Dixieland Jazz," attracted 500 persons and Medicare 7, 8 or 9 was born. John O'Connor was a member of Medicare 7, 8 or 9 until 1983, performing across the country to spread the band's message of using music as communication. Without rehearsing, the band engaged with dialogue with audience members to the music to be played, its key and its arrangement. John O'Connor was also active with the Jimmy Dorsey Band, Barnum and Bailey Circus, Ice Capades, Orrin Tucker, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra and the National Jazz Educators Association.

Subject/Index Terms

Jazz
Medicare 7, 8 or 9
Music, School of
Music - United States

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: John O'Connor

Acquisition Method: Donation.

Related Materials:

48/03/004 - Medicare Records (1968-2001). University Archives, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

48/03/005 - Medicare 7, 8, or 9 Dixieland Cooperative Band Records

For more information please see http://www.library.uiuc.edu/archives.

Other Note: Pages

Other URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Papers

Box 1: 1969-1983

Folder 1: "Dixieland Dialogue" pamphlets, March 1973: "The contents of this brochure briefly describes the history, organization, instrumentation, programs, objectives, and performing concepts of the Medicare Seven Dixieland Jazz Band from the Urbana campus of the University of Illinois. Short biographical sketches of persons who have performed at one time or another with the band since its inception (1969) are also included."
Folder 2: 1968-1970: Includes Elder Statesman correspondence, program notes, performance payroll, regarding performances at Champaign Central High, Urbana High, University of Illinois campus.
Folder 3: ca. 1971: Medicare correspondence, engagement contracts, regarding performances at UI Dad's Day, Round Table Winter Party, Dialog (communication out of the classroom).
Folder 4: 1972: Correspondence, engagement contracts, program notes, regarding performances at UIUC Mother's Day, Carle Park, Rotary Club of Urbana.
Folder 5: 1973: Correspondence, requests for performances, newspaper clippings, regarding performances at Southern Illinois schools, UIUC Alumni Dixieland Band, Knox College-Galesburg IL, Quincy Public Schools, Quincy College, MidWest Alumni Directors Conference-Chicago, UIUC Quad Day, Indiana Folk Festival.
Folder 6: 1974 (1 of 2): Correspondence, requests for performances, program notes, itineraries, regarding performances at National Association of Jazz Educators National Convention (Chicago), Mattoon Schools clinic and concert, Aurora Schools Clinic, UIUC Alumni Association Band of Directors, UIUC tailgates, UIUC Christmas Program, Champaign-Urbana Kiwanis Club.
Folder 7: 1974 (2 of 2): Correspondence, program notes, brochures, regarding performances at Music Educators National Conference (Anaheim), UIUC Mardi Gras gala.
Folder 8: (1 of 2), 1975: Correspondence, program notes, pamphlets, event programs/fliers, regarding performances at First Annual Central Illinois Jazz Festival, Illinois Music Educators Association District III Festival and Conference (Normal) Continuing Education and Public Service in Music (Willowbrook), UIUC tailgates.
Folder 9: (2 of 2), 1975: Correspondence, program notes, itineraries, regarding performances at District III Illinois Music Educators Association Festival (Normal), Urbana Rotary Club, Carey Busey School (Champaign), Springfield High, East Coast Tour, UIUC Founders Day.
Folder 10: (1 of 2), 1976: Correspondence, newspaper clippings, program notes, regarding performances at National Jazz Festival (Wichita, KS), Kankakee County Illini Club, Continuing Education Department (Willowbrook), UIUC Alumni Association, Moline High School, UIUC Dad's Night Out, Quad Day, Old Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee Newsletter.
Folder 11: (2 of 2), 1976: Correspondence, program notes, rehearsal notes, itineraries, regarding performances at Urbana High School Music Awards, Bloomington Country Club, University of Miama, WILL-TV fundraiser, Southeastern States tour, First Annual Central Illinois Jazz Festival.
Folder 12: (1 of 3), 1977: Correspondence, program notes, regarding performances at Continuing Education (Willowbrook), Champaign-Urbana Elementary School children concert series, UIUC Union Jazz Lunch, West Coast/Southwest Tour.
Folder 13: (2 of 3), 1977: Correspondence, program notes, regarding performances at University YMCA, UIUC tailgating, Illinois Summer Youth Music, NCAA Conference (Champaign), Wichita Jazz Festival.
Folder 14: (3 of 3), 1977: Correspondence, program notes, brochures, schedules, fliers, registration itineraries regarding performances at Wichita Jazz Festival, Elgin concert, UIUC Southwest States Alumni Tour.
Folder 15: 1978: Correspondence, program notes, regarding UIUC Out-of-State Alumni Tour, UIUC tailgates, Dad's Night Out, Polaroids: Bottenfield Elementary School.
Folder 16: 1979: Correspondence, program notes, newspaper clippings, regarding Out-of-State Alumni Tour, 10-Year Birthday of Medicare, Rural Education Conference, UIUC Tailgates, Paris (IL) Concert, East-Southeast Tour, Postcard: Chase Park Plaza Hotel (St. Louis), Annual Concert roster, Medicare Album Release announcement. Includes photograph from Peoria concert, 1979.
Folder 17: (1 of 2), 1980: Correspondence, program notes, regarding Dan Perrino's nomination for Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award, King Fire Celebration (Ephraim, Wisc.), Seventh Annual Continuing Education Concert (Willowbrook), Midwestern Governor's Award.
Folder 18: (2 of 2), 1980: Correspondence, program notes, regarding Rockford Beattie Park and Charlotte's Web, National Association of Jazz Educators.
Folder 19: 1981: Correspondence, program notes, regarding An Evening in Dixieland with WILL TV, Illini Jazz Festival, Rockford-Door County Performances, Wheaton Concert, UIUC events.
Folder 20: (1 of 2), 1982: Correspondence, program notes, and newspaper clippings, regarding Paris (IL) Concert, Alumni Association Homecoming party, Mercy Hospital.
Folder 21: (2 of 2), 1982: Correspondence, program notes, fliers, regarding Gold Bug Dixieland Jazz Festival (Placerville, CA), UIUC Brownbag lunch series, Moline Alumni, Illini Jazz Festival, Altrusa Regional Conference, WILL TV fundraising event, Urbana High School Music Awards banquet.
Folder 22: 1983: Correspondence, program notes, regarding Rose Bowl, Air Force Association, UIUC tailgates, Illinois Music Educators Association, Continuing Education (Willowbrook), Mahomet Village Chorale, Urbana Sesquicentennial, Rockford First Presbyterian Church, Beattie Islands Arts Festival, WILL-TV show.

Box 2: 1984-1988

Folder 1: 1984
Folder 2: 1985: Mostly administrative correspondence, also includes a newsclipping (Rochester, NY), a press releases and a program (concert at Lincoln Trail College).
Folder 3: 1986: Mostly administrative correspondence. Also includes report on tour to Florida, newsclippings from Chicago Tribune, Bradenton Herald, News-Gazette,
Folder 4: (1 of 2), 1987: Mostly administrative correspondence, also includes programs for concerts at Prospect High School (Mount Prospect), Illini Union, opening festival for Parkland College Cultural Center, Hessel Park, Lincoln Trail College, First United Methodist Church (Champaign).
Folder 5: (2 of 2), 1987: Mostly administrative correspondence. Also includes program for National Council on the Aging meeting, Grace United Methodist Church, and WILL and newsclippings from News Gazette, Green Valley Arizona News, Arizona tour itinerary, and Daily Illini.
Folder 6: 1988: Mostly administrative correspondence. Also includes programs for Qunicy Symphony Orchestra, including program for celebration of Dan Perrino with original composition, The Dan and Marge Story. Also includes booklet for Illinois Arts Council,

Box 3: 1993-1997

Folder 1: 1993
Folder 2: Trip to Florida, 1993: Includes itineraries, press releases and sheet music for original song "Medicare Man."
Folder 3: (1 of 2), 1994: Includes programs, press releases and notes for 25th anniversary concert at Krannert Center for the Performing arts. Also includes correspondence and Midwest tour itinerary.
Folder 4: (2 of 2), 1994: Includes programs, press releases and notes for 25th anniversary concert at Krannert Center for the Performing arts. Also includes correspondence and Midwest tour itinerary.
Folder 5: (1 of 2), 1995: Includes notes on Virginia Theater benefit concert, general correspondence, Midwest tour itinerary, and news clippings.
Folder 6: (2 of 2), 1995: Includes script for performance given at University of Illinois Alumni Association event, Music of World War II, itineraries for Texas/New Orleans tour, news clippings and correspondence.
Folder 7: 1996: Includes correspondence and programs.
Folder 8: Public relations and publicity material, 1970s-1980s: Includes programs, flyers, sheet music, biographical notes, performance scripts, biographical notes and merchandise catalogs.
Folder 9: Photographs and negatives, undated: Mostly black and white publicity photographs, unlabeled.