Jack Linker American Bands Sound Recording Collection, circa 1895-1939 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

The collection is divided by format into five series. The 78 rpm sound recordings from Series 1 are arranged alphabetically by artist, then alphabetically by composition title. Numbers listed after label name indicate issue number. If a record has both an A and a B side, it has been alphabetized using the artist and title information from Side A. The 7-, 5 1/2-, and 4-inch records, which were stored by Linker in an album, are found at the end of the series and are in the order that was maintained by Linker within the album. The original records album is also included at the end of the series. The cylinder recordings from Series 2 are separated first by length (either 2-minute or 4-minute), then arranged alphabetically by artist, then alphabetically by composition title. Selections of original cylinder casings have been placed at the end of Series 2. Series 3 consists of music and photographs. Series 4 consists of historic audio equipment, and is arranged by non-accession number. Series 5 consists of piano rolls, and is arranged alphabetically by composer's last name.

Linker first developed an interest in John Philip Sousa while playing clarinet in his high school band. Briefly educated at Miami University, he left college to join the Navy as a radioman. During his service he learned the harmonica, kept a small phonograph for his private use in the radio room, and spent his shore leave attending concerts in New York City. After leaving the Navy in 1955, Linker began collecting sound recordings and associated materials, including early cylinder sound recordings, records, and piano rolls.

Sources:

Telephone interview with Jack Linker conducted 10 July 2008. An email from his wife, Linda Linker, on January 23, 2018 proved news that Jack had passed away on January 21, 2018.  His obituary was published in the Cincinnati Enquirer on January 24th.  It follows:

Jack E.- Jack was born in Anna, Ohio on January 31, 1932 a son of the late Eugene and Lorma Linker. Dear brother of the late Eugene and Larry Linker. Beloved husband to Linda Linker. Cherished father to Douglas and grandfather of Leila. Jack loved collecting piano rolls for his player piano, antique record and cylinder players, band recordings all the way back to cylinders, railroad, airplane, and ship memorabilia, books, and anything related to John Phillips Sousa. He enjoyed watching baseball, football and basketball, bridge, going to band concerts, history, reading, and traveling. He was a friend to everyone he met. Jack liked telling jokes and had many files of them. He loved his family dearly. He had a strong religious faith. Jack was a Korean Navy Veteran and was a radioman on two destroyers. Jack passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at the age of 85. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 27th from 10AM until the time of the Funeral Service at 11:30AM at Paul R. Young Funeral Home, 7345 Hamilton Ave., Mt. Healthy, Ohio 45231. Interment at Crown Hill.

Bands
Brass Bands
Military Music

German
French