Cal Lampley papers
Scope and Contents
The Cal Lampley papers (bulk 1980-1990) contain primarily manuscript and photocopied scores of music composed by Lampley. Many of these compositions include instrumental parts as well as the full score. The collection also includes concert programs and papers pertaining to specific performances.
Dates
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1980-1990
Creator
- Lampley, Cal (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for use at the Peabody Archives. Contact peabodyarchives@lists.jhu.edu for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish or perform materials in this collection must be submitted in writing to the archivist of the Arthur Friedheim Library.
Biographical / Historical
Producer, composer, and musician Calvin Douglas Lampley was often referred to as one of the most influential men in the record industry. Born in Dunn, North Carolina, in 1924, Lampley earned his B.S. from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. In 1943 he enrolled in the black-only 364th Infantry. After serving in the army, Lampley used the GI Bill to move to New York and attend the Juilliard School of Music, where he studied piano with Irwin Freundlich and composition with Richard Franko Goldman. He graduated in 1949 with his artist diploma in piano. Lampley soon escalated to a prestigious standing in the music community, making his Carnegie Hall debut in 1953.
He was later hired as a tape and music editor by Columbia’s Masterworks label, quickly rising through the ranks and taking a job as George Avakian’s assistant. Lampley moved on from Columbia to work at Warner Brothers, RCA Victor, and Prestige. Throughout his career in the record industry, Lampley worked with some of the most iconic jazz and popular musicians of the time, including Leonard Bernstein, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Erroll Garner, Victor Borge, Arthur Godfrey, Mahalia Jackson, Liberace, Johnny Mathis, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Judy Garland, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Gil Evans, Pat Martino, Sonny Stitt, Frank Foster, Johnny Hammond Smith and countless others.
Lampley moved to Baltimore in 1968 to attend the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he received his master of music in composition. While at Peabody, Lampley was named the director of the institute's first jazz ensemble, becoming the first full-time African-American faculty member. He then took a teaching job at Morgan State University in 1971 where he taught piano and composition for nearly 20 years.
Lampley was also a classical music critic on Maryland Public Television’s The Critics' Place, and as host of WCBM-AM’s Peabody Presents. Lampley also wrote compositions for television and released his own album of band arrangements in 1959. Lampley died in 2006.
Extent
1.72 Cubic Feet (3 medium flat boxes, 2 large flat boxes, 1 oversize flat box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
A record producer, composer, pianist, critic, and educator, Cal Lampley taught at the Peabody Conservatory and Morgan State University for many years after working in the record industry. The Cal Lampley papers contain manuscript scores of his music and a small collection of concert programs and related papers.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Scores donated by Calvin Lampley in 1987. Additional material donated in 2003 by Charles Hamilton.
Processing Information
Processed by Scott A. Miller in 2015.
Source
- Lampley, Cal (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Cal Lampley papers
- Author
- Kerri Sheehan
- Date
- 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Peabody Archives Repository
Peabody Institute
1 E. Mount Vernon Place
Baltimore MD 21202 USA
peabodyarchives@lists.jhu.edu