Music & Musical Instruments

The Museum's music collections contain more than 5,000 instruments of American and European heritage. These include a quartet of 18th-century Stradivari stringed instruments, Tito Puente's autographed timbales, and the Yellow Cloud guitar that belonged to Prince, to name only a few. Music collections also include jukeboxes and synthesizers, square-dancing outfits and sheet music, archival materials, oral histories, and recordings of performances at the museum. The vast Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated Sheet Music is a remarkable window into the American past in words, music, and visual imagery. The Duke Ellington and Ruth Ellington Boatwright collections contain handwritten music compositions, sound recordings, business records, and other materials documenting the career of this renowned musician. In various ways, our collections find expression in performances of the Smithsonian Chamber Players, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, and in other public programs.

Laurindo Almeida. Guitar From Ipanema (Capitol T-2197).33-1/3 rpmCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Laurindo Almeida. Guitar From Ipanema (Capitol T-2197).
33-1/3 rpm
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1964
recording artist
Almeida, Laurindo
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1978.0670.802
maker number
T-2197
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.802
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Bake Them Hoecakes Brown; side 2: The Gal I Ledt Behind Me (Capitol 20100). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Bake Them Hoecakes Brown; side 2: The Gal I Ledt Behind Me (Capitol 20100). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
recording artist
Stone, Cliffie
maker
Capitol
ID Number
1989.0207.17
accession number
1989.0207
catalog number
1989.0207.17
maker number
20100
BD-44
Diana Ross. side 1: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [mono]; side 2: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [stereo] (Motown M1377F)45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve.
Description (Brief)

Diana Ross. side 1: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [mono]; side 2: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) [stereo] (Motown M1377F)
45 rpm. Accessioned with original printed sleeve. Pressed on gold colored vinyl.

This song was featured in the 1975 Motown Productions and Paramount Pictures film Mahogany, directed by Berry Gordy and starred Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Jean-Pierre Aumont, and Anthony Perkins.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1975
recording artist
Ross, Diana
manufacturer
Motown
ID Number
1996.3034.06750
catalog number
1996.3034.06750
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
M1377F
J. Stratton Shufelt. side 1: Overshadowed; side 2: The Old Ship Zion (Fellowship Music FM 019/020), from the album, Strat Sings (Fellowship Music 1).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
J. Stratton Shufelt. side 1: Overshadowed; side 2: The Old Ship Zion (Fellowship Music FM 019/020), from the album, Strat Sings (Fellowship Music 1).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording artist
Shufelt, J. Stratton
manufacturer
Fellowship Music
ID Number
1996.0320.05267
maker number
FM 019/020
FM 1
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05267
Oak Ridge Quartet. side 1: No Tears in Heaven; side 2: Old Time Religion (Capitol 48023), from the album, Songs from The Grand Ole Opry (Capitol AD 86).78 rpm.The cover art for this album was made by Carlos Andreson.
Description

Oak Ridge Quartet. side 1: No Tears in Heaven; side 2: Old Time Religion (Capitol 48023), from the album, Songs from The Grand Ole Opry (Capitol AD 86).
78 rpm.

The cover art for this album was made by Carlos Andreson. Andreson, also as Anderson, (1905-1978) was an American painter, lithographer, and teacher. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Andreson studied at the University of Utah, then subsequently in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Berlin. In 1933, Andreson returned to the United States, creating paintings and drawings of early pioneer life for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and teaching at Utah Arts Center. After the start of WWII, Anderson was commissioned by Abbott Laboratories to paint medical subjects at the stateside Naval hospitals. Andreson moved to San Francisco after the war where he produced artwork for the Oakland Army Base.

Location
Currently not on view
release date
1948
recording artist
Oak Ridge Quartet
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05119
maker number
48023
AD 86
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05119
Album cover for Square Dances (Capitol BD-44).78 rpm. 4-disc set (includes 1989.0207.15 - .18)Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Album cover for Square Dances (Capitol BD-44).
78 rpm. 4-disc set (includes 1989.0207.15 - .18)
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
recording artist
Stone, Cliffie
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1989.0207.19
accession number
1989.0207
catalog number
1989.0207.19
maker number
BD-44
Tex Ritter. side 1: I Love My Rooster; side 2: Texas Rangers (Capitol 20038). from the album, Children's Songs and Stories (Capitol BD-14).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Tex Ritter. side 1: I Love My Rooster; side 2: Texas Rangers (Capitol 20038). from the album, Children's Songs and Stories (Capitol BD-14).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1945
recording artist
Ritter, Tex
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05224
maker number
20038
BD-14
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05224
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1986
recording artist
Steve Miller Band
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.3034.05323
label number
B-5704
nonaccession number
1996.3034
catalog number
1996.3034.05323
Tex Ritter. side 1: The Phantom White Stallion of Skull Valley; side 2: The Wreck of Number Nine (Capitol 20039), from the album, Children's Songs and Stories (Capitol BD-14).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Tex Ritter. side 1: The Phantom White Stallion of Skull Valley; side 2: The Wreck of Number Nine (Capitol 20039), from the album, Children's Songs and Stories (Capitol BD-14).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1945
recording artist
Ritter, Tex
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05225
maker number
20039
BD-14
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05225
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2016.0032.082
accession number
2016.0032
catalog number
2016.0032.082
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Soldier's Joy; side 2: Special Instructions for Square Dancing (Capitol 20098), from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Soldier's Joy; side 2: Special Instructions for Square Dancing (Capitol 20098), from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1947
recording artist
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05293
maker number
20098
BD 44
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05293
The Dinning Sisters. side 1: Aunt Hagar's Blue; side 2: Where Or When (Capitol 20018),from the album, Songs of the Dinning Sisters (Capitol B-D 7).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
The Dinning Sisters. side 1: Aunt Hagar's Blue; side 2: Where Or When (Capitol 20018),from the album, Songs of the Dinning Sisters (Capitol B-D 7).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1945
recording artist
Dinning Sisters
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05087
maker number
20018
B-D 7
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05087
Fanny Brice. side 1: Cleaniness; side 2: Good and Bad (Capitol 7-32023), from the album, Baby Snooks (Capitol DC 3081).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Fanny Brice. side 1: Cleaniness; side 2: Good and Bad (Capitol 7-32023), from the album, Baby Snooks (Capitol DC 3081).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1949
recording artist
Brice, Fanny
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05059
maker number
7-32023
DC 3081
catalog number
1996.0320.05059
accession number
1996.0320
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Soldier's Joy; side 2: Special Instructions for Square Dancing (Capitol 20098). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Cliffie Stone. side 1: Soldier's Joy; side 2: Special Instructions for Square Dancing (Capitol 20098). from the album, Square Dances (Capitol BD 44).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1947
recording artist
Cliffie Stone and his Square Dance Band
maker
Capitol
ID Number
1989.0207.15
accession number
1989.0207
catalog number
1989.0207.15
maker number
20098
BD-44
This sheet music is for the song “Tonight We Love,” with lyrics by Bobby Worth and music adapted by Ray Austin and Freddy Martin. It was published by Maestro Music Company in Hollywood, California in 1941.
Description
This sheet music is for the song “Tonight We Love,” with lyrics by Bobby Worth and music adapted by Ray Austin and Freddy Martin. It was published by Maestro Music Company in Hollywood, California in 1941. The cover features an inset image of Freddy Martin, who featured this song with his orchestra.
Location
Currently not on view
publishing date
1941
depicted (sitter)
Martin, Freddy
manufacturer
Maestro Music Company
ID Number
1986.0021.46
accession number
1986.0021
catalog number
1986.0021.46
Uncle Henry's Original Kentucky Mountaineers. side 1: The Love That We Once Knew; side 2: Those "Gone and Left Me" Blues (Capitol 48034), from the album, Music from the Hills (Capitol AD 136).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Uncle Henry's Original Kentucky Mountaineers. side 1: The Love That We Once Knew; side 2: Those "Gone and Left Me" Blues (Capitol 48034), from the album, Music from the Hills (Capitol AD 136).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1949
recording artist
Uncle Henry's Original Kentucky Mountaineers
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05317
maker number
48034
AD 136
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05317
Cliffie Stone. side 1: I'm Foever Blowing Bubble; side 2: Missouri Waltz (Capitol 48031), from the album, Waltzes (Capitol AD 108).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Cliffie Stone. side 1: I'm Foever Blowing Bubble; side 2: Missouri Waltz (Capitol 48031), from the album, Waltzes (Capitol AD 108).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
release date
1948
recording artist
Stone, Cliffie
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1996.0320.05302
maker number
48031
AD 108
accession number
1996.0320
catalog number
1996.0320.05302
Pete Daily's Dixieland Band. side 1: Sensation; side 2: Original Dixieland One-Step (Capitol 15432), from the album, Pete Daily's Dixieland Band (Capitol CC-183).78 rpm.This album cover was painted by American artist William George (b. 1930).
Description

Pete Daily's Dixieland Band. side 1: Sensation; side 2: Original Dixieland One-Step (Capitol 15432), from the album, Pete Daily's Dixieland Band (Capitol CC-183).
78 rpm.

This album cover was painted by American artist William George (b. 1930). George is an American illustrator and painter who studied under Norman Rockwell. George’s work has been featured on album covers, paperback crime and western covers, and magazine covers.

Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1949
recording artist
Pete Daily's Dixieland Band
manufacturer
Capitol
ID Number
1978.0670.451
maker number
15432
CC-183
accession number
1978.0670
catalog number
1978.0670.451
maker
Liberace Music
ID Number
1986.0803.01
accession number
1986.0803
catalog number
1986.0803.01
The Beatles. Meet The Beatles! (Capitol T-2047).LP. 33-1/3 rpm.The Beatles burst onto the American scene in the early 1960s with a series of hit singles. Meet the Beatles! is the second Beatles album released in the United States.
Description

The Beatles. Meet The Beatles! (Capitol T-2047).
LP. 33-1/3 rpm.

The Beatles burst onto the American scene in the early 1960s with a series of hit singles. Meet the Beatles! is the second Beatles album released in the United States. It was the first American Beatles album to be issued by Capitol Records.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
recording artist
Beatles
maker
Capitol Records
ID Number
2011.0106.30
accession number
2011.0106
catalog number
2011.0106.30
The Sputniks. side 1: HEY, MARYANN; side 2: MY LOVE IS GONE (Class 217)45 rpm.Musical groups in Scandinavia, Brazil, East Germany, and the United States took the name "The Sputniks." This doo-wop recording is by a short-lived American group.
Description

The Sputniks. side 1: HEY, MARYANN; side 2: MY LOVE IS GONE (Class 217)
45 rpm.

Musical groups in Scandinavia, Brazil, East Germany, and the United States took the name "The Sputniks." This doo-wop recording is by a short-lived American group. Side two is a recording of "My Love is Gone."

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1958
composer
Nathan, N.
Vikki, J.
recording artist
Sputniks, The
manufacturer
Class
ID Number
1996.0153.20014
label number
217
accession number
1996.0153
catalog number
1996.0153.20014
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1957
recording artist
Nelson, Ricky
manufacturer
Imperial
ID Number
1996.3034.05542
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
IMP-153
catalog number
1996.3034.05542
Howard McGhee and his Orchestra. side 1: Cool Fantasy [part 1]; side 2: Cool Fantasy [part 2] (Modern 20-618).78 rpm.Currently not on view
Description
Howard McGhee and his Orchestra. side 1: Cool Fantasy [part 1]; side 2: Cool Fantasy [part 2] (Modern 20-618).
78 rpm.
Location
Currently not on view
recording date
1945
recording artist
McGhee, Howard
manufacturer
Modern
ID Number
2014.0105.88
accession number
2014.0105
catalog number
2014.0105.88
20-618
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1959
recording artist
Nelson, Ricky
manufacturer
Imperial
ID Number
1996.3034.05545
catalog number
1996.3034.05545
nonaccession number
1996.3034
label number
5614

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