- F0547
- Fonds
- 1950-[200-], predominant 1953-1962
Fonds consists of correspondence, contracts, newspaper articles, and musical arrangements created or accumulated by Jack Kane between 1950 and his death in 1961, with some material added or reproduced in subsequent years. The letters focus on his relationship with his fans across Canada and in the United States, particularly during the late 1950s and early 1960s while Kane was appearing on television. The correspondence deals with the popular reaction to Kane's music (including differences in generational tastes between classical and jazz music) and the aspirations of amateur song writers, performers and often their parents seeking advice on getting into show business; much of it was answered in sometimes lengthy letters that include Kane's insights on composing and his decision to stay in Canada after achieving success in New York. One file contains promotional material and contracts with the CBC for "Music makers '58" and "Music '60"; the contracts list the musicians who played with Kane, such as Moe Kaufman, Ellis McClintock, Murray Ginsberg, and John and Joe Niosi. Photographs include promotional portraits and images of Kane with Steve Lawrence and Duke Ellington. This graphic material is considerably supplemented by a photocopied album of newspaper clippings that trace Kane's career on radio and television from 1950 to 1961, as well as national coverage of his death. Three audio discs capture two of Kane's original compositions in 1950 and 1951, as well as his first and last recordings with commercial labels. The bulk of the fonds consists of Kane's musical arrangements with manuscript annotations, arranged by the title of the score and usually attributed to the television show on which it was performed.
Kane, Jack, 1924-1961