Central Avenue sounds : James Tolbert, 1999

Resource Information

The work Central Avenue sounds : James Tolbert, 1999 represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in UCLA Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Central Avenue sounds : James Tolbert, 1999

Title remainder

James Tolbert

Statement of responsibility

interviewed by Steven L. Isoardi

Inclusive dates

1999

Creator

• Tolbert, James, 1926-

Contributor

• University of California, Los Angeles, Oral History Program
• Isoardi, Steven Louis, 1949-

Interviewee

• Tolbert, James, 1926-
• Tolbert, James, 1926-

Interviewer

• Isoardi, Steven Louis, 1949-

Subject

• Tolbert, James, 1926-
• Young, Lester, 1909-1959
• oral histories
• Collette, Buddy, 1921-2010
• Young, Lee, 1914-2008
• Concert agents -- California | Los Angeles -- Interviews
• Central Avenue (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Genre

• Interviews
• oral histories

Language

eng

Summary

The interview starts with Tolbert's childhood in New Orleans and in the Central Avenue and Watts neighborhoods of Los Angeles; it continues through his education at both Jordan and Jefferson high schools, his military service, his earning of a degree in law and his booking and promoting of jazz concerts at Music Town during the late '40s and early '50s. Major topics addressed are: his relatives, the Young family, particularly Lee and Lester Young; music venues and notable musicians around Central Avenue in the '30s and '40s; the former African American local of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 767; and the decline of Central Avenue in the '50s

Note

• Forms part of: Central Avenue sounds.
• Also forms part of: Oral History collection, Dept. of Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Is part of

• Central Avenue sounds.
• Oral History collection, Dept. of Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Additional physical form

Audio recordings also may be accessed in the UCLA Department of Special Collections by special arrangement.

Biographical or historical data

James Tolbert was born on October 26, 1926 in New Orleans, La. After his family moved to Los Angeles, he attended high school there, but left early. Later he finished his high school equivalency, then went on to East Los Angeles College, California State University, Los Angeles, Loyola Law School, then graduated with a law degree from Van Norman Law School. After successfully completing the bar, he spent much of the '40s and '50s booking and promoting jazz concerts at Music Town. In 1957, he started his own law firm, with various partners over the years, and continues with the firm to the time of this interview.

Cataloging source

CLU

Form designation

oral history transcript

Illustrations

• illustrations
• portraits

Index

no index present

Literary form

non fiction

Location of originals duplicates

The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.