Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Funk, Ray
- Abstract:
- Research on the Black gospel quartet tradition including recorded interviews, transcripts, programs, sheet music, hymnals, subject files, sound recordings and videos.
- Extent:
- 8 document cases (3.94 linear feet) and 367 Audiocassettes
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
Ray Funk Gospel Music Collection, SC 84, Archives of African American Music and Culture, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
Raymond Funk was born in Chicago and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1974 from the University of Notre Dame, a Masters in 1975 from the University of Chicago, and a J.D. in 1979 from the University of California. Funk then relocated to Fairbanks, Alaska where he served as a public defender and assistant attorney general before his appointment as a trial court judge, a position he held until his retirement in 2017.
Funk began researching vernacular music in the late 1970s, initially focusing on African American vocal harmony groups and gospel quartets. During the 1980s he conducted interviews with over 300 gospel musicians, primarily by telephone. Funk has written liner notes for over forty re-issued gospel quartet albums, and has also lectured on the subject. His gospel music research was summarized in his paper, "Research Approaches to Black Gospel Quartets," presented in 1989 at the Sounds of the South conference at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and published by Duke University Press in 1992.
Funk served as a footage consultant to the public television series, American Roots Music, as well as other documentary films. A long time volunteer radio disc jocky, he has hosted a number of programs including the two-hour weekly world music radio show, Funk Roots. Funk is also a reknown expert on the music of Trinidad and Tobago, which he began researching in the 1980s. He has written many liner notes and articles on calypso, pan and carnival music, served as co-curator of the travelling and online exhibit, "Calypso: A World Music," and organized a Carnival Film Series for the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival. In 2006 Funk was named an honorary fellow at the Academy at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2017-2018 he served as a Fulbright Scholar at University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, researching steelband music from south Trinidad.
- Scope and Content:
This collection consists primarily of recordings of telephone and on-site interviews conducted by Ray Funk in the 1980s with members of African American gospel quartet groups, partial interview transcripts, and research files related to gospel quartet artists and composers. The majority of the artists interviewed were likely born between 1910-1930 and performed with groups popular in the 1930s-1960s. Interviews primarily focus on biographical information and not performance practice; radio and television appearances are discussed when applicable. Also included is printed sheet music and songbooks of noted African American gospel music composers and publishers, hymnals published between 1921-1982 containing songs popular in Black churches, and various gospel music newsletters. Additional commercial and non-commercial sound recordings (audiocassettes) and videos (VHS and Umatic) include performances by gospel quartet groups, some from radio airchecks, television programs, and live performances.
This collection consists primarily of recordings of telephone and on-site interviews conducted by Ray Funk in the 1980s with members of gospel quartet groups, partial interview transcripts, and research files related to gospel quartet artists and composers. The majority of the artists interviewed were likely born between 1910-1930 and performed with groups popular in the 1930s-1960s. Interviews primarily focus on biographical information and not performance practice; radio and television appearances are discussed when applicable. Also included is printed sheet music and songbooks of noted African American gospel music composers and publishers, hymnals published between 1921-1982 containing songs popular in Black churches, and various gospel music newsletters. Additional commercial and non-commercial sound recordings (audiocassettes) and videos (VHS and Umatic) include performances by gospel quartet groups, some from radio airchecks, television programs, and live performances.
- Acquisition information:
- The bulk of the materials were donated to the AAAMC by Funk in 2016; transcripts, subject files, additional sheet music, and videos were added in 2019.
- Processing information:
Processed by AAAMC Staff. Completed in 2022.
- Arrangement:
This collection is arranged into 7 series:
- Series 1: Interview Transcripts
- Series 2: Subject Files
- Series 3: Programs and Flyers
- Series 4: Printed Music
- --- Subseries 4.1: Hymnals
- --- Subseries 4.2: Songbooks
- --- Subseries 4.3: Sheet Music
- Series 5: Gospel Music Journals
- Series 6: Audiocassettes
- --- Subseries 6.1: Interviews
- --- Subseries 6.2: Other Noncommercial Recordings
- --- Subseries 6.3: Commercial Recordings
- Series 7: Videocassettes
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed Terms
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Use of time-based media materials (audio and video) may require production of listening or viewing copies.
Access to streaming audio, moving image, and full resolution digital image materials may currently be restricted to researchers who can authenticate with an IU account or who are physically present on campus. Remote streaming to individual researchers may be allowed with the completion of applicable forms.
For further information about access to online audiovisual materials, contact AAAMC staff at aaamc@indiana.edu.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Indiana Public Records Act (5-14-3-2 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which Indiana University assumes no responsibility.
Copyright is retained by the creators/authors of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. All requests for copying and publishing materials must be submitted in writing to the Archives of African American Music and Culture, and may require the written permission of the creator(s)/author(s) or donor(s).
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Ray Funk Gospel Music Collection, SC 84, Archives of African American Music and Culture, Indiana University, Bloomington.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
Smith Research Center, Rooms 180-1812805 East 10th StreetBloomington, Indiana 47408-2601, United States
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
812-855-8547aaamc@indiana.edu