music

Mickey Katz (June 15, 1909 - April 30, 1985) was a clarinetist, comedian, bandleader, songwriter, and producer.  He recorded Yiddish parodies of popular American (U.S.) songs from the 1940s to the late 1960s for RCA Victor and Capitol Records.  He was the father of inventor Ron Katz, Tony and Oscar®-winning actor Joel Grey, and grandfather of actress Jennifer Grey. 

"A World of Music" is a documentary short about the UCLA Institute of Ethnomusicology.  A production of UCLA Public Information, it was released in 1972.  As the accompanying documentation explains, "Observes the activities of students and faculty at the UCLA Institute of Ethnomusicology, where a basis for international understanding is sought through cross-cultural studies in music and dance.

"They are destroying our culture," said one of Mali's most famous singers, Salif Keita.  "If there's no music, no Timbuktu, it means that there is no more culture in Mali."

Cheick-Tidiane Seck

As I mentioned in a previous column, the Ethnomusicology Archive holds the Department of Ethnomusicology collection.  This collection includes recordings and photographs documenting guest artists, lectures, and performance ensembles associated with Ethnomusicology at UCLA.  It might surprise some of you

Like many librarians, I am often asked if I read books (or listen to recordings) all day long.