The ongoing research about the life and music of Paul Villepigue would not
be possible without the numerous
jazz fans and historians who have offered help along the way. So many of you have added so much to this project,
and this page is devoted to acknowledging your contributions. The individuals named below have granted their prior consent
to be listed here. To those who have preferred to remain anonymous, deepest appreciation for your assistance behind the scenes.
Special thanks to . . .
Anthony Barnett, research specialist in jazz violin, for kindly sharing the
V-Disc recording of Paul Nero’s Ellington Medley, arranged by Paul Villepigue, from the AB Fable Archive. For
more information on the violin in jazz, click here.
Mikael Uhlin for his excellent history of the Chico Marx Orchestra,
as presented on the fascinating and fun website Marxology.
Jim Harrod and
Bill Emery, of Jazz Research, for their careful and thorough advice and assistance with documents verifying Paul Villepigue’s work during the final
two years of his life.
Frank Nelson, trumpet player
on the postwar Alvino Rey orchestra (and now arranger for Trumpets R Us), for filling in the history of Spanish
Boogie with his band stories, his music, and his good humor and good help.
Rod Baum, recording collector
extraordinaire, for generously sharing the rare radio broadcast tape he made in 1974 (as WFLA program host Rod Weller)
of his interview with the reclusive former bandleader and alto sax star Johnny Bothwell.
Jeff Sultanof, composer/arranger/conductor
and music historian, for contributing his analysis of Villepigue’s arrangement of From the Land
of the Sky Blue Water, adapted from Jeff’s original presentation to the Jazz Research Round Table forum at the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University. And further thanks to Jeff for his additional commentary
on Villepigue’s arrangements for vocalist Claire Hogan with the Johnny Bothwell Orchestra, as well as Villepigue’s
writing for trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. For Jeff's recording reviews on Jazz.com, click here and here.
Mark Heimback-Nielsen for his generous help with the history
of Capitol Records. Here is Mark’s informative blog on all things Capitol: popculturefanboy
