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[[file:RCA_Thesaurus_example_album_cover.jpg|thumb]]
[[file:RCA_Thesaurus_example_album_cover.jpg|thumb]]
'''RCA Thesaurus''', a brand owned by [[RCA Victor]], was a supplier of [[electrical transcriptions]].<ref name="Kenney2003">{{cite book|author=William Howland Kenney|title=Recorded Music in American Life: The Phonograph and Popular Memory, 1890–1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cvk_AP6LwUgC&pg=PA191|date=November 2003|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-517177-8|pages=191–}}</ref> It enjoyed a long history of producing electrical transcriptions of music for radio broadcasting which dated back to NBC's Radio Recording Division.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=oSEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=RCA+Thesaurus&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiX2aCbgrCDAxVYhYkEHUuxB6oQ6AF6BAgLEAI#v=onepage&q=RCA%20Thesaurus&f=false The Billboard - Music-Radio - "E. T. Firms Make Comeback As Local Radio Gains Accent" 16 October 1954 p. 14 RCA Thesaurus on Google Books]</ref>
'''RCA Thesaurus''', a brand owned by [[RCA Victor]], was a supplier of [[electrical transcriptions]].<ref name="Kenney2003">{{cite book|author=William Howland Kenney|title=Recorded Music in American Life: The Phonograph and Popular Memory, 1890–1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cvk_AP6LwUgC&pg=PA191|date=November 2003|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-517177-8|pages=191–}}</ref> It enjoyed a long history of producing electrical transcriptions of music for radio broadcasting which dated back to NBC's Radio Recording Division.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=oSEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=RCA+Thesaurus&pg=PA14 The Billboard - Music-Radio - "E. T. Firms Make Comeback As Local Radio Gains Accent" 16 October 1954 p. 14 RCA Thesaurus on Google Books]</ref>


Efforts were made as early as 1936 to consolidate The RCA Victor Transcription service with [[NBC]]'s independent transcription service within the NBC radio network. NBC's''Thesaurus'' catalog system and library of recordings was not completely merged with RCA's catalog until 1939 when the consolidation was completed in an effort to compete with rival transcription services which were available at the Mutual, Columbia and World Broadcasting Systems. <ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zBlyzQdnEssC&dq=NBC+Thesaurus+Catalog&pg=PA112 ''Points on the Dial: Golden Age Radio Beyond the Networks'' Alexander Russo. Duke University Press, London 2010. p. 112-114] RCA Theaurus and NBC on books.google.com]</ref>
Efforts were made as early as 1936 to consolidate The RCA Victor Transcription service with [[NBC]]'s independent transcription service within the NBC radio network. NBC's''Thesaurus'' catalog system and library of recordings was not completely merged with RCA's catalog until 1939 when the consolidation was completed in an effort to compete with rival transcription services which were available at the [[Mutual Broadcasting System|Mutual]], [[CBS|Columbia]] and [[World Broadcasting System]]s.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zBlyzQdnEssC&dq=NBC+Thesaurus+Catalog&pg=PA112 ''Points on the Dial: Golden Age Radio Beyond the Networks'' Alexander Russo. Duke University Press, London 2010. p. 112-114] RCA Theaurus and NBC on books.google.com]</ref>


During the 1950s, RCA Thesaurus produced under the musical direction of [[Ben Selvin]] in New York City.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=egoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Ben+Selvin+RCA+Thesaurus&pg=PA30 ''The Billboard - Ben Selvin Skeds Waxing Dates With Welk '' - "The Billboard Magazine" December 15, 1956 p. 30 - Ben Selvin recording chief for RCA Thesaurus on books.google]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Ben+Selvin+RCA+Thesaurus&pg=PA24 ''The Billboard - 40th Anniversary for Ben Selvin as Band Leader'' - "The Billboard Magazine" September 16, 1957 p. 24 - Ben Selvin - Artists and Repertoire Director for RCA Theasurus on books.google.com]</ref> As the transcription service continued to grow in 1953, RCA Thesaurus bought a library of 1600 transcriptions of jingles from the Ullman Jingl Library.<ref name="Inc.1953">{{cite magazine|title=Thesaurus buys Jingl Library|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2g0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16|date=11 April 1953|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=16–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
During the 1950s, RCA Thesaurus produced under the musical direction of [[Ben Selvin]] in New York City.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=egoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Ben+Selvin+RCA+Thesaurus&pg=PA30 ''The Billboard - Ben Selvin Skeds Waxing Dates With Welk '' - "The Billboard Magazine" December 15, 1956 p. 30 - Ben Selvin recording chief for RCA Thesaurus on books.google]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Ben+Selvin+RCA+Thesaurus&pg=PA24 ''The Billboard - 40th Anniversary for Ben Selvin as Band Leader'' - "The Billboard Magazine" September 16, 1957 p. 24 - Ben Selvin - Artists and Repertoire Director for RCA Theasurus on books.google.com]</ref> As the transcription service continued to grow in 1953, RCA Thesaurus bought a library of 1600 transcriptions of jingles from the Ullman Jingl Library.<ref name="Inc.1953">{{cite magazine|title=Thesaurus buys Jingl Library|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2g0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16|date=11 April 1953|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=16–|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>


In [[1954 in music|1954]], [[John Serry Sr.]] recorded several of his arrangements of [[easy listening]] music for RCA Thesaurus with his ensemble The Bel-Cordions quartet and the Serry Sextette.<ref>''Who Is Who in Music International 1958'', Publisher: Who Is Who in Music International, Chicago, Illinois. Biographical File #B11719 for John Serry. See [[International Biographical Center]], Cambridge, England as the current publisher.</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=RCA+Thesaurus+John+Serry Radio Daily-Television Daily. Publisher: Radio Daily Corporation 29 October 1954, p. 8 - "RCA Thesaurus cut a session of Latin-American music, polkas, and novelties with the John Serry Accordion Quartet", RCA Thesaurus John Serry on Google Books]</ref> The group consisted of four accordions, string bass and guitar.<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music: Sibley Music Library: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Dept.- "The John Serry Sr. Collection" - Items donated to the library for archive include an audio recording from 1954 by the Serry Sextette and his Bel-Cordions for RCA Thesaurus in 1954 in the "John Serry Sr. Collection" - contact the staff archivist for further information on www.esm.rochester.edu]</ref><ref>[https://www.rochester.edu/pr/Review/V70N6/cn-u-80.html "Rochester Review" July-August 2008, Vol 70, No. 6 University of Rochester Alumnus magazine: River Campus (See Class of 1980) - Son of John Serry notes that his father's compositions and recordings have been submitted into the Sibley Library for archive]</ref> Copies of Serry's album and his original orchestral scores were subsequently donated years later to the [[Eastman School of Music]]'s [[Sibley Music Library]] for archival purposes within the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Department: ''John J. Serry Sr. Collection''.<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/specialcollections/ Eastman School of Music: Sibley Music Library: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Dept.- "The John Serry Sr. Collection" - Items donated to the library for archive include an audio recording from 1954 by the Serry Sextette and his Bel-Cordions for RCA Thesaurus in 1954 in the "John Serry Sr. Collection" - contact the staff archivist for further information at www.esm.rochester.edu]</ref><ref>[https://www.rochester.edu/pr/Review/V70N6/cn-u-80.html "Rochester Review" July-August 2008, Vol 70, No. 6 University of Rochester Alumnus magazine: River Campus (See Class of 1980) - Son of John Serry notes that his father's compositions and recordings have been submitted into the Sibley Library for archive]</ref><ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>
In [[1954 in music|1954]], [[John Serry Sr.]] recorded several of his arrangements of [[easy listening]] music for RCA Thesaurus with his ensemble The Bel-Cordions quartet and the Serry Sextette.<ref>''Who Is Who in Music International 1958'', Publisher: Who Is Who in Music International, Chicago, Illinois. Biographical File #B11719 for John Serry. See [[International Biographical Center]], Cambridge, England as the current publisher.</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=RCA+Thesaurus+John+Serry Radio Daily-Television Daily. Publisher: Radio Daily Corporation 29 October 1954, p. 8 - "RCA Thesaurus cut a session of Latin-American music, polkas, and novelties with the John Serry Accordion Quartet", RCA Thesaurus John Serry on Google Books]</ref> The group consisted of four accordions, string bass and guitar.<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music: Sibley Music Library: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Dept.- "The John Serry Sr. Collection" - Items donated to the library for archive include an audio recording from 1954 by the Serry Sextette and his Bel-Cordions for RCA Thesaurus in 1954 in the "John Serry Sr. Collection" - contact the staff archivist for further information on www.esm.rochester.edu]</ref><ref>[https://www.rochester.edu/pr/Review/V70N6/cn-u-80.html "Rochester Review" July-August 2008, Vol 70, No. 6 University of Rochester Alumnus magazine: River Campus (See Class of 1980) - Son of John Serry notes that his father's compositions and recordings have been submitted into the Sibley Library for archive]</ref> Copies of Serry's album and his original orchestral scores were subsequently donated years later to the [[Eastman School of Music]]'s [[Sibley Music Library]] for archival purposes within the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Department: ''John J. Serry Sr. Collection''.<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/specialcollections/ Eastman School of Music: Sibley Music Library: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Dept.- "The John Serry Sr. Collection" - Items donated to the library for archive include an audio recording from 1954 by the Serry Sextette and his Bel-Cordions for RCA Thesaurus in 1954 in the "John Serry Sr. Collection" - contact the staff archivist for further information at www.esm.rochester.edu]</ref><ref>[https://www.rochester.edu/pr/Review/V70N6/cn-u-80.html "Rochester Review" July-August 2008, Vol 70, No. 6 University of Rochester Alumnus magazine: River Campus (See Class of 1980) - Son of John Serry notes that his father's compositions and recordings have been submitted into the Sibley Library for archive]</ref><ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>


By 1955, RCA Thesaurus continued to expand its musical library by including complete shows five times a week which showcased performances by several leading jazz artists including [[Sammy Kaye]] and [[Freddie Martin]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BRwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27&dq=%22RCA+Thesaurus%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQgc7F0fzVAhUMLsAKHUQdAIk4HhDoAQgpMAE#v=onepage&q=%22RCA%20Thesaurus%22&f=false The Billboard - Music Radio - "New Features Launch 20th Thesaurus Year" 7 May 1955 p. 27 on Google Books.cm]</ref> In [[1956 in music|1956]], [[Lawrence Welk]] also signed with [[Ben Selvin]] at RCA Thesaurus for recordings on his "New Lawrence Welk Show".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTk7fTlbCDAxUzv4kEHX3UDiEQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=RCA%20Thesaurus%20Lawrence%20Welk&f=false The Billboard - "Speed and Quality on RCA Thesaurus"] [[Ben Selvin]] 6 October 1956 p. 26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTk7fTlbCDAxUzv4kEHX3UDiEQ6AF6BAgGEAI#v=onepage&q=RCA%20Thesaurus%20Lawrence%20Welk&f=false The Billboard - "The Lawrence Welk Story - Welk to Radio via Thesaurus" 6 October 1956 p. 19 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books]</ref> By 1956, Ben Selvin also signed an agreement with the impresario [[Norman Granz]] which enhanced the RCA Thesaurus library to include performances by such jazz luminaries as: [[Count Basie]], [[Roy Eldridge]], [[Ella Fitzgerald]], [[Stan Getz]], [[Gene Krupa]], [[Oscar Peterson]], and [[Art Tatum]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iwoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39&dq=Ben+Selvin+RCA+Thesaurus&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiessm0ibODAxXzg4kEHdq4CSEQ6AF6BAgMEAI#v=onepage&q=Ben%20Selvin%20RCA%20Thesaurus&f=false The Billboard Music-Radio - "Thesaurus in Pact for Granz Transcriptions" 18 August 1956 p. 39 Ben Selvin RCA Thesaurus on Google Books.com]</ref>
By 1955, RCA Thesaurus continued to expand its musical library by including complete shows five times a week which showcased performances by several leading jazz artists including [[Sammy Kaye]] and [[Freddie Martin]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BRwEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22RCA+Thesaurus%22&pg=PA27 The Billboard - Music Radio - "New Features Launch 20th Thesaurus Year" 7 May 1955 p. 27 on Google Books.cm]</ref> In [[1956 in music|1956]], [[Lawrence Welk]] also signed with [[Ben Selvin]] at RCA Thesaurus for recordings on his "New Lawrence Welk Show".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&pg=PA26 The Billboard - "Speed and Quality on RCA Thesaurus"] [[Ben Selvin]] 6 October 1956 p. 26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&pg=PA19 The Billboard - "The Lawrence Welk Story - Welk to Radio via Thesaurus" 6 October 1956 p. 19 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books]</ref> By 1956, Ben Selvin also signed an agreement with the impresario [[Norman Granz]] which enhanced the RCA Thesaurus library to include performances by such jazz luminaries as: [[Count Basie]], [[Roy Eldridge]], [[Ella Fitzgerald]], [[Stan Getz]], [[Gene Krupa]], [[Oscar Peterson]], and [[Art Tatum]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iwoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Ben+Selvin+RCA+Thesaurus&pg=PA39 The Billboard Music-Radio - "Thesaurus in Pact for Granz Transcriptions" 18 August 1956 p. 39 Ben Selvin RCA Thesaurus on Google Books.com]</ref>


== Classical compositions ==
== Classical compositions ==
Included among the classical compositions which were recorded on the RCA Thesaurus label are:
Included among the classical compositions that were recorded on the RCA Thesaurus label are the following:


* "[[Allegro (song)|Allegro]]" – [[Joseph Haydn]] Arr. John Serry Sr. (Accordion Quartette 1954)<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>
* "[[Allegro (song)|Allegro]]" – [[Joseph Haydn]] Arr. John Serry Sr. (Accordion Quartette 1954)<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>
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== Popular compositions ==
== Popular compositions ==
Included among the popular songs recorded for RCA Thesaurus are: <ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" Audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>
Included among the popular songs recorded for RCA Thesaurus are the following:<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" Audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>


* "[[Shine On, Harvest Moon]]" – [[Jack Noworth]] & [[Nora Bayes]]- Arr. John Serry Sr. (Sextette 1954)
* "[[Shine On, Harvest Moon]]" – [[Jack Noworth]] & [[Nora Bayes]]- Arr. John Serry Sr. (Sextette 1954)
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== Artistic ensembles ==
== Artistic ensembles ==
Included among the musical ensembles which recorded for RCA Thesaurus are:<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTk7fTlbCDAxUzv4kEHX3UDiEQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=RCA%20Thesaurus%20Lawrence%20Welk&f=false The Billboard - "Speed and Quality on RCA Thesaurus"] Ben Selvin 6 October 1956 p. 26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTk7fTlbCDAxUzv4kEHX3UDiEQ6AF6BAgGEAI#v=onepage&q=RCA%20Thesaurus%20Lawrence%20Welk&f=false The Billboard - "The Lawrence Welk Story - Welk to Radio via Thesaurus" 6 October 1956 p. 19 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BRwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27&dq=%22RCA+Thesaurus%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQgc7F0fzVAhUMLsAKHUQdAIk4HhDoAQgpMAE#v=onepage&q=%22RCA%20Thesaurus%22&f=false The Billboard - Music Radio - "New Features Launch 20th Thesaurus Year" 7 May 1955 p. 27 on Google Books.cm]</ref>
Included among the musical ensembles that recorded for RCA Thesaurus are the following:<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&pg=PA26 The Billboard - "Speed and Quality on RCA Thesaurus"] Ben Selvin 6 October 1956 p. 26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&pg=PA19 The Billboard - "The Lawrence Welk Story - Welk to Radio via Thesaurus" 6 October 1956 p. 19 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BRwEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22RCA+Thesaurus%22&pg=PA27 The Billboard - Music Radio - "New Features Launch 20th Thesaurus Year" 7 May 1955 p. 27 on Google Books.cm]</ref>
=== The Bel-Cordions ===
=== The Bel-Cordions ===


* [[John Serry, Sr.]] – First Accordionist/ Conductor/Arranger<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>
* [[John Serry, Sr.]] – First Accordionist/ Conductor/Arranger<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>
* Louis Del Monte – Accordionist<ref>[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/International-Musician/50s/International-Musician-1951-05.pdf ''International Musician'' - "Accordion Instrument Played with A Smile", Hope Stoddard, May 1951, p. 10-11 Contributing writers Charles Nunzio & Sergei Matsusewitch - Photographs of the accordionists: Louis Del Monte, Pietro Frosini, Charles Nunzio, Charles Magnante , Anthony Galla-Rini, Art Van Damme within the article as published in the journal ''International Musician'' by the American Federation of Musicians posted on worldradiohistory.com]</ref>
* Louis Del Monte – Accordionist<ref>[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/International-Musician/50s/International-Musician-1951-05.pdf ''International Musician'' - "Accordion Instrument Played with A Smile", Hope Stoddard, May 1951, p. 10-11 Contributing writers Charles Nunzio & Sergei Matsusewitch - Photographs of the accordionists: Louis Del Monte, Pietro Frosini, Charles Nunzio, Charles Magnante, Anthony Galla-Rini, Art Van Damme within the article as published in the journal ''International Musician'' by the American Federation of Musicians posted on worldradiohistory.com]</ref>
* Alf Nystrom – Accordionist
* Alf Nystrom – Accordionist
* Ralph Vetro – Accordionist
* Ralph Vetro – Accordionist
Line 62: Line 62:


== Archived recordings==
== Archived recordings==
{{external media|float=right|width=250px|image1=The John J. Serry Sr. Collection Archive [[University of Rochester]] [[Eastman School of Music]]. <br> [https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf '''Here on esm.rochester.edu''']}}
* The ''John J. Serry Sr. Collection'' at the [[Eastman School of Music]]'s [[Sibley Music Library]]: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections contains an audio recording and original scores for musical arrangements of popular music in the RCA Thesaurus catalog as recorded at the RCA Victor Studios in New York City by the John Serry Sextette in 1954.<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording and musical scores for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954. Series 4 Recordings: Item 10 p. 18, Series 2 Oversized Manuscripts Folders 9-16, p. 15-16. The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>
* The ''John J. Serry Sr. Collection'' at the [[Eastman School of Music]]'s [[Sibley Music Library]]: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections contains an audio recording and original scores for musical arrangements of popular music in the RCA Thesaurus catalog as recorded at the RCA Victor Studios in New York City by the John Serry Sextette in 1954.<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording and musical scores for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954. Series 4 Recordings: Item 10 p. 18, Series 2 Oversized Manuscripts Folders 9-16, p. 15-16. The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>
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[[Category:Radio organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Radio organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Electrical transcription companies]]
[[Category:Electrical transcription companies]]
⚫
[[Category: Albums arranged by John Serry Sr.]]
⚫
[[Category: Albums conducted by John Serry Sr.]]
[[Category:John Serry Sr. albums]]
[[Category:Albums conducted by John Serry Sr.]]
[[Category:Albums arranged by John Serry Sr.]]
[[Category:Albums arranged by John Serry Sr.]]
⚫
[[Category:Albums conducted by John Serry Sr.]]
⚫
[[Category:John Serry Sr. albums]]
[[Category:Jazz albums by American artists]]
[[Category:Jazz albums by American artists]]
[[Category:Jazz-pop albums]]
[[Category:Jazz-pop albums]]

Latest revision as of 07:47, 1 November 2024

RCA Thesaurus, a brand owned by RCA Victor, was a supplier of electrical transcriptions.[1] It enjoyed a long history of producing electrical transcriptions of music for radio broadcasting which dated back to NBC's Radio Recording Division.[2]

Efforts were made as early as 1936 to consolidate The RCA Victor Transcription service with NBC's independent transcription service within the NBC radio network. NBC'sThesaurus catalog system and library of recordings was not completely merged with RCA's catalog until 1939 when the consolidation was completed in an effort to compete with rival transcription services which were available at the Mutual, Columbia and World Broadcasting Systems.[3]

During the 1950s, RCA Thesaurus produced under the musical direction of Ben Selvin in New York City.[4][5] As the transcription service continued to grow in 1953, RCA Thesaurus bought a library of 1600 transcriptions of jingles from the Ullman Jingl Library.[6]

In 1954, John Serry Sr. recorded several of his arrangements of easy listening music for RCA Thesaurus with his ensemble The Bel-Cordions quartet and the Serry Sextette.[7][8] The group consisted of four accordions, string bass and guitar.[9][10] Copies of Serry's album and his original orchestral scores were subsequently donated years later to the Eastman School of Music's Sibley Music Library for archival purposes within the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Department: John J. Serry Sr. Collection.[11][12][13]

By 1955, RCA Thesaurus continued to expand its musical library by including complete shows five times a week which showcased performances by several leading jazz artists including Sammy Kaye and Freddie Martin.[14] In 1956, Lawrence Welk also signed with Ben Selvin at RCA Thesaurus for recordings on his "New Lawrence Welk Show".[15][16] By 1956, Ben Selvin also signed an agreement with the impresario Norman Granz which enhanced the RCA Thesaurus library to include performances by such jazz luminaries as: Count Basie, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Gene Krupa, Oscar Peterson, and Art Tatum.[17]

Classical compositions

[edit]

Included among the classical compositions that were recorded on the RCA Thesaurus label are the following:

[edit]

Included among the popular songs recorded for RCA Thesaurus are the following:[21]

Artistic ensembles

[edit]

Included among the musical ensembles that recorded for RCA Thesaurus are the following:[22][23][24]

The Bel-Cordions

[edit]
  • John Serry, Sr. – First Accordionist/ Conductor/Arranger[25]
  • Louis Del Monte – Accordionist[26]
  • Alf Nystrom – Accordionist
  • Ralph Vetro – Accordionist

Sammy Kaye Orchestra

[edit]

Freddie Martin Orchestra

[edit]

Serry Sextette

[edit]
  • John Serry Sr. - First Acccordionist/ Conductor/Arranger[27]
  • Alf Nystrom - Accordionist
  • Benny Mortell - Guitar
  • Sammy Linner - Piano
  • Doc Goldberg - Bass
  • Harry Breur - Vibes/Marimba

Lawrence Welk Orchestra

[edit]

Archived recordings

[edit]
External image
image icon The John J. Serry Sr. Collection Archive University of Rochester Eastman School of Music.
Here on esm.rochester.edu
  • The John J. Serry Sr. Collection at the Eastman School of Music's Sibley Music Library: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections contains an audio recording and original scores for musical arrangements of popular music in the RCA Thesaurus catalog as recorded at the RCA Victor Studios in New York City by the John Serry Sextette in 1954.[28]

References

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  1. ^ William Howland Kenney (November 2003). Recorded Music in American Life: The Phonograph and Popular Memory, 1890–1945. Oxford University Press. pp. 191–. ISBN 978-0-19-517177-8.
  2. ^ The Billboard - Music-Radio - "E. T. Firms Make Comeback As Local Radio Gains Accent" 16 October 1954 p. 14 RCA Thesaurus on Google Books
  3. ^ Points on the Dial: Golden Age Radio Beyond the Networks Alexander Russo. Duke University Press, London 2010. p. 112-114 RCA Theaurus and NBC on books.google.com]
  4. ^ The Billboard - Ben Selvin Skeds Waxing Dates With Welk - "The Billboard Magazine" December 15, 1956 p. 30 - Ben Selvin recording chief for RCA Thesaurus on books.google
  5. ^ The Billboard - 40th Anniversary for Ben Selvin as Band Leader - "The Billboard Magazine" September 16, 1957 p. 24 - Ben Selvin - Artists and Repertoire Director for RCA Theasurus on books.google.com
  6. ^ "Thesaurus buys Jingl Library". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 11 April 1953. pp. 16–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  7. ^ Who Is Who in Music International 1958, Publisher: Who Is Who in Music International, Chicago, Illinois. Biographical File #B11719 for John Serry. See International Biographical Center, Cambridge, England as the current publisher.
  8. ^ Radio Daily-Television Daily. Publisher: Radio Daily Corporation 29 October 1954, p. 8 - "RCA Thesaurus cut a session of Latin-American music, polkas, and novelties with the John Serry Accordion Quartet", RCA Thesaurus John Serry on Google Books
  9. ^ Eastman School of Music: Sibley Music Library: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Dept.- "The John Serry Sr. Collection" - Items donated to the library for archive include an audio recording from 1954 by the Serry Sextette and his Bel-Cordions for RCA Thesaurus in 1954 in the "John Serry Sr. Collection" - contact the staff archivist for further information on www.esm.rochester.edu
  10. ^ "Rochester Review" July-August 2008, Vol 70, No. 6 University of Rochester Alumnus magazine: River Campus (See Class of 1980) - Son of John Serry notes that his father's compositions and recordings have been submitted into the Sibley Library for archive
  11. ^ Eastman School of Music: Sibley Music Library: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Dept.- "The John Serry Sr. Collection" - Items donated to the library for archive include an audio recording from 1954 by the Serry Sextette and his Bel-Cordions for RCA Thesaurus in 1954 in the "John Serry Sr. Collection" - contact the staff archivist for further information at www.esm.rochester.edu
  12. ^ "Rochester Review" July-August 2008, Vol 70, No. 6 University of Rochester Alumnus magazine: River Campus (See Class of 1980) - Son of John Serry notes that his father's compositions and recordings have been submitted into the Sibley Library for archive
  13. ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
  14. ^ The Billboard - Music Radio - "New Features Launch 20th Thesaurus Year" 7 May 1955 p. 27 on Google Books.cm
  15. ^ The Billboard - "Speed and Quality on RCA Thesaurus" Ben Selvin 6 October 1956 p. 26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books
  16. ^ The Billboard - "The Lawrence Welk Story - Welk to Radio via Thesaurus" 6 October 1956 p. 19 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books
  17. ^ The Billboard Music-Radio - "Thesaurus in Pact for Granz Transcriptions" 18 August 1956 p. 39 Ben Selvin RCA Thesaurus on Google Books.com
  18. ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
  19. ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
  20. ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
  21. ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" Audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
  22. ^ The Billboard - "Speed and Quality on RCA Thesaurus" Ben Selvin 6 October 1956 p. 26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books
  23. ^ The Billboard - "The Lawrence Welk Story - Welk to Radio via Thesaurus" 6 October 1956 p. 19 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books
  24. ^ The Billboard - Music Radio - "New Features Launch 20th Thesaurus Year" 7 May 1955 p. 27 on Google Books.cm
  25. ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
  26. ^ International Musician - "Accordion Instrument Played with A Smile", Hope Stoddard, May 1951, p. 10-11 Contributing writers Charles Nunzio & Sergei Matsusewitch - Photographs of the accordionists: Louis Del Monte, Pietro Frosini, Charles Nunzio, Charles Magnante, Anthony Galla-Rini, Art Van Damme within the article as published in the journal International Musician by the American Federation of Musicians posted on worldradiohistory.com
  27. ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
  28. ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording and musical scores for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954. Series 4 Recordings: Item 10 p. 18, Series 2 Oversized Manuscripts Folders 9-16, p. 15-16. The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
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