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Collection Overview
| Size | 7.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 2000 items) |
| Abstract | John D. Loudermilk started his music career in his native North Carolina under the pseudonym Johnny Dee. After reassuming his birth name and moving to Nashville, Tenn., his commercial success as a songwriter for Acuff-Rose Publications earned him a spot in the Nashville Songwriters Association International's Hall of Fame. In addition to maintaining his songwriting career, Loudermilk also actively supported folk and country music through his participation in folk festivals, his involvement with the Southern Folk Cultural Revival Project, and his role as producer of a 1980 album by Chet Atkins and Doc Watson. The John D. Loudermilk collection includes papers, photographs, audio recordings, posters, and artifacts. Papers consist of sheet music, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia, correspondence, and other printed materials. Photographs include images of John D. Loudermilk alone or with others, as well as a few images related to album covers. Audio recordings include 45s, 78s, LPs, acetate discs, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, and a reel-to-reel tape. These include recordings made by Roy Acuff Jr., Ernie Ashworth, Chet Atkins, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, the Everly Brothers, Marianne Faithfull, George Hamilton IV, Stonewall Jackson, Robert Mitchum, the Nashville Teens, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Sue Thompson, Johnny Tillotson, Tracey Ullman, Bobby Vee, Porter Wagoner, and others, as well as Loudermilk as himself or under the name Johnny Dee. Posters advertise performances or venues at which Loudermilk made appearances. Artifacts include t-shirts, buttons, and other items related to performances or venues at which Loudermilk appeared. |
| Creator | Loudermilk, John D. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
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Related Collections
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Biographical Information
John D. Loudermilk (1934 - ), a widely-recognized songwriter, performer, and producer, was born in Durham, N.C. Under the name Johnny Dee, he began singing on the weekly Little Johnny Dee radio show by age 13. Loudermilk continued to sing and record his own songs throughout his career; however, he is primarily known for his work as a songwriter. His first major hit song, "A Rose and a Baby Ruth," was recorded by fellow North Carolinian George Hamilton IV in 1956. In 1958, Loudermilk moved to Nashville, where he was hired as Chet Atkins's assistant. After a brief period with Cedarwood Publishing, Loudermilk spent the 1960s writing for Acuff-Rose Publishing. During the 1960s and 1970s, Loudermilk became known as one of the most prolific of the Nashville songwriters; his songs were recorded by Roy Acuff Jr., Ernie Ashworth, Chet Atkins, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, the Everly Brothers, Marianne Faithfull, George Hamilton IV, Stonewall Jackson, Robert Mitchum, the Nashville Teens, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Sue Thompson, Johnny Tillotson, Tracey Ullman, Bobby Vee, Porter Wagoner, and others. Loudermilk was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association International's Hall of Fame in 1976.
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Scope and Content
The John D. Loudermilk collection consists of papers, photographs, audio recordings, posters, and artifacts related to the music career of North Carolina native songwriter and performer John D. Loudermilk.
Papers consist of sheet music, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia, correspondence, and other printed materials. Other papers include information pertaining to the production of Reflections, an album by Chet Atkins and Doc Watson, conceived and produced by Loudermilk. Photographs include images of John D. Loudermilk alone or with others, as well as a few images related to album covers. Audio recordings include 45s, 78s, LPs, acetate discs, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, and a reel-to-reel tape. Many of these recordings date from Loudermilk's years as a Nashville, Tenn., songwriter, and include recordings made by Roy Acuff Jr., Ernie Ashworth, Chet Atkins, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, the Everly Brothers, Marianne Faithfull, George Hamilton IV, Stonewall Jackson, Robert Mitchum, the Nashville Teens, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Sue Thompson, Johnny Tillotson, Tracey Ullman, Bobby Vee, Porter Wagoner, and others, as well as recordings made by Loudermilk as himself or under the name Johnny Dee. Posters advertise performances or venues at which Loudermilk made appearances. Artifacts include t-shirts, buttons, and other ephemera related to performances or venues at which Loudermilk appeared.
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Series Quick Links
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Series 1. Papers, 1950-1991.
Arrangement: by type.
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Subseries 1.1. Songs.
Arrangement: Folders arranged alphabetically by song title.
Published sheet music, handwritten transcriptions and parts sheets, lyrics, promotional materials, and clippings.
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Subseries 1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991.
Arrangement: Chronologically by year. Original order has been maintained where possible. Oversize clippings have been separated.
Clippings, trade magazines, images, promotional materials, letters, programs, awards, festival materials, and miscellaneous memorabilia.
| Folder 247 |
1950 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 247One clipping. |
| Folder 248 |
1951 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 248Program from junior high school graduation. |
| Folder 249 |
1953 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 249Program from a musical and minstrel show at the Durham, N.C., Chamber of Congress. |
| Folder 250 |
1954 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 250Program from high school graduation, Durham High School. |
| Folder 251 |
1957 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 251George Hamilton IV fan club magazine (first issue), citation from BMI for "A Rose and a Baby Ruth." |
| Folder 252 |
1958-1959 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 252One clipping, one flyer. |
| Folder 253 |
1962 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 253One clipping, pamphlet from the Grand Ole Opry. |
| Folder 254 |
1963 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 254Small poster, artist songbook. |
| Folder 255 |
1967 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 255NARAS certificate, letter from the White House, Grammy nomination (facsimile), BMI trade magazine. |
| Folder 256 |
1968 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 256Clippings, trade magazines, presenter instructions from NARAS ceremony. |
| Folder 257 |
1969 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 257Clippings, promotional materials, song lyrics to "I Just Want to Know About the Future." |
| Folder 258 |
1970 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 258Clippings, pamphlet to 1970 SFCRC program, trade magazines. |
| Folder 259 |
1971 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 259Letters from Wofford College and Vanderbilt (with attached photographs), contract for Wembly, UK, performance, promotional materials. |
| Folder 260 |
1972 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 260Clippings, awards show programs, small poster. |
| Folder 261 |
1973 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 261Clippings, bumper sticker from Cambridge Folk Festival, materials pertaining to the Ozark Mountain Folkfair. |
| Folder 262 |
1974 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 262Clippings, promotional materials, artist songbook, programs. |
| Folder 263 |
1975 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 263Clippings, press release, bumper sticker reading "Cajun Power." |
| Folder 264 |
1976 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 264Clippings, trade magazines, awards show programs, booklet about the Kerrville Music Festival, letter from Red Kennedy. |
| Folder 265 |
1977 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 265Clippings, awards show programs, trade magazines, letter from Frances Preston with photographs attached. |
| Folder 266 |
1979 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 266Clippings, trade magazines, awards show programs. |
| Folder 267 |
1980 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 267Clippings, Tar Heel magazine. |
| Folder 268 |
1981 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 268Clippings, folder of materials pertaining to the Southern Grassroots Music Tour. |
| Folder 269 |
1982 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 269Clippings, memo from Chet Atkins, Distinguished Alumnus Award from Campbell University. |
| Folder 270 |
1983 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 270Clippings, trade magazines, award from NARAS, materials pertaining to festival in Wembly, UK, including contracts, correspondence, work permits, and other materials. |
| Folder 271 |
1984 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 271Clippings, trade magazine. |
| Folder 272 |
1985 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 272Clippings, letter from videographer. |
| Folder 273 |
1986 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 273One clipping. |
| Folder 274 |
1987 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 274Clippings, trade magazine, programs. |
| Folder 275 |
1988 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 275Clippings, trade magazines, Aggie Award Ceremony programs, other programs. |
| Folder 276 |
1991 #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 276Clippings. |
| Folder 277 |
Undated memorabilia #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." Folder 277Clippings, trade magazines, programs, images, and other materials. |
| Oversize Paper Folder 2 |
Oversize clippings #20418, Subseries: "1.2. Memorabilia, 1950-1991." 2 |
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Subseries 1.3. Correspondence, 1961-1988.
Arrangement: Chronological.
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Subseries 1.4. Other papers.
Arrangement: By subject and format.
| Folder 279 |
Johnny Dee #20418, Subseries: "1.4. Other papers." Folder 27914 items related to Loudermilk's early career under the pseudonym Johnny Dee, including clippings, record sleeves, and promotional materials. |
| Folder 280 |
South Africa Tour #20418, Subseries: "1.4. Other papers." Folder 28047 items related to Loudermilk's tour of South Africa in 1963, including clippings, legal documents, letters, and sheet music written in Afrikaans. |
| Folder 281 |
Chet Atkins-Doc Watson Album #20418, Subseries: "1.4. Other papers." Folder 28121 items related to the Atkins-Watson album Loudermilk produced in 1980, including correspondence with both Atkins and Watson, legal documents, artistic notes, session information, and promotional materials. |
| Folder 282-283 |
Scrapbook #20418, Subseries: "1.4. Other papers." Folder 282-283Scrapbook containing clippings, flyers, photographs, and other materials from John D. Loudermilk's early career (late 1950s). |
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Series 2. Photographs.
Arrangement: By subject
| Image Folder P-20418/1 |
John D. Loudermilk #20418, Series: "2. Photographs." P-20418/181 b&w photographs, mostly 8x10, of John D. Loudermilk. |
| Image Folder P-20418/2 |
John D. Loudermilk with others. #20418, Series: "2. Photographs." P-20418/252 photographs, 1 color and 51 b&w, mostly 8x10, of John D. Loudermilk with other people, including Chet Atkins, Jimmy Dean, Harlan Howard, Willie Nelson, Frances Preston, Gunther Schuller, Merle Travis, Marijohn Wilkin, and many others. |
| Folder P-20418/3 |
Album cover photographs #20418, Series: "2. Photographs." Folder P-20418/34 b&w 8x10 photographs pertaining to the album cover for The Open Mind of John D. Loudermilk . |
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Series 3. Audio Recordings.
Arrangement: by format, roughly alphabetical by title within format. Includes:
Recordings of songs written by John D. Loudermilk and performed by him or other artists.
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Series 4. Posters and oversize images.
Posters from various performances, some promotional images.
| Extra Oversize Paper Folder X-OP-20418/1 |
Posters and oversize images #20418, Series: "4. Posters and oversize images." X-OP-20418/1 |
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Series 5. Artifacts.
| Box MU-20418/1 |
Artifacts #20418, Series: "5. Artifacts." Box MU-20418/1
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Items Separated
Processed by: Carrie Stubblefield, May-June 2007
Encoded by: Carrie Stubblefield, May-June 2007
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