Weston, Randy: Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral histories: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids

Scope and Contents

In this interview, Randy Weston remembers his first performance at the Billie Holiday Theatre. He discusses the importance of music in African-American history. Weston recalls a number of influential musicians he has known and collaborated with throughout his life. He identifies several musicians and family members in a photograph, as well as a poster from a performance at the Billie Holiday Theatre. Interview conducted by Sady Sullivan.

Biographical / Historical

Randy Weston was born in New York City in 1926. A celebrated American jazz pianist, composer, and band leader, he grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Weston's jazz career took off as be began playing with national jazz figures. In 2001 he received a National Endowment for the Arts lifetime honor as a Jazz Master.

Conditions Governing Access and Use

Access to the interview is available onsite at the Brooklyn Historical Society's Othmer Library and online on the Oral History Portal. Use of the oral histories other than for private study, scholarship, or research requires permission from BHS by contacting library@brooklynhistory.org.

Subjects

Organizations

Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation

Topics

Places

Bedford-Stuyvesant (New York, N.Y.); Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)

Weston, Randy, 2008 January 22, inclusive