THE 1st GENERATION PROJECT

Terry Stewart, President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame amd Museum has contracted with Mark del Costello as a consultant to assist the "RRHFM" in augmenting and expanding its collection and database of information and materials related to the "First Generation" of Rock n' Roll. Terry Stewart has been a long time collector of records and memorabilia and has a special interest and affinity for R&B, Doo Wop, Rockabilly and the musicians and artists who created and invented Rock n' Roll. He's envisioned the new RRHFM archive and library as a major source of information for students, researchers and historians about the all important "First Generation" of Rock n' Roll. 

Mark del Costello started collecting records in the late 1950s and has been - like many collectors  - a historian of R&B music for over 35 years. Professionally he has an unusual combination of interests and abilities - in Concert Production since 1968; a B.A. Degree in History [Archeology];  a Masters Degree in Film from NYU; a Televison and Film  producer, director and writer since 1978, a professional photographer since 1970, Senior Cataloguer/Assistant Curator at the Museum of Modern Art for almost four years and also has been passionately involved in the documenting the history of American Music since the 1960s.

The object of this agreement is for Mark and Black Swan to help accumulate original or copies of materials such as taped interviews and live performances; photographs; original documentation, contracts, letters etc.; posters and ephemera - anything and everything that relates to the important stories and histories of the singers, musicians, producers and executives of the First Generation of Rock n' Roll. Mark with the help and cooperation of fellow historians is conducting interviews with dozens of singers, musicians and executives who were important to the music of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. This is an ongoing effort - we're starting in Philadelphia and will soon be starting in NYC shortly. Over the next 2  years we hope to interview on videotape over 200 singers, musicians etc.

Many collectors and historians have been concerned about what will happen to their life's work in the future. Until now interest in their work and collections from major archives and museums has been minimal. It's seemed like the only ones who cared about this vital history of American music and culture were - well - those of us who've been doing this work for decades. - the 'amateur' collector and historian

It's the private collectors and historians who started this work often as teenagers who've dedicated their lives to this music and the singers who created it. And their work and efforts were not amateurish! It was the generation of fans and collectors who documented this important part of American culture while the 'professional's ignored it.Well, now it looks like there is an institution that is taking what the 'professionals' in the  music field have long ignored. That institution is the Rock n' Roll Hall  of Fame and Museum. The Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has a new library opening in 2009 and it's imperative that it has an ample collection of information and data on the First Generation of Rock n' Roll in its archive and database.

Many of those who love vocal groups and R&B of the 1940s and 1950s have been concerned by the meager representation of vocal groups in the Hall of Fame. Well, that's the politics of marketing etc. In 50 and 100 years some 18 year old doing a term paper on the Doo Wop groups from NY may wonder why the Harptones weren't inducted into the Hall of Fame. But, they will be able to find a lot of historical information, photos and live performances in the Hall of Fame's Archive and Library - and that's what's really important. Museums are tourist attractions. Libraries are where the tourist can go to learn about the music, the singers and musicians who created the music.

So, if the singers we admire aren't 'inducted' officially into the Hall of Fame, we can certainly insure that they are represented in a major way. YOU CAN INDUCT THEM by making sure their stories and histories are archived.

The project is called the "FIRST GENERATION" project and will focus on the artists, producers, deejays and other folks involved with the First Generation of Rock and Roll and prior eras.

This is a collaborative project and involves a great number of collectors, historians, artists and music related folks. The list is extensive and will be growing. Charlie & Pam Horner, Todd Baptista, Bobby Diskin, Lou Rallo, Carl Tancredi, Steve Applebaum, Val Shively, Bob Bosco and others are involved. Join us if you have something to contribute. All are welcome to participate. You can have your own "COLLECTION" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and get a tax write-off too. 

                              INDUCT YOURSELF INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME!

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CASTELLES & PHILLY DOCUMENTARIES

• I am now working on a documentary film not only about the CASTELLES but it turns out about the amazing Junior High School class of 1954 of Sulzberger Junior High School in Philadelphia which also included the Dreams, Angels, Cherokees, Solomon Burke, Weldon MacDougal & The Larks and members of Lee Andrews & The Hearts!
• I am working on this project with Charlie and Pam Horner and we've done interviews with Billy Taylor, Wes Hayes, Walt Miller and George Grant, which were tremendous - lots of great stories and heretofore unknown information. The also correct a number of errors that exist in the published 'histories' of the Castelles. Last week George Grant came in from Arizona and we did a lot of videotaping with him and some of the other guys in their old neighorhood, schools and interviews in the studio. We videotaped the childhood homes of George, Billy, Octavius, Clarence Scott, George Tindley, Sonny Gordon, Solomon Burke and also places that played an important part of their lives like Treegoobs record store and a number of places where they sang and rehearsed.
• Also Weldon MacDougal [who sang with the Castelles], Clarence Scott, Herb Slotkin and Jerry Ragavoy have agreed to interviews and we're hopeful that Octavius Anthony will sit for an interview. We're lining up interviews with virtually every living Philly singer including Solomon Burke!

• Research on the Hideaways is going well. In additional to the family of AGATHIA ATKINS I've contacted two more families. We'll see where this goes. It's possible that at least one of the group is still alive.

• More Burlington Concerts in 2009? Hopefully two more at least - but that's up to you the fans. There are more then 30 groups that haven't been seen in decades waiting and willing to sing again. More info later.