Mr. Barnett, About a year ago, I presented a program for the Texas
Chapter of AMICA titled "Max Kortlander: Life on a Roll". It occurs to
me that some of the information sources I used in preparing my program
may be of some use to you.
The vast majority of my information came from the Billings Rollography.
However, I also used biographical information found in the liner notes
for the LP recording "The Piano Roll Artistry of Max Kortlander", found
in my local library. I do not know where these two sources got their
information.
Also, I seem to recall one of the chapters of AMICA (Pacific Can-Am?)
having a Max Kortlander program of some kind in the past. I found a
meeting report for that chapter in the January/February AMICA bulletin
that mentions that a Walt Jones had attended a meeting, and that he was
Kortlander's nephew. In the same report it was mentioned that former
QRS recording artist Harry Blond had attended, and brought a video of
the 1956 TV show "You Asked For It". The particular episode was a
walking tour of the QRS plant in the Bronx hosted by Kortlander.
In the course of my research, I recall someone (perhaps in the MMD)
telling me about a fellow he knew of (in Florida???) who had lots of
Kortlander's personal and business correspondence. I did not contact
that person, because my program was too quickly approaching to be able
to use any information I might have obtained.
Finally, I do have a piece of sheet music composed by Max Kortlander
& Pete Wendling you're welcome to borrow, if you can use it. The title
escapes me right now, as it is on loan to a friend.
I'm very pleased to find you're writing about Max Kortlander; he is
well deserving of critical attention.
Regards,
Bryan Cather
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