William Savory
Encyclopedia
William Savory , (also known as "Bill Savory") was an audio engineer known for his extensive private recordings of important jazz musicians in the 1930s, and for his contributions to recording technology. A musician who developed an interest in sound engineering, Savory began building his own recording devices in the mid-1930s. Savory was involved with the team led by Columbia Records
engineer William Bachman
that succeeded in bringing the first 33⅓ rpm long-playing record albums to market in 1948. A master of the art of disc cutting, Savory made the first transfers from disk to tape to LP master. Among these were the on-site recordings of the historic January 16, 1938, Benny Goodman
concert at Carnegie Hall
in New York City
, which has been described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history." He also developed the technique for cutting the masters of 78 rpm recordings that were being transferred to the new format.
Savory was born William Alcott Savory of French and Italian parents aboard the ocean liner Mauretania
. He played the piano
and the saxophone
. He grew up in New Jersey and Southern California. He was married to Helen Ward
, a former singer in Benny Goodman
's band.
Savory specialized in transcribing live performances off the air for radio networks and advertisers, and recorded a large number of radio broadcasts which featured American jazz
musicians, classical musicians, and spoken word
broadcasts in the 1930s
. The radio recordings of the live broadcasts, made before the introduction of tape, were known to only a handful of people until they were acquired by the National Jazz Museum in Harlem in 2010. They were recorded on 12- or 16-inch discs, made of aluminum or acetate. Because they were recorded at speeds of 33⅓ rpm, Savory was able to record longer performances than were previously available on 10-inch 78 rpm shellac discs, which could capture only about three minutes of music.
During World War II, Savory was assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory, helped to develop radar for all-weather fighter aircraft, and served as a test and combat pilot. Savory later worked as a defense contractor in the Washington , DC, area, on electronic communications and surveillance devices designed to pick up audio and data signals. According to his son, Eugene Desavouret, Savory was “a spook" (agent), connected with the CIA."
The National Jazz Museum has begun digitizing recordings of performances by Louis Armstrong
, Benny Goodman
, Billie Holiday
, Count Basie
, Coleman Hawkins
, Lester Young
, Bunny Berigan
, Harry James
and many others. However, the copyright status of the collection is unclear because there was no arrangement for distribution of copies in contracts between performers and radio stations in the 1930s, according to June M. Besek, executive director of the Kernochan Center for Law, Media and the Arts at the Columbia University School of Law.
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
engineer William Bachman
William Bachman
William T. Bachman was a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.-References:...
that succeeded in bringing the first 33⅓ rpm long-playing record albums to market in 1948. A master of the art of disc cutting, Savory made the first transfers from disk to tape to LP master. Among these were the on-site recordings of the historic January 16, 1938, Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
concert at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, which has been described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history." He also developed the technique for cutting the masters of 78 rpm recordings that were being transferred to the new format.
Savory was born William Alcott Savory of French and Italian parents aboard the ocean liner Mauretania
RMS Mauretania (1906)
RMS Mauretania was an ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend, Tyne and Wear for the British Cunard Line, and launched on 20 September 1906. At the time, she was the largest and fastest ship in the world. Mauretania became a favourite among...
. He played the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. He grew up in New Jersey and Southern California. He was married to Helen Ward
Helen Ward (jazz singer)
Helen Ward was an American singer. Her father had taught her piano, and she appeared on radio broadcasts with WOR and WNYC...
, a former singer in Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
's band.
Savory specialized in transcribing live performances off the air for radio networks and advertisers, and recorded a large number of radio broadcasts which featured American jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musicians, classical musicians, and spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
broadcasts in the 1930s
1930s
File:1930s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Dorothea Lange's photo of the homeless Florence Thompson show the effects of the Great Depression; Due to the economic collapse, the farms become dry and the Dust Bowl spreads through America; The Battle of Wuhan during the Second Sino-Japanese...
. The radio recordings of the live broadcasts, made before the introduction of tape, were known to only a handful of people until they were acquired by the National Jazz Museum in Harlem in 2010. They were recorded on 12- or 16-inch discs, made of aluminum or acetate. Because they were recorded at speeds of 33⅓ rpm, Savory was able to record longer performances than were previously available on 10-inch 78 rpm shellac discs, which could capture only about three minutes of music.
During World War II, Savory was assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory, helped to develop radar for all-weather fighter aircraft, and served as a test and combat pilot. Savory later worked as a defense contractor in the Washington , DC, area, on electronic communications and surveillance devices designed to pick up audio and data signals. According to his son, Eugene Desavouret, Savory was “a spook" (agent), connected with the CIA."
The National Jazz Museum has begun digitizing recordings of performances by Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
, Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn"...
, Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
, Bunny Berigan
Bunny Berigan
Rowland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan was an American jazz trumpeter who rose to fame during the swing era, but whose virtuosity and influence were shortened by a losing battle with alcoholism that ended in his early death at age 33. He composed the jazz instrumentals "Chicken and Waffles" and "Blues"...
, Harry James
Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
and many others. However, the copyright status of the collection is unclear because there was no arrangement for distribution of copies in contracts between performers and radio stations in the 1930s, according to June M. Besek, executive director of the Kernochan Center for Law, Media and the Arts at the Columbia University School of Law.