Skip to main content

Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels Recordings,

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2016-002

Scope and Content

This collection contains recordings made by Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels, a Virginia Tech dance orchestra. Included are seven original 1946 acetate recordings of the orchestra performing at the Marine Room on Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Also included is a 2014 compact disc containing digital conversions of the original recordings.

Dates

  • 1946 - 2014

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels Recordings must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Historical Note

The origin of the Southern Colonels, a Virginia Tech dance orchestra, can be traced to 1918, when student Dayton Rice Taylor founded the Southern Syncopating Saxophone Six with five other students. After the early departure of one member, the band renamed itself the Virginia Tech Jazz Orchestra and was also known as the College Six. A popular fixture at campus functions, the group renamed itself again in 1922, becoming the Collegians. By 1931, the band had expanded to a nine-piece orchestra and in an attempt to be more distinctive ranamed itself yet again, as The Southern Colonels.

The Southern Colonels disbanded during World War II, but drummer Mel Feldenheimer helped to reassemble the band when he returned to campus in 1944, following his service in World War II. The orchestra quickly regained its popularity, performing at Virginia Tech and other colleges. During 1946 and 1947, the orchestra toured the southern states as Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels, with Feldenheimer as bandleader. The orchestra was featured in a weekly radio broadcast on Charleston, South Carolina's WCSC (now WSPO) while performing on the nearby Isle of Palms.

Extent

0.5 Cubic Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Recordings of Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels dance orchestra, including seven original 1946 acetate recordings from the Marine Room of Isle of Palms, South Carolina, together with a 2014 compact disc containing digital conversions from the original recordings.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by format, then by date.

Acquisition Information

The Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels Recordings were donated to Special Collections in 2014.

Related Materials

Melvin Feldenheimer Collection, Ms2008-083. Finding aid available online.

Physical Characteristics

0.5 cu. ft. 1 box

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels Recordings commenced and was completed in January, 2016.

Title
A Guide to the Mel Felton and the Southern Colonels Recordings, 1946-2014
Subtitle
A collection in Special Collections.
Status
Completed
Author
John M. Jackson
Date
©2016 By Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved.
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308