April 5, 2006 Library of Congress to Announce Fourth Annual National Recording Registry on April 11

WHAT: The Library of Congress will announce the fourth annual selection of the 50 historic sound recordings to be added to the National Recording Registry during a news conference. A press package, including a CD-ROM of selected audio clips and complementary images, will be available at the briefing.

A media repository will be activated at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, for the media to download MP3 files of registry audio clips and sound bites, as well as electronic printed materials and images. The National Recording Registry media Web page will be active for seven days.

The Library will also announce the discovery and preservation of a previously unknown recording of one of the world’s most celebrated jazz instrumentalists.

Celebrity guests at the event will include Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas, Bob Hendrix, cousin of legendary musician Jimi Hendrix, and members of the Firesign Theatre, the renowned comedy troupe known as the “Beatles of Comedy,” who will perform a five-minute comedy routine.

Press conference participants and members of the National Recording Preservation Board will be available for interviews at the conclusion of the program.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 11

WHERE: Members’ Room, first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. Enter the building on the ground level.

WHO: Martha Reeves, former lead singer of the classic Motown group Martha and the Vandellas and currently a member of the Detroit City Council

Bob Hendrix, vice president, Experience Hendrix

Firesign Theatre, renowned “Beatles of Comedy” troupe

Deanna Marcum, associate librarian for Library Services, Library of Congress

Gregory Lukow, chief, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division

BACKGROUND

The National Recording Registry (https://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/nrpb-nrr.html) was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-474) “to maintain and preserve sound recordings and collections of sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The purpose of the registry is to draw attention to the critical need to preserve and restore America’s recorded sound heritage. This heritage is threatened by the deterioration of most of the recording media invented in the last 100 years, including modern audiotape.

The Library’s Recorded Sound Section holds 2.8 million sound recordings. At last year’s National Recording Registry news conference, the Library announced that historically significant concert tapes, featuring the legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk and iconic saxophonist John Coltrane, had been uncovered in the Library’s recorded sound collection during preparation for preservation.