I am thrilled to have had a small part in the process of this wonderful gift to UNT. It
was on the Tpin list that I first saw the availability of the
collection, and quickly hopped on the band-wagon to form a small
consortium making this gift possible.
Little did I know that out in
Sherman Texas another fine gentleman was desiring the same. After
several months of planning this great event we see it all come to
fruition, and Maynard's legacy will live on in style at UNT.
When you're out there pay a visit to the museum and check out the UNT web site for info on the Maynard legacy concerts to come. gRawlin.com
Monday, Aug 25, 2008 Posted on Sat, Aug. 23, 2008 Jazz legend Maynard Ferguson's music library is headed to UNT
By GENE TRAINOR gtrainor@star-telegram.com DENTON — Jazz legend Maynard Ferguson’s entire music library will be located at the University of North Texas, and his extensive collection of memorabilia, horns, wardrobe and awards will likely be housed at a museum in Denton, the university has announced. An anonymous donor and a foundation bought Ferguson’s estate for $600,000, UNT music professor Steve Wiest said.
The Maynard Ferguson Music Library will cover Ferguson’s career from the mid-1950s until his death, in 2006. The school was chosen because of its long history and excellence in jazz music, said James Scott, dean of UNT’s college of music. The collection will be available at the university’s music library on the fourth floor of the main Willis Library.
The collection will join that of famed band leader Stan Kenton.
About Ferguson
He was a renowned trumpet player, bandleader, composer and arranger, according to his official Web site, www.maynardferguson.com. He may be best known for his recording of Gonna Fly Now, the hit theme from the movie Rocky.
Ferguson was born in the Montreal suburb of Verdun on May 4, 1928. He recorded more than 60 albums and film soundtracks, including the biblical epic The Ten Commandments. He died at 78 from complications from an abdominal infection.
Wiest, who played trombone in Ferguson’s band from 1981 to 1985, said his boss never isolated himself from his band.
"He had one gear, and that was wide open," Wiest said. "He approached everything with a joy that I think is pretty rare."
The collection
UNT will receive Ferguson’s sheet music, scores and other music documents, Scott said. The collection will include original handwritten parts and scores and complete published sets of music that are no longer in print.
Denton officials and the Collins-Binkley Foundation, which helped acquire the collection, are working out details of where the memorabilia will be housed, UNT officials said.
Kim Ferguson Exon, Ferguson’s daughter, said in a statement that UNT provided some of her father’s best musicians and that the family is thrilled that others can study and perform his music.
Other details
The Ferguson collection is en route from a warehouse in Ojai, Calif., Wiest said. The public will be able to view but not borrow scores and documents, said Morris Martin, head music librarian. Some copies for educational purposes might be made available by request, Scott said.
Where: Willis Library, 1506 W. Highland St.
Hours: Beginning Monday, 7:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 7:30 a.m.-midnight Fridays; 9 a.m.-midnight Saturdays; and 1 p.m.-2 a.m. Sundays. Hours this weekend will be shorter.
Call 940-565-2860 or visit www.library.unt.edu for information.
Listen online Listen to audio samples from the jazz great’s collection at www.maynardferguson.com. Click on "Multimedia."
The Maynard Ferguson Music Library and Memorabilia Find a Home at UNT! By Kim Ferguson Exon
The entire music library of jazz legend and trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and the extensive collection of his lifetime of memorabilia, horns, wardrobe, awards, and much more have just found a brand new home. The Ferguson Family is delighted to announce that Maynard's decades of big band and small band charts will soon be housed at The University of North Texas, alongside the historically significant library of Stan Kenton, one of Maynard's dearest fellow bandleaders and the giant who introduced him to America in the early 1950's.
At the same time, the entire MF Collection is en route to Bill Collins III of the Collins-Binkley Foundation, destined to be the focus of a newly unveiled Jazz Museum in Denton, Texas. Orchestrating this perfect score, together with the Ferguson's, was Steve Wiest, currently the interim director of the One O'Clock Lab Band at UNT. Through his understated perseverance and vision, Wiest made this fantasy a reality.
Steve's first hand knowledge of this library unfolded in the 1980's when, as lead trombone and composer for Maynard for many years, he had the joy and privilege to perform many of these charts with one of the hottest bands on the planet, and to get to know the man himself. Wiest had an emotional moment, when, upon inspecting the collection, found his own original notes and compositions still in the music book in storage since shortly after he had left the band in the 80's. He considers himself blessed for the experience, as do so many who passed through the jazz wing of UNT.
For many years, whenever Maynard needed a new band member, the first call would go to Neil Slater, the director of Jazz at UNT for 3 decades, who only recently retired. North Texas was one of Maynard's favorite schools, always delivering some of the best musicians and resulting in a long list of MF Band alumnus. The Ferguson Family is thrilled to see Maynard's library being launched for a second career where others will have the opportunity to study, experience, and perform the charts that were the identity of Maynard Ferguson, and continue the legacy of a man who brought tremendous joy to the world with his infectious power and passion for life.
And here is some comments from Steve Wiest:
Thanks so much for all the congratulations and good words! I am so very thrilled that this deal worked out. We here at UNT are so very excited to have this incredible collection of music added to our library. Some of my all-time favorite writers, mentors and heroes will now have a home for their music, such as: Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky, Mike Abene, Bill Holman, Marty Paitch, Willie Maiden, Denis DiBlasio (can you say "Dance of the Glowtoads"?), and on-and-on it goes!
Of course, we will be looking forward to bringing this music to life on a regular basis with all of the Lab Bands, but there will be SO much more that will be associated with this! We are now in the planning stages for a big tribute concert that will feature the One O'Clock Lab Band and MF/UNT Alum. In fact, we just might do that on a regular basis! As soon as the plans are firm, I will announce it here on this site, as well as our jazz studies UNT site. So, stay tuned!
Bill Collins' plans for the museum are very exciting as well. ALL of the memorabilia will be on display and available for you all to see, hear, and enjoy. Plus, we are going to be selling PDFs of the original music via this website, and other publishing companies on a yearly basis.
Our goal is to keep Maynard's legacy alive for all to enjoy. It is my profound honor to give back in this way to the man who has given me so very much. Congratulations Boss! Welcome home, and Namaste!
I am thrilled to have had a small part in the process of this wonderful gift to UNT. 
Links to some great Maynard Ferguson video clips:
