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Vince Bell collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS 674
Finding aid note: Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains news clippings, fliers, journals, photographs, business records, audio, and other items chronicling the musical history of Vince Bell. There are also materials relating to his autobiographies.

Dates

  • 1960s-2016

Conditions Governing Access

Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish from this material must be obtained from Vince Bell.

Biographical / Historical

Starting in 1970, Houston-native Vince Bell began playing folk music in clubs across Houston, including Sand Mountain Coffee House, the Old Quarter, Anderson Fair Retail Restaurant, as well as larger venues like Liberty Hall and local universities. He also went on to play the U.S. coffee house circuit.

In the mid-1970s, he spent his time living in both Austin and Houston forming bands and playing solo. In 1980, he worked on the rock ballet “Bermuda Triangle” with James Clouser for the Space/Dance/Theater. The ballet premiered in Houston at the Miller Outdoor Theater in May 1980.

After recording in an Austin studio, on December 21, 1982, he was hit by a drunk driver. The accident damaged his right arm, caused a severe brain injury, and he had a partially paralyzed vocal chord. After the accident, he worked over the next decade to rebuild his life and play the guitar again. This led him to develop a unique picking style and to write new music for his singing voice.

In 1994, he released his first album, “Phoenix,” to wide critical acclaim. He went on tour with The Jayhawks throughout the U.S. and in Europe. He followed this up with, “Texas Plates” (1999), “Live in Texas” (2001), “Recado” (2007), and “One Man’s Music” (2009), and the DVD “New Lamps for Old". His songs have been covered by Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Little Feat, Trout Fishing in America, among others.

He later chronicled his life in two independently published autobiographies, which were later re-published as one book entitled “One Man’s Music: The Life and Times of Texas Songwriter Vince Bell” by University of North Texas Press.

Extent

7 Linear Feet (6 boxes)

3.04 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_001 (3.04 GB))

0.439 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_002 (0.439 GB))

20.4 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_003 (20.4 GB))

1.91 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_004 (1.91 GB))

24.3 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_005 (24.3 GB))

25.4 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_006 (25.4 GB))

25.5 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_007 (25.5 GB))

25.2 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_008 (25.2 GB))

24.7 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_009 (24.7 GB))

2.68 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_010 (2.68 GB))

12.1 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_011 (12.1 GB))

21.5 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_012 (21.5 GB))

8.54 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_013 (8.54 GB))

12.0 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_014 (12.0 GB))

23.3 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_015 (23.3 GB))

22.4 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_016 (22.4 GB))

6.14 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_017 (6.14 GB))

5.95 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_018 (5.95 GB))

13.1 Gigabytes (Nearline access: MS0674aip_019 (13.1 GB))

Language of Materials

English

Overview

This collection contains news clippings, fliers, journals, photographs, business records, audio, and other items chronicling the musical history of Vince Bell.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Vince Bell in November 2016.

Accruals

Additional materials are expected for this collection.

Related Materials

Please see the Rice University KTRU Radio records, UA 011.
Title
Guide to the Vince Bell collection, 1960s-2016
Status
Unprocessed Addenda
Author
Norie Guthrie
Date
2016
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA