Don Roseland Collection

Collection

Identifier: Mss 372

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Don Roseland Collection consists of items kept by his widow Audrey Roseland-Scott, giving a glimpse into his musical career, primarily at the national level including composing music, performing and appearing in Hollywood movies. The collection has been organized by the format of the material, into five series: Sheet music, Music arrangements, Subject files, 78 rpm phonograph records and Audio & Film tapes. The Sheet Music Series consists of four songs for which Don Roseland either composed the music or was done in collaboration with others. The sheet music spans from 1948 to 1954. The titles include Broke, Barefoot and Starry-Eyed, Don’t Say Goodbye When You Go, Flo from St. Joe, Mo., and Hit and Run Affair. The Music Arrangements Series consists of four songs composed by Roseland. Each is a single sheet, some are original handwritten items. The titles include God Is, God Knows, God Does, He’s Never More Than Just a Touch Away, Nothing is Impossible, and Nothing is Impossible, which is the earliest item in the collection, copyrighted in 1944. The Subject File Series includes only a single item, an issue of the Fabulous Las Vegas weekly publication which features an advertisement for The Three Dons and Ginny which had been performing at the Flamingo Hotel. The item includes a photograph of Don, Eddy, Buddy and Ginny Greer. The 78 rpm Phonograph Record Series consists of three original 78 rpm records. Two of them were published by Coral Records and have printed on the label „Sample Copy, Not for Sale.‟ All are vocal performances by The Three Dons and Ginny with orchestra or musical accompaniment. The Audio & Film Tape Series is an eclectic collection of item recording performances by The Three Dons and Ginny and Don Roseland. The information found in the folder listing was taken from the original item or container.

Dates

1944-1981

Creator

Roseland, Don. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to items in this collection is held by the Institute only if owned by Audrey Roseland Scott.

Biography

Donald Dean Roseland was born January 27, 1920 in Kanabec County, Minnesota to Abraham and Stella (Olson) Roseland. The family moved to Fargo, N.D. where Don graduated from high school in 1938. He received his musical education at the Concordia College Conservatory of Music, in Moorhead, Minn. He began his musical career at the age of fifteen when he and a partner were winners of the network radio show „The Major Bows Amateur Hour.‟ He also worked at Fargo‟s WDAY Radio as a piano player. He played with various bands and groups throughout the United States before moving to Hollywood. There his music career included hotel and nightclub engagements, recordings, motion pictures, television and song writing. Don became known for his nightclub act called „The Three Dons and Ginny‟ and they produced a number or recordings. Don was a composer and pianist, also appearing in a number of Hollywood movies as a piano player, including the movies A Foreign Affair, The Big Sleep, Here comes the Waves, and My Reputation among others. In 1959 he returned to Fargo and began appearing on WDAY-TV where he was the pianist on WDAY‟s local television program, Party Line. He married Verna S. Newell on May 5, 1962 in Clay County, Minn. and were later divorced. He returned to California where he married Karen Y. Vonottenfel on July 3, 1970 in Los Angeles and were later divorced. On July 2, 1978 he married Fargo native Audrey Nellermoe in San Diego. Don died September 20, 1989 in Palm Desert, California. He was survived by his wife Audrey and daughter RoJean.