Reference

General Information

This page by Bob Crispen has a brief biography, a classified discography based on a number of different resources, sound clips, lists of links to other Kenton-related sites (including an extensive list of sites not devoted exclusively to Kenton, but many of which contain useful peripheral information about him), and lists of links to sites for various Kenton sidemen (and women).

Compiled by Kenton's publicist Noel Wedder, this page has an impassioned, well-organized, and informative biography which addresses each era of the Kenton bands, a list of outstanding Kenton Orchestra soloists, a list of Kenton's composers and arrangers, a history of Kenton's mellophonium section, an article on the Kenton band clinics, an itinerary from the Orchestra's 1963 tour of England, and links to other sites related to the Kenton Orchestras and their members. Wedder also includes many entertaining anecdotes and personal insights.

www.StanKentonShow.com
 This page is from Jerry Haendiges Productions and offers a wide variety of 
 information and resources about The Stan Kenton Show, airing in 1952-53.  The   
 site  includes radio logs, listening samples, and information about performers and
 songs performed by the Kenton Band.

Biographies

Jack McKinney's very detailed overview of Kenton's career is based on a series of interviews he conducted with Kenton. 

An "online encyclopedia of lounge, big band, classic jazz, and space age sounds," this site gives a brief biography of Kenton.

This site provides a narrative chronology of Kenton's career and influences. 

This biography of Kenton includes links to biographies of several band members and collaborators as well.

 Radio 3 has provided a brief overview of Kenton's career that includes a clip of "Concerto to End All Concertos."

Discographies

The personnel in Kenton's bands during Pepper's tenure are well-documented in this detailed discography of Art Pepper's recordings with big bands.

Compiled by Michael Sparke and Pete Venudor, authors of Stan Kenton: The Studio Sessions, this discography is alphabetical by label name and is updated regularly.

The All Music Guide gives Kenton its full treatment with brief biographical information, a discography, and links to musicians who worked with, influenced, and were influenced by Kenton.

http://www.jazz.com/dozens/the-dozens-twelve-essential-stan-kenton-performances    Hosted on jazz.com, this top twelve list of Stan Kenton performances also provides discographical information for each recording, including a list of performers.

Articles

A Michael Sparke article on the Innovations Orchestra.

Among the special collections at California State University, Los Angeles, is the Stan Kenton Collection of Musical Recordings and Personal Papers donated by Mrs. Stanley (Audree Coke) Kenton.

The Library of Congress's contribution to a National Digital Library, the American Memory Project provides digital access to a wide variety of materials related to the history and culture of the United States.  The Stan Kenton portion of the Gottlieb archive offers over one hundred images of Kenton and his fellow musicians.

Michael Boyd's well-researched essay provides an analysis of Kenton's style giving special attention to the eras of the Kenton bands. He also includes accompanying sound clips, a bibliography, and a discography.

Kenton scholar Terry Vosbein provides access to articles he's written about Kenton and Kenton contributors.  Scroll to the bottom of this site to find Kenton pictures and programs.

http://bjbear71.com/Winding/kai-kenton.html
  Essay about the influence of trombonist Kai Winding on the Stan Kenton Band by   
  Mike Suter.

www.jazzwax.com/2008/06/interview-chris.html
  Interviews with Bill Holman and Chris Connor posted on Jazz Wax conducted by 
  blogger Marc Meyers