| Abstract |
Mr. Bullock describes his background and training at the Westminster Choir College, his efforts to organize community choruses in rural North Carolina towns, the development and performances of the Eastern Carolina Symphonic Choral Association, and its transformation into the North Carolina Symphonic Choir. He also provides insights into the Choir's tours to New York and California and its 1942 Victory Tour, his induction into the U.S. Army, and his formation of military choirs during World War II, culminating in the development of the International Male Chorus. In interview #2 Mr. Bullock discusses the International Male Chorus, its return to the United States, and its performances at hospitals in California before being discharged from the Army. He completes his memoir by discussing the formation of the American Male Chorus, its performance at Carnegie Hall in 1947, its National Good Will Tour, and the eventual disbanding of the chorus in 1954. Interviews #3 and #4 are not interviews but are instead performances (ca. 1942-1943) of the North Carolina Symphonic Choir. Included are "The Messiah" and 32 folk songs, patriotic songs, and spirituals. Interview #5 (ca. 1996) is actually reminiscences by Lewis S. Bullock concerning his musical experiences in the U.S. Army during World War II, history of the International Male Chorus (1945-1954), and the American Male Chorus goodwill tour. |
| General note | Interviewer: Donald R. Lennon. Interview dates: April 10, 1992 and Februrary 23, 1996. |
| Access restriction | No access restrictions. |
| Cite as |
Lewis S. Bullock Oral History Interview (#OH0134), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA. |
| Terms of use | Repository does not own copyright to the oral history collection. Permission to cite, reproduce, or broadcast must be obtained from both the repository and the participants in the oral history, or their heirs. |
| Acquisitions source |
Joyner- Gift of Lewis S. Bullock. |
| Biographical note | Lewis S. Bullock, a native of Detroit, Michigan, grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he attended Western State Teachers College for a year and then graduated from Westminster Choir College in Ithaca, New York, and later Princeton, New Jersey. In the mid-1930s after his college days, he was invited to Eastern North Carolina to organize community choruses in rural North Carolina towns. Then he developed and conducted the Eastern Carolina Symphonic Choral Association which became the North Carolina Symphonic Choir; this choir toured in New York and California and held a 1942 Victory Tour. After the Victory Tour, he was inducted in the U.S. Army where he formed several military choirs during World War II, culminating in the development of the International Male Chorus. After the war ended, this choir returned to the United States and performed at hospitals in California before the members were discharged from the Army. Mr. Bullock then formed the American Male Chorus which played at Carnegie Hall in 1947 and had a National Good Will Tour before it disbanded in 1954. |
