Kip Lornell and Charles Stephenson Washington Go-Go collection
Collection Scope and Content
This collection contains correspondence, promotional materials, clippings, interviews, photographs, slides, audio cassette tapes, electronic records, and other materials. The material dates from 1978-2008, and was collected by Kip Lornell and Charles Stephenson in the course of their research on go-go music. The materials document the evolution of go-go and the cultural and political role of go-go in Washington, D.C. Go-go originated in Washington, D.C. in the 1970s. It is a subgenre of funk, and is characterized by continuous complex rhythm arrangements and crowd call and response. The term "go-go" refers both to the style of music and the venue in which music is performed. In the 1980's, go-go became associated with drugs and violence, and many go-go clubs were closed in Washington, D.C.
Dates
- 1978-2008
Creator
- Lornell, Kip (Person)
- Stephenson, Charles C. (Person)
Restrictions on Access
The collection is open for research.
Restrictions on Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Historical or Biographical Note
Christopher "Kip" Lornell (b. 1953) and Charles Stephenson are the authors of the book "The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk and Hip-Hop." Lornell is a noted ethnomusicologist, and a professor in The George Washington University's Department of Music. He received his Bachelor of Science in Cultural Sciences in 1975 from State University of New York Empire State College, his Master of Arts in Folklore in 1976 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Ph. D. in Ethnomusicology (Regional American Music) in 1983 from University of Memphis. Stephenson is a cultural and political activist in Washington, D.C., and a strong advocate for go-go music. He was the manager of the influential go-go group Experience Unlimited. He works as an associate in the management consulting firm of Dellums & Associates.
Extent
4 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection contains correspondence, promotional materials, clippings, interviews, photographs, slides, audio cassette tapes, electronic records, and other materials. The material dates from 1978-2008, and was collected by Kip Lornell and Charles Stephenson in the course of their research on go-go music. The materials document the evolution of go-go and the cultural and political role of go-go in Washington, D.C. Go-go originated in Washington, D.C. in the 1970s. It is a subgenre of funk, and is characterized by continuous complex rhythm arrangements and crowd call and response. The term "go-go" refers both to the style of music and the venue in which music is performed.
Collection Organization
Organized into five series: Papers, Images, Audiocassettes, Electronic records and 2014 donation.
Acquisition Information
The collection was donated by Kip Lornell and Charles Stephenson in 2002. A second donation by Kip Lornell came to the library in 2014.
Reparative Description Projects
This finding aid was revised in March 2023 to address harmful descriptive language. During that revision, staff edited the Collection Level Biographical/Historical Note and the Scope and Contents notes of Series 3 and Series 4. To see the description prior to revisions, please view the previous version of the Kip Lornell and Charles Stephenson Washington Go-Go collection.
- Audiocassettes Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Color slides Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Go-go (music) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lornell, Kip
- Music Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Musicians Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Performances Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Stephenson, Charles C.
- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Kip Lornell and Charles Stephenson Washington Go-Go collection, 1978-2008
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2016
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
