We are fortunate to have a group of experienced and dedicated volunteers who have laid the groundwork for IEF during the past five years.  Some are past board members, some are helping with the direction of the organization, and some continue to build their collections of artifacts, memorabilia and knowledge to help tell Indiana’s story.  Want to be on this list?  Get in touch and become “one of us”.  We need you!

Ralph Adams has been a fixture of the Indianapolis jazz scene for several decades.  Originally from Chicago, one of Ralph’s great memories is co-promoting a concert by a very early version of the Jackson Five (well before Michael).  Ralph’s jazz radio career has included stints at WICR-FM, WIAN-FM (pre WFYI), Jazz-City.com,  and currently on Big Car’s FM station WQRT-FM (99.1).  The Ralph Adams Lifetime Achievement Awards and the Wes Fest, honoring Wes Montgomery, are two of his ongoing projects.

Kyle Barnett is an Associate Professor in Media Studies and Director of Graduate Programs in Bellarmine University’s Department of Communication. His book is “Record Cultures: the Transformation of the U.S. Recording Industry” (University of Michigan Press, February 2020) won the 2021 ARSC Award of Excellence for Best Historic Research.

Tim Cox is the pre-eminent expert on Indiana garage rock from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.  His blog has documented many Indiana garage rock artists and musicians, along the way attracting band members and family who have provided extensive knowledge and priceless artifacts.

 

Tom Fontaine owns one of the most extensive collections of rock and pop memorabilia in the US.  He has the only surviving original tape machine from Sun Studios, along with thousands of rare items associated with The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Buddy Holly, and so many more.  Tom has authored two books on memorabilia collecting; visit his website to learn more.

Leslie Lynton Fuller is a core member of the Indianapolis jazz scene, where she manages social media for the Indianapolis Jazz Fest and others.  One of Leslie’s projects is The Indiana Avenue Newspaper, a virtual newspaper that honors the important jazz heritage of the city.

Eric Grayson (aka Dr. Film) is a prominent film preservationist; often he works directly with the Smithsonian and other large institutions to restore rare film.  Two of his recent projects were “Little Orphant Annie”, a 1918 film of the James Whitcomb Riley book that features the only known footage of Riley himself, and “The Milan Miracle”, restored original footage of the 1954 Indiana high school basketball championship on which the Hollywood blockbuster “Hoosiers” was based.  Visit his website to learn more.

Matt Malloy teaches history at New Augusta Public Academy North in Indianapolis. Matt’s history interests include Indiana recordings, and he has an extensive collection of Indiana vinyl LP’s.  He has located some that few knew existed and is a regular contributor to Indiana Musicpedia.

John Rabold is a longtime radio announcer and collector of Indiana broadcasting memorabilia.  John has countless items in his collection, including original mixing boards and microphones from long-gone radio stations.

Rick Wilkerson formerly owned two record stores in Indianapolis; his collection now includes several thousand Indiana LP’s, 45’s, tapes, posters and flyers which will ultimately be the core of IEF’s collection.  Rick is currently authoring his first book, “The Golden Age of Indiana Vinyl: 1950-1990”, a comprehensive look at Indiana record releases.