Brenda Melson "Dean & Jean", undated

The collection consists of videos (9 Umatic tapes) of interviews that Jim Foreman conducted in the 1980's with a group of area musicians, club managers, promoters, and others with a long history in the local music scene, these interviews discuss the unique evolution of modern popular music in Dayton and how it was able to produce so many influential artists in different musical genres- including rock, bluegrass, blues, and funk- that would go on to mainstream success as well as serve as major influences on their musical genres.

Jim Foreman's experience as a music producer as well as his deep involvement and close relationships with the Dayton music scene provided this opportunity for him to help capture and preserve this aspect of local cultural history through the stories of those who helped make it happen.

The tapes' labels includes names such as Terry Lawson, Roger Sayre, Dave Hussong, and Mike Losekamp. (For brief biographical information on each of these people, refer to the item-level biographical notes.)