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Alex Cooley and Peter Conlon papers

Alex Cooley and Peter Conlon papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Alex Cooley and Peter Conlon papers
Creator: Conlon, Peter
Creator: Cooley, Alex, 1939-
Inclusive Dates: 1970-2016
Language(s): English
Extent: 13 Linear Feet 11 boxes, 1 oversized folder, 16 artifacts
Collection Number: ms4038
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

Alex Cooley, known as "the unofficial mayor of Atlanta music," is credited as the man who brought rock and roll to Atlanta. In his lifelong career as a concert promoter, Cooley put on thousands of shows, bringing to his hometown almost every major musical act in the world for millions of music fans. He owned and operated some of the city's legendary rock music nightclubs, in addition to founding the Music Midtown festival in 1994.

Cooley brought a variety of high-profile performers to such Atlanta venues as the Fox Theatre, the Omni, Chastain Park, and the Lakewood Amphitheater. In 1974 he opened Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom, where many stars made their Atlanta debuts. He also owned the Coca-Cola Roxy, the Tabernacle, and the Cotton Club. During these years Cooley was also instrumental in efforts to preserve and renovate the Fox Theatre.

Peter Conlon joined the Jimmy Carter Presidential campaign as a political aide and organizer in the primaries and the general election, as well as the 1976 Democratic National Convention in New York City. Mr. Conlon organized the 1977 White House Conference on Small Business and helped write the legislation implementing the administration's small business policy. At 26, he served as the national fund-raising director for President Carter's 1980 re-election campaign, organizing benefit concerts across the country and afterwards working at the White House for the remainder of Carter's term.

In 1980 Cooley and his partner Peter Conlon established Concerts/Southern Promotions, which, as the most active and prolific concert company in Atlanta and the Southeast, presented nearly 400 shows a year. The business was bought in 1997 by SFX Entertainment, which in turn was purchased in 2000 by New York–based Clear Channel Communication Inc., recognized as the largest promoter of live entertainment events in the world. Cooley and Conlon remained the local directors of the company they founded.

In 1994,Conlon and Cooley created the Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta. With Cooley's retirement in 2004, the company became Peter Conlon Presents, in late 1997, SFX Entertainment bought Alex Cooley/Peter Conlon Presents, then changed hands in 2000 when radio giant Clear Channel Communications entered the concert promotion business and acquired SFX.

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/alex-cooley-1939-2015, viewed 20 January 2017.

Scope and Content

This collection contains paper related to the promotion of musical acts and includes contracts, expense receipts for venues, technical equipment, rentals, catering, and advertisement. The collection also has ephemra including tickets, photographs, memorabilia, and awards. Some of the contracts are signed by the artists, but most are unsigned photocopies. There are detailed food and drink requirements, technical requirements, and some stage layouts listed in the contracts for each artist. Of some interest are the artifacts related to various performers including Billy Joel, Willie Nelson and The Highwaymen, and numerous materials related to the first Atlanta International Pop Festival.

The audiovisual materials related to this collection are housed in the Walter J. Brown Media Archives.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Alex Cooley and Peter Conlon papers, ms4038, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Music -- Southern States.
Promoters -- Georgia -- Atlanta.
Rock music festivals.

Related Collections in this Repository

Related collections include the Peter Conlon Southern Promotion concert files, ms3653.

Related audiovisual materials from this collection are housed in the Walter J. Brown Media Archive: http://purl.libs.uga.edu/brown/har-ms4038/bmac-coll


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Artist files

boxfolder
11Aerosmith - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1975 November 28
12A-ha - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1986 September 12
13Air Supply - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1981 August 24
14Air Supply - Albany, GA - Civic Center, 1985 June 14
15Air Supply - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1985 June 15
16Allman Brothers Band - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1975 October 5
17Allman Brothers Band - Macon, GA - Macon Coliseum, 1975 December 18
18Allman Brothers Band - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1975 December 29
19Allman Brothers Band - Jacksonville, FL - Civic Auditorium, 1979 May 8
110Allman Brothers Band - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1979 May 14
111Atlanta Rhythm Section - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1975 December 31
112Atlanta Rhythm Section - Macon, GA - Lakeside, 1976 July 4
113Atlanta Rhythm Section - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 December 31
114Atlanta Rhythm Section - Dothan, Al - Civic Center, 1978 August 18
115Atlanta Rhythm Section - Atlanta, GA - Grant Field, GA Tech, 1978 August
116Atlanta Rhythm Section - Columbus, GA - Municipal Auditorium, 1978 September 14
117Babys/Piper - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 November 15
118Bachman-Turner Overdrive - Atlanta, GA - GA Tech Coliseum, 1975 October 27
119Barrere - Atlanta, GA - Agora Ballroom, 1981 October 24
120Beach Boys - Hampton, VA - Coliseum, 1985 October 5
121Beach Boys - Fairfax, VA - Patriot center, 1985 October 6
122Beach Boys - Columbia, Sc - Carolina Coliseum, 1985 October 10
123Beach Boys - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park, 1986 August 29
124Jeff Beck - Mobile, AL, Expo Hall, 1976 July 14
125Jeff Beck - Mobile, AL - Expo Hall, 1976 July 16
126Jeff Beck - Mobile - Municipal Auditorium, 1976 December 9
127George Benson - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1976 December 3
128Blackfoot - Montgomery, AL - Sandy Creek, 1981 July 26
129Blackfoot - Gainesville, GA - GA Mountain Center, 1981 September 15
130Blackfoot/Outlaws - Biloxi, MS - Gulf Coast Coliseum, 1981 December 28
boxfolder
21Blackfoot/Outlaws - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1981 December 29
22Black Sabbath - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1977 January 26
23Bootsy's Rubber Band - Columbus, GA - Municipal Auditorium, 1977 April 21
24Bootsy's Rubber Band - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 April 23
25Bread - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1977 May 12
26Brothers Johnson - Columbus, GA - Municipal Auditorium, 1978 August 28
27Jimmy Buffet - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1977 February 16
28Captain and Tennille - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1977 June 8
29Harry Chapin - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1977 October 28
210Harry Chapin - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1978 May 12,13
211Chicago - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1985 March 1
212Stanley Clarke - Atlanta, GA - Moonshadow, 1985 June 19
213Richard Clayderman - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1985 October 5
214Joe Cocker - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1976 March 20
215Bruce Cockburn - Atlanta, GA - Moonshadow, 1986 August 15
216Chick Corea/Stanley Clark - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 May 27
217Crusaders - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1977 October 15
218Charlie Daniels Band/Outlaws - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 January 14
219Deep Purple/Nazareth - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1976 February 3
220Deep Purple - Miami, FL - Jai-Alai Fronton, 1976 February 8
221Doobie Brothers - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1975 October 12
222Doobie Brothers - Mobile, AL - Municipal Auditorium, 1977 November 3
223Earth, Wind and Fire - Birmingham, AL - Civic Center, 1978 January 24
224Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1977 June 23
225Eurythmics - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1986 September 15
226Fabulous Thunderbirds - Atlanta, GA - Center Stage, 1986 July 20
227The Firm - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1986 April 23
228Fleetwood Mac - Birmingham, AL - Municipal Auditorium, 1975 November 12
229Fleetwood Mac - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1977 June 1
230Fleetwood Mac - Birmingham, AL - Coliseum, 1977 June 2
231Fleetwood Mac - Birmingham, AL - Coliseum, 1978 August 28
232Dan Fogelberg - Atlanta, GA - Chastain, 1985 June 8
233Peter Frampton - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1977 August 30,31
boxfolder
31Foghat/Blue Oyster Cult - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1981 October 6
32Art Garfunkle - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1978 March 2
33J. Geils Band/Edgar Winter - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 November 26
34Genesis - Atlanta, GA - Fox theatre, 1977 March 13
35Golden Oldies [Guess Who, Tommy James, Three Dog Night] - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park, 1986 September 6
36Grateful Dead - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 May 18,19
37Grateful Dead - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1985 October 28,29
38Grateful Dead - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1986 September 5
39Al Green - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1977 October 31
310Heart - Mobile, AL - Municipal Auditorium, 1977 August 31
311Heart - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1977 September 29
312Don Henley - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1985 July 1
313Whitney Houston - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park, 1986 August 10,11
314Turrentine-Hubbard - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 October 8
315Hubbard-Turrentine/Byrd - Birmingham, AL - Municipal Auditorium, 1976 October 10
316Jefferson Starship - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1976 September 14
317Waylon Jennings - Jackson, MS - Coliseum, 1978 September 14
318Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson/Jessi Colter - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1976 October 8
319Waylon Jennings - Austin, TX - Civic Center, 1977 May 3
320Journey/Montrose - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1978 April 23
321Kansas - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 October 31, November 1
322Carol King - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 March 11
323Kinks - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 May 6
324Kiss - Macon, GA - Coliseum, 1976 March 19
325Kiss - Atlanta - Omni, 1977 December 30
326Gladys Knight - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 October 22
327LaBelle - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1975 October 11
328Gordon Lightfoot - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park, 1985 July 8
329Little River Band/Poco - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1981 October 14
boxfolder
41Loggins and Messina - Mobile, AL - Municipal Auditorium, 1976 July 5
42Kenny Loggins - Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre, 1985 May 30
43Kenny Loggins - Pensacola, FL - Civic Center, 1985 July 14
44Lynyrd Skynyrd - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1976 January 9
45Lynyrd Skynyrd - Macon, GA - Coliseum, 1976 January 11
46Lynyrd Skynyrd - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 July 7-9
47Lynyrd Skynyrd - Dothan, AL - Civic Center, 1976 August 18
48Lynyrd Skynyrd - Houston, TX - Civic Center, 1976 November 24
49Lynyrd Skynyrd - Dallas-Fort Worth, TX - Terrant County Coliseum, 1976 November 25
410Lynyrd Skynyrd - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1977 May 14
411Lynyrd Skynyrd - Dothan, AL - Civic Center, 1977 May 15
412Lynyrd Skynyrd - Athens, GA - UGA Coliseum, 1977 May 17
413Lynyrd Skynyrd - Mobile, AL - Municipal Auditorium, 1977 May 17
414Lynyrd Skynyrd - Columbus, GA - Municipal Auditorium, 1977 May 24
415Lynyrd Skynyrd - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1977 November 27,28
416Mahogony Rush - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 September 24
417Manhattan Transfer/Martin Mull - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 November 20
418Manhattan Transfer - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1981 December 2
419Barry Manilow - Augusta, GA - Civic Center, 1981 November 14
420Dave Mason - Atlanta, GA - Fox theatre, 1978 September 13
421Dave Mason/Little Feat - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1975 November 19
422Meatloaf - Atlanta, GA - Symphony Hall, 1978 April 12
423Molly Hatchet - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1981 August 13
424Monkees - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1986 October 18
425Mother's Finest - Columbia, SC - Township, 1981 August 10
426Mother's Finest - Charleston, SC - Municipal Auditorium, 1981 July 17
427Eddie Murphy - Birmingham, AL - Boutwell, 1985 March 15
428Anne Murray - Atlanta - Chastain Park, 1985 June 2
429Anne Murray - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1986 April 1
430Graham Nash - Atlanta, GA - Moonshadow, 1986 August 25
431Willie Nelson/Waylon Jennings - Memphis, TN - Mid-South Coliseum, 1978 March 3
432Willie Nelson/Emmylou Harris - Birmingham, AL - Civic Center, 1978 May 12
boxfolder
51Willie Nelson - Memphis, TN - Mid-South Coliseum, 1977 August 16
52Willie Nelson - Lexington, KY - Lexington Center, 1977 August 16
53Willie Nelson - Roanoke, VA - Civic Center, 1977 August 18
54Willie Nelson - Richmond, VA - Coliseum, 1977 August 19
55Willie Nelson - Norfolk, VA - Scope, 1977 August 20
56Willie Nelson - Charleston, WV - Civic Center, 1977 August 21
57Willie Nelson - Johnson City, TN - Freedom Hall, 1977 August 23
58Willie Nelson - Nashville, TN - Municipal Auditorium, 1977 August 24
59Willie Nelson - Birmingham, AL - Boutwell Auditorium, 1977 August 26
510Willie Nelson - Huntsville, AL - Civic Center, 1977 August 26
511Willie Nelson - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1977 August 27
512Willie Nelson - Lakeland, FL - Civic Center, 1977 August 28
513Willie Nelson - Greensboro, NC - Coliseum, 1977 August 31
514Willie Nelson - Wheeling, WV - Civic Center, 1977 September 2
515Willie Nelson/Emmylou Harris - Huntsville, AL - Civic Center, 1978 April 3
516Willie Nelson/Emmylou Harris - Johnson City, TN - Freedom Hall, 1978 April 14
517Willie Nelson/Emmylou Harris - Charlotte, NC - Coliseum, 1978 April 15
518Willie Nelson/Emmylou Harris - Knoxville, TN - Stokely Athletic Center, 1978 April 16
519Willie Nelson - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1984 March 3
520Willie Nelson - Lexington, KY - Lexington Center, 1984 March 4
521Willie Nelson - Lexington, KY - Lexington Center, 1984 March 5
522Willie Nelson - Charlotte, NC - Coliseum, 1984 March 5
523Willie Nelson - Chattanooga, TN - UTC Arena, 1984 March 6
524Willie Nelson - Columbia, SC - Coliseum, 1984 March 7
525Willie Nelson - Jacksonville, FL - Veterans' Coliseum, 1984 March 9
526Willie Nelson - Tampa, FL - Sun Dome, 1984 March 9
527Willie Nelson - Orlando, FL - Civic Center, 1984 March 11
528Willie Nelson - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1984 December 1
529Willie Nelson - Greensboro, NC - Coliseum, 1984 December 2
530Willie Nelson - Clemson, SC - Little John Coliseum, 1984 December 3
531Willie Nelson - Charleston, WV - Civic Center, 1984 December 4
532Willie Nelson - Baltimore, MD - Civic Center, 1984 Decmber 6
boxfolder
61Willie Nelson - Norfolk, VA - Scope, 1984 December 7
62Willie Nelson - Wilmington, NC - Trask Coliseum, 1984 Decmber 11
63Willie Nelson - Augusta, GA - Coliseum, 1984 December 12
64Willie Nelson - Albany, GA - Civic Center, 1984 December 14
65Willie Nelson - Miami, FL - Marine Stadium, 1984 December 15-16
66Willie Nelson - West Palm Beach, FL - Civic Center, 1984 December 17
67Willie Nelson - Lakeland, FL - Civic Center, 1984 December 18
68Willie Nelson tour earnings, 1984
69Willie Nelson - Pensacola, FL - Civic Center, 1985 May 19
610Randy Newman - Atlanta, GA - Symphony Hall, 1978 April 15
611Ted Nugent - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1977 July 4
612Ted Nugent - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1978 January 30
613Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 November 21
614Parliament Funkadelic - Chattanooga, TN - Memorial Auditorium, 1976 October 12
615Parliament Funkadelic - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1976 December 31
616Parliament Funkadelic - Columbus, GA - Municipal Auditorium, 1978 March 12
617Dolly Parton - Dothan, AL - Civic Center, 1977 October 14
618Pointer Sisters - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park, 1985 June 17
619Prism - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1978 September 10
620Pure Prairie League - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 February 27
621Quiet Riot - Pittsburgh, PA - Civic Arena, 1986 September 14
622Eddie Rabbitt/Crystal Gayle - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1981 November 5
623Lou Reed - Atlanta, GA - Fox theatre, 1986 September 14
624Renaissance - Atlanta, GA - Symphony Hall, 1978 April 26
625Linda Ronstadt - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theater, 1975 October 29
626Linda Ronstadt - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1976 November 29
627Linda Ronstadt - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1977 November 3-4
628Rossington-Collins Band - Augusta, GA - Civic Center, 1981 December 5
629Rossington-Collins Band - Columbus, GA - Municipal Auditorium, 1981 December 6
630Rossington-Collins Band - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1981 December 8
631Todd Rundgren - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 May 25
boxfolder
71Sebring 76 - Sebring, FL - Sebring Raceway, 1976 March 19
72Neil Sedaka - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1977 November 19
73Paul Simon Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1975 November 9
74Bruce Springsteen - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1978 July 23
75Bruce Springsteen - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1978 September 30
76Spyro Gryra/Leo Keottke - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park, 1986 September 13
77Starz - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 September 27
78Rod Stewart/Faces - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1975 October 19
79Styx - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 November 30
710Sunshine Jam - Jacksonville, FL - Gator Bowl, 1976 July 10
711Sunshine Jam - Advertising, 1976 July 10
712Supertramp - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 August 5
713Sweet - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 February 19
714Sweet - Miami, FL - Jai-Alai, 1976 February 22
715Toys-for-Tots, Z-93 - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1976 December 5
716Robin Trower - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1976 November 23
717Marshall Tucker Band - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1975 October 31
718Marshall Tucker Band - Macon, GA - Coliseum, 1975 November 1
719Marshall Tucker/Wet Willie/Outlaws - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1975 December 12
720Twisted Sister - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1986 July 23
721Uriah Heep - Savannah, GA - Civic Center, 1977 June 18
722Uriah Heep - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1977 June 19
723Jerry Jeff Walker - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre, 1976 October 14
724War - Columbus, GA - Municipal Auditorium, 1977 October 25
725Grover Washington, Jr. - Atlanta, GA - Civic Center, 1985 July 3
726Weather Report - Atlanta, GA - Symphony Hall, 1977 May 7
727Edgar Winter, Atlanta, GA - Municipal Auditorium, 1975 November 4
728Steve Winwood - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park, 1986 September 26
729Neil Young - Atlanta, GA - Omni, 1986 October 25
730ZZ Top - San Antonio, TX - Hemisphere Arena, 1975 November 26
731ZZ Top - Columbia, SC - Carolina Coliseum, 1976 February 29
732ZZ Top - Abilene, TX - Taylor County Coliseum, 1977 December 29
 

2. Administrative

boxfolder
81Talent contracts
82Production
83Advertising
84Miscellaneous
85Concert promotion materials
86Fall 1985, 1985
87Miscellaneous loose files
88Alex [newspaper article], 1979
89Fight settlement
810Julie Reed - FBI
811Receipts
812-13Receipts, 1979
814Printed material - Alex Cooley
815Printed material - Atlanta Pop Festival
816The Recording Academy
817Jimmy Carter letter, 2004
boxfolder
91Alex Cooley, Inc. totals, 1973-1974
92Alex
93Concert Promotions, L.P. dissolution, 1994
94Ephemera - tickets, passes
95Photographs - copies - slides
96Stomp - suit and financials
97Pop Festival poster project
98Pop Festival - contracts, film, recording
99-11Clippings - Pop Fest
912-13Newspaper Clippings
914Photographs - Greg Allman
 

3. Awards and ephemera

box
10Atlanta Ballet award, 1986-1987
10Alex Cooley - Fox Theatre poster
10Atlanta International Pop Festival announcement
10Billy Joel souvenir book - signed (2000)
10Billy Joel card - signed
10Frank Sinatra souvenir book - signed
10Mounted tickets
10Mounted checks
10Signed photographs
10Music Midtown poster, 2000
box
11Brick from Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom
oversized_folder
1Highwaymen signed poster, 1991
item
1Omni dressing room 4 sign
item
2Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter Heroes award
item
3Grand Funk Railroad poster
item
4Russian Army Chorus signed poster, 1989
item
5Aerosmith multi-platinum CD and casette - Get A Grip, 1993
item
6Atlanta Rhythm Section gold record - A Rock and Roll Alternative, 1976
item
7B52s multi-platinum CD and casette - Cosmic Thing, 1989
item
8Ted Nugent gold record - Ted Nugent, 1975
item
9REM multi-platinum - Monster, 1994
item
10Hank Williams, Jr. gold record - Greatest Hits, 1982
item
11Whoopi Goldberg signed bar stool
item
12Autographed guitar signed by all members of Aerosmith
item
13Autographed guitar signed by Keith Urban
item
14Autographed bass guitar signed by Sting
item
15Autographed guitar signed by all members of Styx
item
16Autographed guitar signed by Allison Krauss and all band members