Handwritten Letter by Jimmy Page
Maker
Jimmy Page
(English, born 1944)
Datec. 1962
ClassificationsMusic
DimensionsLetter: 9 x 7 in. (22.9 x 17.8 cm)
DescriptionA handwritten letter from Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page to Ronnie Kellerman, c. 1962. Four pages on two leaves, with envelope. Page wrote to Kellerman, head of the Jerry Lee Lewis fan club and a frequent pen-pal of Page's, regarding a Lewis tape and provides insights to his thoughts. Page, a serious record collector, traded tapes and records with Kellerman, and occasionally cut acetate discs from tapes Kellerman sent. Page writes about a disc he has had cut (of Jerry Lee Lewis on American Bandstand, see 2009.002.0005) of an LP he has sent called "Drumbeat," asks if Kellerman has heard from their mutual friend, rocker "Screaming Lord" Sutch, and wonders about Jerry Lee's next Sun releases. He then writes Liverpool groups seem to have swamped the scene over here, but the Beatles are the only ones any good. I expect you've heard of them. Page talks about starting art school and talks about a grant he hopes to get which amounts to about $12 a week spending money...so I'm pretty pleased at the moment. However I'm living on next to nothing at the moment as I'm feverishly trying to pay off my guitar and amp, which are on hire purchase. You can imagine how much a struggle this is when I tell you that it was spread over two years and I'm trying to pay it off in 6 months !!! He then relates that he has done a recording for a radio broadcast, and is "having a bash" with classical guitar. He answers Ronnie's question as to whether he played on the newest Jet Harris & Tony Meehan session (no) and asks for him to send him a copy of the Chuck Berry on Stage album, then signing off. Jimmy Page has famously kept most of his own memorabilia, making high-end Page collectibles extremely scarce. Included with this letter is the original envelope, the acetate disc Page cut for Kellerman, and a reproduction of a photograph of Page, Kellerman and Screaming Lord Sutch (taken on Led Zeppelin's first American tour, Page and Sutch spent the night at Kellerman's playing records and talking about the good old days.)
