John Gilliland's Pop Chronicles

About John Gilliland

John Sanford Gilliland, Jr. (1935-1998) grew up in Quanah, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Texas Christian University (TCU) in 1958. His early career included work for radio stations in Quanah, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, and San Diego.

From 1965 to 1970, Gilliland worked with the news department at KRLA in Pasadena. It was here that he began to conceptualize and work on "The Pop Chronicles" 50's and 60's. This undertaking of an audio history of popular music began in 1967 after the inspiring Monterrey Pop Music Festival. The "Pop Chronicles" first aired in 1969 and was also syndicated for a time.

Later, while working for KSFO in San Francisco, Gilliland produced a similar series: the 24-hour blockbuster "The Pop Chronicles 40's" which focuses on the music, musicians and producers of the 1940's.

About the Digital Collection

Conceptualized in 1967 after attending the Monterey International Pop Music Festival, John Gilliland's "The Pop Chronicles" traces the history of popular music from the 1950's through the 1960's. Mr. Gilliland wrote, narrated and produced these 55 hours of broadcasting first airing at KRLA Pasadena, CA. in February 1969. The pop music history is told by an interleaving of Mr. Gilliland's narration, music, and comments from the interviews of the people directly involved in the music scene of the day.

For more information, please see the UNT Music Library's John Gilliland Collection, 1955-1991, finding aid.