The Brubeck Collection was established by late jazz legend Dave Brubeck and his wife, Iola, as a “living archive” to Dave’s long and illustrious career as a celebrated musician and composer. The Brubeck Collection is one of the preeminent jazz archives in the world and passes on Dave’s legacy to future musicians, musicologists, researchers, historians, jazz aficionados, and the public.

Dave Brubeck, a pianist and composer whose legendary career spanned more than six decades, was one of the most popular and innovative musicians in the jazz world. The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s acclaimed 1959 “Time Out” album was the first jazz album to sell a million copies, and the “Take Five” recording from the album became a Top 40 hit and remains the biggest–selling jazz single of all time. His other well-known works that have become jazz classics include “Blue Rondo à la Turk,” “In Your Own Sweet Way,” and “The Duke.”

Brubeck composed numerous classical works, including oratorios and cantatas, a mass, ballet suites, quartet and chamber pieces, and orchestral works. He was a very popular performer at international jazz festivals and concert halls and made several performances at the White House. Throughout his career, he received numerous honors and awards including the National Medal of Arts and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. On his 89th birthday in 2009, he received the prestigious Kennedy Center Award.

Dave met his future wife, Iola Whitlock, while they were both students at the College of the Pacific. She was instrumental to Dave’s success, and became his collaborator in life and music, writing lyrics for many of his compositions and working as his manager, booker and publicist all while raising their six children. Dave Brubeck passed away in 2012; Iola Brubeck passed away in 2014.

Dave and Iola are survived by 10 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and four sons who are also musicians: Darius is a pianist and composer; Chris is a bassist, trombonist, and noted composer; Dan is a drummer and producer; and Matthew is a composer, cellist, bassist, and keyboardist.

In January 2020, it was announced that The Brubeck Collection would be relocated to Wilton Library in the Brubeck family’s hometown of Wilton, Connecticut.

While The Brubeck Collection was established in 2000 at Dave and Iola’s alma mater – the University of the Pacific in California – it started its life in the Brubeck’s first family home in California and crossed the country three times, moving from the family’s California home to their home in Wilton, CT. It finally returned home to Wilton on June 6th, 2021 – the exact day of the dedication of the archival space at Wilton Library.