Found 42 collections related to African American singers

Earl L. Baker (1929-1999) was an American singer and a vocal contractor and coordinator. The Earl L. Baker papers contain a mix of personal and professional documents and ephemera. Material related to Baker's career consists of stickers advertising Porgy and Bess (1983), a letter confirming Baker's employment as chorus contractor for Porgy and Bess, and a 1989 prospectus and fliers for Baker's Black Patti Troubadours, a group of black performers modeled after a company of the same name that was active from 1896 to 1916. Personal items include Baker's passports, his Air Force discharge papers, photographs, a copy of a letter written by Baker's paternal grandmother on their family history, a copy of his sister's will, and various notes. There is also a copy of a 1982 issue of the Sierra Domino Newsletter, a publication for gay men interested in black male erotic imagery. less

Scholar of African-American culture and history and an analyst of how African Americans are portrayed. Taught at the University of Massachusetts for 31 years and helped found its African-American Studies Dept. He died in 1993. Collection documents part of an exhibition on Afro-American history organized by the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution on African-American musicians. Papers consist of research material gathered by consultant Sidney Kaplan and his assistant, including sheet music, research notes, subject file of clippings and printed matter on various Adrican musicians, and correspondence with Alberta Hunter, Middleton Alexander "Spike" Harris, Caterina Jarboro, Noble Sissle, and several African-American university museums and archives. less

Opera director, concert singer, teacher, conductor and impresario, Dawson was the founder, president and general manager of the National Negro Opera Company. Formed in 1941 due to Dawson's concern regarding the lack of opportunity for Afro-Americans in opera because of racial discrimination, for over 20 years the Company presented such productions as Verdi's Aida and La Traviata, and C.C. White's Ouanga. Among the featured opera singers were Minto Cato, Lillian Evanti, Muriel Rahn, Edward Boatner and Robert Mc Ferrin. Ms. Dawson also founded the Cardwell School of Music and the prize winning Cardwell-Dawson Chorus. At the time of Dawson's death in 1962, her proteges were appearing in the great opera houses of the world. Collection of documents relating to Dawson and the National Negro Opera Company. Collection includes a booklet describing the history and activities of the Company, biographical data on Dawson, and several certificates commending Dawson for her achivements and contributions to various organizations. less

African-American arts aficionado Robert LaPrince was known primarily as the founder and president of the National Council for Culture and Art (NCCA), a non-profit, charitable, educational public service and artist support organization. NCCA's two touchstone programs, the Monarch Awards and Opening Night, honored and featured a variety of established upcoming people of color in the performing arts. Prior to founding NCCA, LaPrince obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh (1976) in sociology, and worked for the National Council of Negro Women. As an educator, he worked as an adjunct professor at Hunter College, Medgar Evers College, York College and the University of Pittsburgh in the 1970s and 1980s. LaPrince was also a social worker and teacher for the New York City Board of Education in the 1980s. The Robert LaPrince/National Council on Culture and Art (NCCA) Records are divided into two series, Personal and Professional. The bulk of the collection consists of the records of the NCCA and includes board agendas, minutes, reports and correspondence; planning files for the Monarch Awards and Opening Night programs, correspondence, contracts, financial records, fliers, grant proposals, artist information files, and news clippings. less

The Alberta Hunter Papers consist of personal and professional papers documenting Hunter's singing and nursing careers. Her personal papers consist of reminiscenses, family correspondence (1964-1985), personal correspondence (1924-1985), passports, financial records and address books. less

Actress, singer, poet, playwright. Private secretary to actor Leigh Whipper. Davis' scrapbooks include news clippings relating to Davis' career as a performer; and plays, fables, poems, jokes and gags written by Davis. Also, musical compositions consisting of photocopies of music, 1948-1974; and a scrapbook about Leigh Whipper containing news clippings and other printed material, 1978. less

Collection of photographs, original documents and correspondence related to the Horne family, assembled by Gail Lumet Buckley during the research and writing of her book "The Hornes: An American Family" (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1986.) Included are articles, programs, awards, memorabilia, business correspondence and papers, financial data, and other printed material dealing with the careers of singer Lena Horne, her uncle, Frank S. Horne, a member of the Roosevelt "black cabinet" and poet, and other members of the Hornes and their extended family. less

Singer, actor. Bledsoe created the role of Jo and the interpretation of the song "Old Man River" in the original production of "Show Boat" (1927) and is also known for his title role in "The Emperor Jones.". Correspondence, contracts, musical compositions, legal documents, financial records, programs, broadsides, and news clippings documenting Bledsoe's professional career, particularly in Europe. Items of significance include legal correspondence and court documents generated by his lawsuit against Lew Leslie of "Blackbirds" fame, a manuscript score of Shirley Graham's opera "Tom Tom," and a large number of manuscript compositions by Bledsoe, as well as several letters from composer Clarence Cameron White. Also, personal correspondence with friends and family members, and papers relating to a business that he owned. Of special interest is a substantial number of musical manuscripts of art songs, spirituals and instrumental pieces composed and arranged by Bledsoe. less

Lex Monson (Elexendre Remus Monson) was an actor, singer, chorus director and producer. He studied at the Detroit Institute of Music and Drama, and the Robert Nolan School of Music and was a member of the School's famed choir. Monson changed his name to Lex Monson after he moved to New York City. He appeared in the original Broadway production of Vinette Carroll's "Trumpets of the Lord," in 1969. Among the other productions Monson appeared in were the European productions of "Trumpets of the Lord," "Macbeth," "Keyboard," "The Orchard," "God's Trombones," "Joe Turner Come and Gone," and "Driving Miss Daisy.". The Lex Monson collection consists primarily of printed matter. There are also letters from a friend (1980-1986) serving in the military. Programs and reviews of Monson's work over the years make up the bulk of the collection and have been organized chronologically. There are also play scripts for "Grassi's Lute" (2 versions): "Gassire's Lute" and "Gassire's Luter" (for speaking chorus adapted by Lex Monson, translated by Alta Jablow); and "True Colors: The Beat Goes On" by Linda M. Yearwood. less

Singer, song sylist, nightclub entertainer. Papers consist of personal papers including naturalization and immigration documents, correspondence with her husband, Kelsey Pharr, family papers and fan mail. Professional papers include contracts, dates concerning nightclub performances and recordings; sheet music and manuscript music performed and collected by Mercer, music with correspondence attached from composers and lyricists requesting Mercer to include their works in her repertoire in addition to honors, awards, programs, scrapbooks and posters. less

Singer, vocal clinician, consultant, coach. Wilkerson appeared professionally in Europe under the stage name of Gilbert Adams. He founded the Frederick Wilkerson Scholarship Foundation in 1967 for deserving and underprivileged artists. Personal and professional correspondence, student records and applications, records of the Frederick Wilkerson Scholarship Foundation. Also printed material regarding his students, music, programs collected by Wilkerson, and scrapbooks. less

Internationally known cabaret personality Bricktop, was born Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith in Alderson, West Virginia in 1894. Nicknamed "Bricktop" for her red hair, she began her career as an entertainer at the age of 16, performing on the vaudeville circuit with Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles in McCabe's Georgia Troubadours minstrel show, then later with the Oma Crosby Trio, and the Panama Trio with Florence Mills and Cora Green. She also performed in saloons in Chicago such as the Roy Jones' saloon and Cabaret de Champion, also known as Café Champ owned by boxer Jack Johnson, and in Harlem at Barron's Exclusive Club and Connie's Inn. Bricktop went on to own her own nightclubs in Paris (1920s and 30s), Mexico City (1940s), and Rome (1950s). Towards the end of her career she made appearances on radio broadcasts, performed at various establishments such as The Club Tango in Chicago, and introduced Josephine Baker for her "come-back" engagement at Carnegie Hall in 1973. She co-authored "Bricktop" (1983), her autobiography, with James Haskins. The Ada "Bricktop" Smith DuConge Papers, 1920s-1984, primarily document the latter part of Bricktop's life and career. The Papers consist of letters and cards, daily planners and address books, notes on religious thoughts and other subjects, financial papers, sheet music, and news clippings. The diaries range from the 1920s to 1983 and in some instances serve as daily planners and account books. The volumes hold information pertaining to both her personal and professional life. The earliest letters date from the 1950s, after she moved to Rome. Primarily they are from people Bricktop worked with during her career including Jack Jordan, James Haskins, Hugh Shannon, David Hanna, and Earl Blackwell. Additionally, there are promotional materials that relate to her career as an entertainer, e.g. fliers, programs; invitations, among them two from Bricktop's in Paris in 1937; letters from broadcasting agencies; magazines noting her appearance dates; and news clippings that include featured stories about Bricktop in arts, entertainment and society columns. less

The records contain personal and professional papers comprised of biographical materials, letters, writings, programs, music, a scrapbook and miscellaneous items. The Personal Papers consist of various forms of identification, letters and an obituary, among other items. less

African-American soprano soloist, Berniece Hall made her Broadway debut in Finian's Rainbow (1953), and from 1956 to 1958 she performed in De Paur's Opera Gala. She also performed with Voices Inc. in Trumpets of the Lord (1963) at the French National Festival of the Arts in Paris in 1966. After the Festival, Hall remained in Italy and toured several other European countries, performing in a variety of venues. She lived in Italy for 4 years returning to live permanently in the United States in 1970. The Berniece Hall Papers document her professional career in North America and Europe. The Personal papers are comprised of biographical information, correspondence from friends and well-wishers, and financial records. The Professional papers contain correspondence pertaining to Hall's professional life, performance schedules for various events, some materials pertaining to Voices, Inc., scripts, song lists and lyrics, programs, posters and newspaper clippings. less

Emmett "Babe" Wallace is a singer, composer, actor and writer. He has performed in cabarets, musical revues, films and the theater. As a composer and writer, he has produced a voluminous body of musical compositions, poetry essays and journals. Music, songs, poetry, prose, daybooks, scripts, personal papers, printed material, and other papers, relating to Wallace's career in cabarets, musical revues, films, and theater in the United States, Canada, France, and Israel. Themes in his creative work include personal life, civil rights, religion, and politics. less

Fred Thomas ( - 2001) was a baritone vocalist. In addition to performing, he was active in the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), serving as the association's treasurer for many years. The Fred Thomas papers, dating from 1931 to 1998, consist primarily of the records Thomas accumulated as treasurer of NANM. They also hold scrapbooks, letters, programs, clippings, and photographs documenting the singer's performance career; and the papers of Alfred Howe, a friend of Thomas's. less

Edith Spencer was an international singer and dancer who appeared in vaudeville, the theatre and in nightclubs during the 1920s and 1930s. She appeared in the Broadway productions of "Runnin' Wild," "Rarin' to Go," and succeeded Florence Mills in "Shuffle Along." Her performances included club engagements and appearances from New York to Los Angeles, London, Paris, and the Far East. After "Shuffle Along" closed, Lottie Gee and Spencer became partners and formed a sister act that was followed by the addition of Allegretti Anderson. The trio was alternately billed as the Harmony Trio, the Creole Beauties, and the Three Dark Sisters. The Edith Spencer Scrapbook documents Spencer's entertainment career and her subsequent employment as a real estate agent. The contents include newspaper clippings, flyers and a photograph of Spencer, Gee and Anderson. less

Collection consists predominantly of material relating to Lena Horne's one woman Broadway production and national and international tour of "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music" (1981-1984). Papers contain fan mail, a small amount of business, personal and family correspondence; press coverage (newspaper and magazine clippings and audio and video reviews); publicity and public relations material; programs; financial data and certificates (proclamations, awards and honors). less

The Katharine Handy Lewis Papers document some of Mrs. Lewis' personal and professional interests and include material relating to her father and to the Handy Brothers Music Company. Papers pertaining to Mrs. Lewis consist of biographical information, correspondence, printed material and financial records concerning her musical endeavors, but do not reflect her presidency of the Handy Brothers Music Company. Family papers include financial and legal records in addition to correspondence between W.C. Handy and Mrs. Lewis and others, 1939-1957. Of special interest are a memorandum of agreement between Handy and E.A. Niles to collaborate on a collection of blues (1925), a legal document referring to W.C. Handy's estate; and printed material especially regarding the W.C. Handy Home and Museum in Florence, Alabama. Additional papers relating to W.C. Handy are comprised of printed material on the W.C. Handy Centennial Celebration in Florence, Alabama (1973), correspondence about issuing a commemorative stamp, and undated writings of W.C. Handy. Records of the Handy Brothers Music Company consist of sheet music published by the company, some written by Mrs. Lewis; correspondence, 1958-1981; a catalog of music, 1949; legal and financial records; and a script for a television program, "Road to Freedom" by Douglas Hardee which focused on the struggle of African Americans in Alabama and features W.C. Handy, among others, 1978. less

Bertha Des Verney was a pianist, composer, arranger, writer, singer, playwright, concert promoter, and music teacher. The Bertha Des Verney papers include programs and flyers for musical events that she was involved in, annotated musical texts, scripts, holograph music of her arrangements and compositions, correspondence, and news clippings. From the Washington Music School there are reports, financial records, and a history of the school (1931). Material for the National Association of Negro Musicians includes programs for conventions. The collection also includes two scrapbooks, one of which contains news clippings and programs for musical concerts, primarily featuring African-American artists (1929-1957). The second scrapbook contains news clippings about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and other noteworthy events in the Kennedy and Lyndon Baines Johnson families, as well as obituaries of a number of black personalities, and some musical programs (1936, 1959-1974). There are also a few letters in the collection. less

The Allan W. McMillan Public Relations Files document the public relations work McMillan did on behalf of his clients. The collection consists primarily of information he maintained about his clients, most of whom were in the entertainment business. Nearly all the clients were individuals, but he also represented events sponsored by organizations. Client files include newspaper and magazine clippings of articles and advertisements for the performers, promotional flyers and postcards, itineraries, resumes, correspondence and contracts, press releases, notes about the clients, photograph captions, and a few layouts McMillan prepared. less

The Symphony of the New World was founded in 1964 by an interracial committee of professional musicians to provide opportunities for minorities, particularly black and Puerto Rican musicians, who were being discriminated against by the major symphonies. The Symphony of the New World Records reflect some of the activities of this orchestra. less

The Helen Armstead-Johnson miscellaneous theater vollections (HAJMTC) were formed by over two hundred file-folder level collections (one-three file folders per personality or event). The collections contain information dating from the mid-nineteenth century to the late twentieth century, and they document early dramatic actors, minstrel shows, vaudeville, musical revues, Broadway productions, and protest dramas, among others. In addition to actors, playwrights, singers, musicians, and dancers and the productions in which they appeared, there are collections for poets and visual artists. less