Found 50 collections related to African American musicians

Eddie Bonnemère was an African American composer, church musician, jazz pianist, and New York City public school teacher. Bonnemère's papers comprise correspondence, music compositions, and promotional materials that detail his musical pursuits and performances, educational achievements, and his thirty-three year tenure as a public school music teacher.

Samuel Carroll Buchanan received his Ph.D. from New York University in 1987 with a dissertation on Black quartets in the United States. He also sung with several groups, including the Charioteers, the Carr-Hill Singers, and the Gulf Coast Community Choir. Buchanan taught music in the New York City school system as well as at Five Towns College in Seaford, New York. Additionally, he worked as an administrator in the Peace Corps, serving in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. Buchanan died in December 2010. The Samuel Carroll Buchanan collection contains letters, sheet music, programs, and research materials related to quartet singers. There are two letters from Harry Douglass, a leader in the famous quartet the Deep River Boys, which began in 1936 at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) and a score by Douglass, "Come Rain or Shine". Additionally, there are two programs in the collection, the United in Group Harmony Association's "20th Anniversary Weekend Celebration" (1996) and the Blues and Rhythm Jubilee's "Whisky, Women, and ..." (1982). The research materials consist of photocopies of correspondence mainly from and to George F. Ketchum of Hampton Institute, detailing various opportunities involving the Hampton Quartette.

This collection mostly contains material related to Raoul Abdul's career as a singer and author. There is a limited amount of personal information, including some clippings from his early life. A large part of the collection consists of concert programs and tour information. Additionally, there is material on lectures and seminars, and reviews and correspondence regarding his writing, including 3000 Years of Black Poetry, The Magic of Black Poetry, and Famous Black Entertainers of Today.

"Billy" Butler was a musical arranger, conductor, violinist, and travel editor of the Pittsburgh Courier. A graduate of Chicago Musical College, Butler worked with J. Rosamond Johnson, Eubie Blake, and other prominent African American musicians of the period. He also conducted several musical revues, including Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1939, Rhapsody in Black, and Sissle and Blake's Shuffle Along. In 1947, Butler started Travelguide, a directory of public accommodations in the United States which catered to people of African descent. The list was later expanded to include foreign countries. Butler was also co-owner of King Travel Organization, Inc., a New York City agency which specifically catered to travelers of African descent. The William H. Butler papers include correspondence and printed material relating to Butler's musical career; articles by Butler on African American music and musicians; a scrapbook containing reviews of the Lew Leslie musicals in which he appeared; orchestral parts for Blackbirds of 1939 and Rhapsody in Black; holograph scores by Butler; a folder of lyrics; and a playscript by Butler entitled "Let's Forget Papa".

The Maxine Sullivan Papers document her career as a jazz performer. The papers contain correspondence from both professional and personal contacts, legal contracts, newspaper clippings, performance flyers, posters, and programs, sheet music, and some financial and organizational membership records. Some materials pertain to her third husband, Cliff Jackson.

Collection reflects Heyward's professional life and activities, particularly his career as a performer; a significant portion of the collection consists of music manuscripts arranged and/or composed by him. Heyward's personal papers contain biographical data, sketches and programs, performance materials, contracts, family papers, and financial records, 1917-1982. Correspondence consisting of letters received from organizations concerning programs, acknowledgements and solicitations reflecting Heyward's involvement in charitable affairs, organizations, and musical events. Heyward's writings and music consisting of manuscripts of his compositions, lyrics and arrangements, as well as music and lyrics which Heyward copied, and musical arrangements for guitar. Organizational records consisting of Heyward's files from his membership in the New Amsterdam Musical Association, Duke Ellington Society, Overseas Jazz Club, and Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Alumni. Also, programs of Heyward's performances, and programs of other artists, along with news clippings.

The Don Redman Papers consist principally of holograph and printed music of this jazz composer and arranger, as well as some personal and professional papers. Redman's music contains orchestral and vocal scores and parts for various instruments. There is also music and lyrics by other composers most notably Tadd Dameron's "For Europeans Only." A ledger (1931-1932) lists members of the Don Redman Orchestra a.k.a. Don Redman and His Orchestra, for that period together with salaries, scheduled appearances and copyright information. Two scrapbooks document the activities of the Orchestra and other groups which Redman assembled for European tours during the 1940's. The collection also includes biographical information, programs, newsclippings, and an autograph book signed by celebrities. Of interest are two letters written by Louis Armstrong (1939, 1945), one mentioning two songs for which he wants Redman to make dance arrangements.

"Jabbo" Smith, born Cladys Smith in 1908 in Pembroke, Georgia, was an African-American jazz trumpeter, trombonist and singer. He died in St. Louis in 1991. The collection consists of autobiographical material; correspondence with Lorraine Gordon and others (1957-1991); financial receipts; medical records; contracts and agreements; passports and other official documents; performance files, news articles, press releases and programs (1930-1991), including information on One Mo' Time, Chicago Kool Jazz Festival, and Jazz Fest Berlin; scrapbooks and photographs of Smith, Wynton Marsalis, Louis Armstrong, and others (1982-1991); and an account book (1969-1973) with aphorisms.

Kenneth P. Neilson is an educator, artist, composer, author, and founder of All Seasons Art, a multimedia production center which seeks to gain exposure for developing African American and Hispanic artists. The Hughes-Neilson music collection consists of musical settings of the poetry and lyrics of Langston Hughes.

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.

This collection consists of personal and professional papers reflecting Jenkins's career as a musician and composer, and encompasses four series: personal and professional papers; family papers; Jenkins Orphanage documents; and research material. The personal and professional papers contain letters from Jenkins to his father and stepmother, Eloise C. Harleston Jenkins and letters to Jenkins from friends and professional associates, including a letter from composer Will Marion Cook. The family papers consist of letters written to the family following Jenkins's death in 1926 and documents related to his death and the disposition of his estate. The Jenkins Orphanage documents include letters, programs and playbills, and financial papers. The research material was gathered by Jeffrey P. Green, the donor and author of Edmund Thornton Jenkins: The Life and Times of an American Black Composer, 1894-1926 (1982). This material includes Green's correspondence and interviews with people who knew Jenkins; a listing from SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music) of the songs composed by Jenkins; and photocopies of articles regarding Jenkins, the Orphanage, Jenkins family members, and prominent musicians who had some sort of affiliation with the Jenkins Orphanage and the Band.

Edward D. Coleman was a musical arranger and composer. He was a member of the trio known as Day, Dawn, and Dusk. Coleman was Dawn; the other members of the trio included, at different times, Robert Carver, Augustus Dewey Simons, and Mack Smith. The group performed during the 1930s and 1940s. this collection consists of handwritten sheet music used by the trio Day, Dawn, and Dusk, including some arrangements by Coleman; letters; and clippings.

Collection consists of a few of William Spiller's personal papers, programs, and news clippings of William and Isabele Spiller's European and American tours, 1912-1942, and of the Spiller School of Music. Bulk of papers contain material pertaining to Isabelle Spiller's work as a music supervisor and orchestra conductor in New York City public schools. Of particular interest is her work as head of the Federal Music Project in New York. Also, a scrapbook containing her published articles.

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.

Allan W. McMillan, a longtime columnist for The Amsterdam News and the first Black syndicated columnist, made his reputation as an entertainment writer, Broadway columnist, and publicist. The Allan W. McMillan public relations files document the public relations work of McMillan on behalf of his clients.

The Bob Howard papers consist of numerous programs for dinner engagements, benefits, and other performances; three scrapbooks of news clippings; and lyrics, musical scores, and arrangements by Howard and his wife, Ruth (Joyner) Howard. Other material includes biographical information, correspondence, contracts and correspondence with his agent, broadsides, handouts and announcements, notices in guidebooks and magazines, feature stories in magazines, and miscellaneous radio, television, and performance material.

Sam Wooding was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer, and the accompanist-manager for his third wife, singer Rae Harrison. The Sam Wooding papers primarily document certain aspects of his career, with some files pertaining to his partnership with Rae Harrison and her early career.

This collection consists of personal and professional material of Nat King Cole, such as correspondence, programs, and advertisements. Additionally, there is printed matter, such as clippings and articles; scrapbooks; and scores, which is the largest series. Finally, there is material related to Cole's wife, Maria Cole, such as scrapbooks, biographical material, and drafts for a book.

The Helen Brown scrapbook contains programs and reviews of plays and concerts that took place in New York City between 1926 and 1941. Included are articles and reviews of musicians, singers, actors, writers, such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, and artists, such as Jacob Lawrence, Augusta Savage and James L. Allen. The programs represent a variety of performances, among them those by the Negro Opera Company and Hall Johnson's groups (the Hall Johnson Singers, Hall Johnson Jubilee Singers, and Hall Johnson Negro Choir). Also included are programs for Roland Hayes, Richard B. Harrison, Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, Hazel Harrison, Abbie Mitchell, Jules Beldsoe, and the Eva Jessye Choir. The lyrics to some songs can also be found in the scrapbook..

Earl L. Baker was a composer, musician, singer, writer, and orchestral librarian. The Earl L. Baker papers consists of 2 screenplays, Artabanus and Totivo, original manuscript musical scores composed by Baker and others; and research material on the West, focusing on Buffalo Soldiers and Black Indians.

Lawrence "Larry" Lucie (1907-2009) was a jazz guitarist and music educator. His papers, dating from 1927 to 2004 (bulk 1948-2004), primarily document his pedagogy, his recording and publishing companies, and the career of his wife, guitarist, bassist and vocalist Nora Lee King (1909-1995). The collection holds teaching material, business records, biographies, interviews, letters, photographs, and scores.

Marion and Clarissa Cumbo were a Black married couple based in New York City who worked as musicians and arts fundraisers. Their papers, dating from 1882 to the 1980s, contain materials related to their music careers. The collection holds Professional Files, Correspondence, Printed Matter, and Personal Files that address performances, tours, the lives of the Cumbo family, and their arts organizations, Symphony for the New World and Triad Productions.

Sidney Easton (1886-1971) was an actor, playwright, and songwriter. This collection contains personal and professional papers including letters, writings by Easton, legal documents regarding his suit against 20th Century-Fox Corporation, and research notes.

The Helen Armstead-Johnson miscellaneous theater collections (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.

Stephen Longstreet is an American artist, novelist, and jazz historian. Drawings of the American jazz scene. The black and white ink drawings include 14 originals and 12 photocopies ; and there are 14 ink drawings with watercolor. Although most are general impressions rather than portraits of specific jazz musicians, 1 of the original ink drawings is of Louis Armstrong ; 1 of the originals and 1 of the photocopies are captioned "Coltraine" [i.e. John Coltrane] ; and other photocopied drawings are of Charlie Parker, and Bunk Johnson.

African-American impresario and director of the Manhattan Concert Bureau, previously called the Manhattan Artist Bureau, a management firm for Black performers in the 1930s and 1940s. Correspondence, financial records, miscellaneous writings and printed matter documenting Charles Marshall's professional activities as director of the Manhattan Concert Bureau from 1937 to 1940, and the career and concert appearances of Black entertainers he represented or sought to represent: Heppie Ross, pianist and lecturer; Harry T. Burleigh, composer, and Massie Patterson, Ruby Elzy, Hazel Harrison and Aubrey Pankey, singers. Also included are letters from Marshall to colleges and universities regarding possible concert engagements, and a letter with attachments from Black historian and author Alexander Gumby.

Stephen Longstreet is an American artist, novelist, and jazz historian. 1 oil painting of Christ on the Cross; 4 ink drawings, and 5 ink and watercolor drawings of the American jazz scene. 1 ink drawing is a portrait of Lil Hardin ; most of the drawings are general impressions rather than portraits of specific jazz musicians.