Found 69 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. less

The collection contains materials used to create the Mary Lou Williams documentary, Music on My Mind, directed by Joanne Burke. Music on My Mind focuses on Williams's enduring contribution to American culture as a jazz pianist, composer, and vocalist. This collection includes a short autobiography (incomplete), transcripts of interviews, information on the financial support of the documentary, film technical edits, reel catalog, and an information kit about the documentary. less

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. less

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. less

William "Popsie" Randolph was a company and tour manager for many jazz ensembles, including the Benny Goodman bands. Photographs of jazz musicians, many holding their instruments. 2 photographs date from the 1940's: Glenn Miller and the Modernaires with Tex Beneke; and Bobby Hackett with Joe Bushkin. The other 11 date from the 1960's: Buck Clayton, photographing Randolph; Count Basie; Charlie Shavers with Coleman Hawkins; Charlie Shavers; Coleman Hawkins; Gene Krupa; Jess Stacy; Joe Newman; Benny Goodman; Lionel Hampton with Martha Tilton; and Benny Goodman with Gene Krupa and Ziggy Elman. less

The New York Jazz Museum was founded in 1972 to preserve the history of jazz and to educate the public about jazz. The Museum closed its doors in June 1977 after a series of financial difficulties. The New York Jazz Museum Photograph Collection documents some of the activities of the Museum as well as segments of the history of jazz. The collection includes an extensive portrait collection of jazz artists (195?-197?) and some documentation of the Museum's programs and activities (1972-1977). less

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. less

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. less

The Larry Neal papers document his role as a writer/editor and seminal figure in the Black Arts Movement, and consist principally of Neal's diverse forms of writings, including essays, scripts, screenplays, poems, short stories, and anthologies. Published copies of some of his writings are included in the collection, as are writings by colleagues and publishers. less

Photographs of jazz musicians taken before, during, and after performances in the New York area, 1973-1984. Includes a list of contents and 3 lists, dated 10 May 1983, 15 July 1984, and 15 September, 1984, of names of all jazz musicians photographed by Sulaiman Imara Ellison, a jazz documentary photographer. 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

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. less

The Frederick D. Murphy papers consist principally of press kits and news clippings that Murphy collected on hundreds of recording artists of popular music (primarily rhythm and blues, soul, disco, rock and roll, and other genres) and executives in the music industry. The bulk of the collection consists of these files and material on organizations that Murphy represented, primarily record companies and related music associations, including the Black Music Association. The years for most of the collection span the 1970s and 1980s. 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

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. less

This collection documents part of an exhibition on African American musicians organized by the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution. The papers consist of research material gathered by consultant Sidney Kaplan and his assistant, including sheet music; research notes; subject files of clippings and printed matter on various African American musicians; and correspondence with Alberta Hunter, Middleton Alexander "Spike" Harris, Caterina Jarboro, Noble Sissle, and several African American university museums and archives. less

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. less

"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. less

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. less

Composer, pianist, arranger. Brown worked as Paul Robeson's accompanist for thirty-eight years. The Lawrence Brown papers encompass correspondence reflecting Brown's wide-ranging travels, and his friendships (mostly letters written by his friends and business associates); personal papers; travel file consisting mostly of itineraries for tours; financial records comprised largely of royalty and earnings statements; programs for Brown and other artists; scrapbooks of news clippings and telegrams covering the Brown and Paul Robeson concert years (1928-1968); news clippings of concert reviews; and original scores and sheet music written by Brown and other composers. Papers relate to Brown's life and times, including World War I, Harlem Renaissance, World War II, spirituals, and his collaborator, Paul Robeson. Correspondents include Amanda Aldridge, Ethel Gardner Dingle, Jannett Hamlyn, Roland Hayes, Langston Hughes, Zaidee Jackson, William Lawrence, John Payne, Paul and Eslanda Robeson, Clara Rockmore, Robert Rockmore, Mrs. Corinne Sawyer (Brown's landlady), and Greta and I. W. Sequeira. less

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. less

Clarence Cameron White was a Black violinist, composer, and teacher. This collection consists of musical scores, compositions, and librettos, correspondence, biographical information, writing, contracts, financial records, programs, sheet music, press releases, newspaper clippings, and printed material relating to the first thirty years of White's career. 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