Friday, December 21, 2007

Correspondence

COOLIDGE COLLECTION
.....Letter dated 10/1/50 from Clarence Cameron White (addressed to "My Dear Friend") in the Coolidge Collection -box 104. The letter invites the recipient to see "Ouanga" that is being produced by the Dra-Mu Opera Company in Philadelphia, 10/27/50

COOLIDGE, ELIZABETH SPRAGUE
.....Letter from Carolina O'Day (dated April 3) inviting Mrs. Coolidge to co sponsor an opera air free concert (by Marian Anderson) under the auspices of Howard University. The cocert would be held from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sun, Apr 9 at 5:00 PM. She was asked to respond (collect) to Room 440 of the HOuse Office Building.

.....Letter from the Marian Anderson Citizen's Committee acknowledging Mrs. Coolidge's sponsorship of the Lincoln Memorial Concert.

DETT, R. NATHANIEL
.....Correspondence mentioning Dett. Moton Family Papers (Box 10, Folder 5: Manuscripts Division, Library of Congress). The report entitled "Executive Committee Report" is dated june 16, 1931. under section 2, the "Music School" section, it states that "Dr. Nathaniel Dett, after 18 years of service with the school has applied for a Sabbatical year with an increse of pay, his present salary being $4000.00 a year. President Howe explained that Dr. Dett was so lacking in cooperation and loyalty to the administration that it was adviseable to terminate his activities with the school."

DRA-MU OPERA COMPANY
.....Letter dated 10/1/50 from Clarence Cameron White (addressed to "My Dear Friend") in the Coolidge Collection -box 104. The letter invites the recipient to see "Ouanga" that is being produced by the Dra-Mu Opera Company in Philadelphia, 10/27/50

HOWARD UNIVERSITY
....Letter from Carolina O'Day (dated April 3) inviting Mrs. Coolidge to co sponsor an opera air free concert (by Marian Anderson) under the auspices of Howard University. The cocert would be held from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sun, Apr 9 at 5:00 PM. She was asked to respond (collect) to Room 440 of the HOuse Office Building.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL CONCERT (MARIAN ANDERSON)
....Letter from Carolina O'Day (dated April 3) inviting Mrs. Coolidge to co sponsor an opera air free concert (by Marian Anderson) under the auspices of Howard University. The cocert would be held from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sun, Apr 9 at 5:00 PM. She was asked to respond (collect) to Room 440 of the HOuse Office Building.

OUANGA (CLARENCE CAMERON WHITE'S HAITIAN OPERA)
.....Letter dated 10/1/50 from Clarence Cameron White (addressed to "My Dear Friend") in the Coolidge Collection -box 104. The letter invites the recipient to see "Ouanga" that is being produced by the Dra-Mu Opera Company in Philadelphia, 10/27/50

PERRY, JULIA (MUSIC DIVISION OLD CORRESPONDENCE)
.....Letter 1: 12/26/53 from Harold Spivacke, Music Division Chief. Perry wrote in to the Coolidge foundation to inquire about commissions. Letter 2:From Richard S. Hill to Perry sent to address in Florence Italy, 12/9/55. Perry asked general questions such as "How many universities have music departments? how may opera workshops in either colleges or universities? The responses will help her in giving lectures overseas. Richard Hill, Head of Ref Section at LC could not answer her questions. Letter 3: from Harold Spivacke dated 2/13/64 to Perry in New York. Perry wrote in wanting to change the name of a work (Mary Casty) and wrote to Spivacke for advice. Spivacke couldn't help her. Letter 4: From Julia Perry. She wanted to be considered for a commission. At this time, she's in a wheel chair, but she says in her letter "It is difficult to compose in a wheel chair but I manage". The letter she wrote was dated 11/25/72 and was answered by Edward Waters, who wrote back telling her that she'd be considered. Letter 5: Letter written by Edward N. Waters, Chief of the Music Division, to Perry in the Lakeside Hospital (Cleveland Ohio: 4/30/73). Expresses regret that she's hospitalized and informs her that the Music Division doesn't commission musical works. Letter 6: Julia Perry writes the Music Division on 4/6/73 continuously requesting to be commissioned. I suspect that she needs the money to pay her hospital expenses. The letter says, in part: "I have a tentative money amount (monetary amount to ask for) and a clear music project in mind. I must fulfill medical plans... I presume each hospital will charge $500.00, therefore, I include this amount as my check for the "Ballad for Orchestra" -a work that she is possibly due remuneration for. Waters wrote back saying that her situation is sad and he wished he could help, but it's beyond the Music Division's power to do anything further. This return letter was dated 4/16/73. Letter 6: A letter written on two half sheets of paper by Julia Perry(one in pencil and the other in pen). The penmanship was poor. Appears as if a right handed person wrote a letter with his left hand. She is writing from the hospital, and the letter is barely legible. It says in part: "Send additional $500.00 for my medical tests and treatments" ("excuse pennmanship"). Signed, Julia Perry, Lakeside Hospital.

WHITE, CLARENCE CAMERON
.....Letter dated 10/1/50 from Clarence Cameron White (addressed to "My Dear Friend") in the Coolidge Collection -box 104. The letter invites the recipient to see "Ouanga" that is being produced by the Dra-Mu Opera Company in Philadelphia, 10/27/50

.....Letter from CC White to Fritz Kreisler (in Fritz Kreisler Collection, Box 14). A short thank you note.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Sheet Music /Music Covers

Note: Next to some sheet music covers, I enclosed the code "BSMC". The purpose is to be able to search "Black Sheet Music Covers" and to get only those covers that are by or about Blacks; which transcends African Americans. Also, BSMCI (Black Sheet Music Covers Illustrated). On the cover is a drawing.

If there is no call number by listed, the call number is M28

A & I STATE NORMAL MARCH
Nathaniel Davis




ALSTON, TOUSSIANT L'OUVERTURE
.....Let's go boys, let's go! M1646.A (BMSC)


AMERICAN PRESS MARCH
Michael Brand

ANACOSTIA (WASHINGTON, DC)
.....March Triumphal of Freedom,(1922) by Fulton B. Karr (author of the "Shandon Bells" Anacostia DC.) Sheet music cover, M28.K. "Respectfully dedicated to the boys of his home town of Anacostia, DC, who served their country and as a tribute to the memory of those who gave their lives in the great world war. by the author.



(AN ONLINE REFERENCE): DC-OLD-NEWS-L Archives
Archiver > DC-OLD-NEWS > 2004-12 > 1103650865


From: Jamie Perez
Subject: The Washington Post, February 2, 1896 - ANACOSTIA NEWS
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 09:41:05 -0800 (PST)

The Washington Post, Sunday, February 2, 1896, pg. 11

ANACOSTIA.

Mrs. Samuel B. Lyon, wife of the superintendent of Bloomingdale Hospital, New York, was visiting at St. Elizabeths during the week.

The Geraldine Dramatic Club will give an entertainment, under the auspices of St. Teresas Branch of the Conference of St. Vincent De Paul, at Masonic Hall on Tuesday night.

The Ladies Aid Society of St. Johns Parish, Md., gave a sociable Thursday evening at the residence of Mr. John Kirby for the benefit of the church. The attendance was very large, a number of young people from Anacostia being present. Dancing was kept up till late, when refreshments were served. Those attending from Anacostia were Mr. Thomas Gray, Dr. William Green, Miss Schaefer, Mr. Joseph Hospital, Mr. Albert Richardson, Miss Mae Branson, Miss Nellie Leonard, Mrs. Emma Robey, Mr. Frank McLean, Mr. Louis Smith, Mr. Sanderson, Mr. William Jordon, Miss Martha Rose, Miss Gertrude Leonard, Miss Belle Gray, and Mr. John Kane.

Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Griswold invited a number of friends to meet Mr. Griswolds nephew, Mr. Harry L. Welles, of Connecticut, on Wednesday evening. Vines and ferns decorated the handsome parlors and refreshments were dispensed at the conclusion of the dancing. Among those present were Miss Florence Bowman, Miss Emma Lee, Miss Lucy Hollister, Miss Emma Bowen, Mr. Norman North, Mr. Warren Tolson, Miss Anna Lee, Miss Signa Guerdrum, Prof. Johnson, of the Eastern High School; Miss Alice Putnam, Miss Mildred Peck, Miss Theda North, Dr. William Green, Mr. William Jordon, Mr. Fulton Karr, Miss Luida Pumphrey, Mr. Maurice Haines, Mr. William Pyles, Miss Edith Pyles, and Miss Carrie Golden. The company was entertained with piano music, by Mr. Fulton Karr and also by Miss Pumphrey.

The much-discussed checker tournament opened on Tuesday night. All the competitors were present and the revised list of entries was announced, as follows: Dr. C. H. Weiss, Dr. J. A. Watson, Dr. R. H. Pyles, and Messrs. Charles Richardson, Meitzler, Payne, P. S. Quaid, and Prof. August Miller. It was decided that the three prizes to be awarded should consist of a valuable checker board and set of checkers for the first and second prizes, and for the third prize a manual on the game of draughts. It was agreed that every competitor should play twelve games with his opponent, until all shall have played against one another. The tourney then opened, and during the evening a number of interested citizens appeared to watch the play. On Thursday evening play was again resumed, and will commence again on Tuesday night. The record is as follows: Dr. J. A. Watson, per cent., .722; Dr. Pyles, .687; Meltzler, .687; Payne, .500; Dr. Weiss, .500; P. S. Quaid, .475; Prof. Miller, .2!
75, and
C. Richardson, .187.

Transcribed by: Jamie M. Perez jamiemac@flash.net

Trying to confirm or refute that CORNELIUS McLEAN SR. (circa 1774-Sep. 12, 1836) of Washington, D.C., was the uncle of WILLIAM McLEAN CRIPPS (1799-1876) of Washington, D.C, and, furthermore, that Cornelius was born in Staten Island, NY.

ARMSTRONG "TECH" HIGH SCHOOL MARCH (BSMC)
.....Music by Isabelle R. Hammond. Arranged by Wellington Adams (see his photo)



(ALSO: search Armstrong in American memory for additional references to the school, although not music references)

BACK TO LIFE (BSMCI)
Chas. Hunter

BALTIMORE AMERICAN
Charles P.Burton

BIGGERS BUSINESS COLLEGE SONG
.....Music Setting by Mrs. Jeanette D. Dyer (picture of Mrs Dyer on sheet music cover)M1959.B65W


....(Written inside sheet music: Poetess and Song Writer, Mrs. Lela M. Williams, after a visit to the "Biggers Business College", upon observation and inspection of this historical institution, and being thus inspired, wrote this song entitled, "Biggers Business College Song", and she, having credentials showing exceptional scholastic attainments, was chosen Program Director and Registrar of this business institution.

BILLBOARD MARCH
John N. Klohr (M1420.K)

BLACK COUPLE DANCING (BSMCI)
.....Cotton Patches. By M. R. Kaufman. M28.K

BLACK MAN SITTING ON PORCH (BSMCI)
.....Uncle Remus. Griffith Jones. M28.J

BLAKE, J. HUBERT (EUBIE)
.....See America First M1630.B (mss and published music)

BLAND, JAMES A (1854-1911)
.....In the evening by the moonlight. M1630.B
(Words and music revised and edited by Jerome H. Kanner at the direction of Irene Bland and The Bland Estate)

BOONE, RUSSELL (Band Director, Mississippi Valley State)
"I SHALL RETURN"
N. C. Davis

BOSTON GLOBE MARCH
A. Lawrence Burkman

BOSTON GLOBE 2 STEP DANCE GRAND MARCH
Edward Holst

BOSTON HERALD MARCH
Dave Fitzgibbon

BOSTON POST MARCH
EC Cary

BOSTON PRESS CLUB MARCH
Dave Fitzgibbon

BROOKLYN TIMES MARCH
John William Black

CENTURY MARCH (BSMC)
.....Joe Jordan. M28.J.



DRYE, FRANK L.
On sheet music cover of "Moton's Inaugural March)
Published by Frank L. Drye, Tuskegee Institute, Ala, 1916
----The sheet music was published in celebration of the inauguration of Maj. Robert Russa Moton as Principal of Tuskegee. Booker T. Washington died and Robert R. Moton became principal in 1916. On the sheet music cover is a picture of Moton, Washington, Drye and the Tuskegee Institute Band (about 40 all males)

Hampton University to Dedicate Joe Jordan Ragtime Jazz and Entrepreneurship Collection June 17

Hampton, VA - Hampton University will dedicate the "Joe Jordan Ragtime Jazz and Entrepreneurship Collection" Saturday, June 17 at 3 p.m. The ceremony will take place in the Peabody Room of the William & Norma Harvey Library on the HU campus and will be followed by a reception at 4:15 p.m. in the Hampton University Museum. The event is made possible through the sponsorship of Consolidated Bank & Trust.

"Our family is honored to make this donation to Hampton University," said Kimi Rabun, granddaughter of the late Joe Jordan and the mother of two recent HU graduates. "We are confident my grandfather's legacy will be preserved at Hampton and that the collection will provide an opportunity for public access to the origins of American jazz music."

"It was important to our family that a Historically Black University receive this African-American cultural gift and Hampton has become our new Home by the Sea," Rabun added.

A world-famous composer and musician, Jordan carried the distinction of being one of the richest African-American real estate entrepreneurs in the United States during the ragtime era. His priceless collection contains more than 600 items, including original manuscripts, sheet music, engraving plates, photos, private papers and books.

"Lovie Joe," created in 1910, proved to be Joe Jordan's greatest composition and musical success, according to Tim Samuelson, cultural historian for the City of Chicago. Jordan's other musical score of significance was "Siren of the Tropics," composed for Josephine Baker's "Folies Bergere in Paris."

"We at Consolidated Bank & Trust Company are pleased to be a participant in honoring Joe Jordan, not only a great artist, but also an astounding entrepreneur," said Joseph L. Williams, chairman of the board of Consolidated Bank Trust Company. "He and our founder, Maggie Lena Walker, both had a vision and a plan to implement the vision in a manner that greatly benefited their respective communities."

"Jordan was one of America's first Black millionaires and the J. Jordan building was the first major, Black-owned economic structure in the city of Chicago," explained Dr. Sid Howard Credle, dean of the HU School of Business. "That accomplishment provided motivation to other entrepreneurs."

Credle, whose efforts resulted in the Hampton University donation, was selected by the Jordan's family to be the official biographer of the musician's life story.

(ALSO): When he was 21, Jordan moved to Chicago. The next year, he wrote the Pekin Rag, dedicated to Bob Mott's Pekin Theater, Chicago's great African-American-owned theater and first of the many such theaters and vaudeville houses that were to sprout up across the nation. The Pekin also set the stage for Chicago to become the center of the jazz world between 1915 and 1925.
In the spring of 1905, Jordan was called to New York by Ernest Hogan. Hogan had organized a group of seventeen men and women--singers, dancers, and musicians--and wanted Jordan and James Reese Europe to help turn them into an all-African-American ragtime orchestra and write their music. When The Memphis Students made its debut, it was the first group of its kind to play in New York City.


CHICAGO AMERICAN
D.W. Godard

CHICAGO TRIBUNE MARCH
W. Paris Chambers

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER MARCH
Louis W. Brand

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER
B. Kleinbeck

CINCINNATI POST MARCH
By J.V. Jhio

CINCINNATI POST MARCH
John N. Klohr

CLEF CLUB GRAND MARCH (BSMC)
James Reese Europe



COLORED AMERICAN MARCH (BSMC)
James G. Clayton

COTTON PATCHES (BSMI)
.....M.R. Kaufman. M28.K, Black couple dancing

COUPLES PAIRED AND WALKING IN A LINE (BSMCI)
.....Sheet music cover. "Lucinda's Rag-time Reception March. John S. Hill. Cincinnati: Ilsen & Co., 1901)

CREOLE (BSMC)
Basile Bares

CREOLE (BSMC)
Madame Saint-Clair

DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY (BSMCI)
J. Lubrie Hill
(Black man sitting and playing a banjo)

DAILY POST
F. Fanciulli

DAVIS, NATHANIEL C.
"A AND I STATE NORMAL MARCH"
Nathaniel C. Davis

DOUGLASS' FUNERAL MARCH (BSMC)
.....Music by Charles G. Harris



DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL MARCH
.....Music by Isabelle R. Hammond. Arranged by Wellington Adams (see his photo)



EVANS' GRAND MARCH
.....Dwight W. Godard. Published by the Aurora Daily Beacon (Aurora, ILL: 1893)

EVENING STAR
.....F. Fanciulli.

EVENING STAR
.....Inez DeM. Keck. M28.K. Picture of the Washington Evening Star Building on cover.
M28.K



FLORIDA TIMES UNION MARCH

GAZETTE TIMES 2 MARCH
Phil Edwards

GOLD AND BLUE, THE (FISK, 1946)
.....John W. Work M1959.F5W

GOOD BYE MY SOLDIER BOYS (BMSC)
Lee Harrell (Sung by Bradford & Crumbley)



GREATER PITTSBURGH

HAIL ALMA MATER (Illinois State Normal University)
....M1958.I26N4 1926


HAIL TO THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (BSMC)
W.C. Handy



HALE, W. J. (President, A&I STATE NORMAL SCHOOL)
"A AND I STATE NORMAL MARCH"
Nathaniel C. Davis

HAPPY LITTLE COONS IN DIXIE (BSMC)
.....Julia S. Holloway



HARTFORD POST
JO Casey

HARFORD TIMES
JO Casey

HAVE YOU THE TRIBUNE HABIT?
Edward Buffington (M1622.B: Minneapolis Tribune)

HAWAIIAN PARADE (BSMCI)
Eduard Holst
(Blacks in costumes walking in with spears as if going to war. Exaggerated features)

HERALD BELL MARCH
John Burkhart

HERALD MARCH
Nhan Franko

HOUSTON COLLEGE
.....Ella Lois Johnson-Hudson M1959.H7J

KIMBALL POS
John J. Cauchois

LOVE'S GREETING WALTZ (BSMC)
J.W. HOFFMAN, JR.

MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL
Chauncey L. Canfield

MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL MARCH
Edmund Braham

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE COLLEGE BAND
"I Shall Return"
N. C. Davis

MOTON'S INAUGURAL MARCH
Frank L. Drye

NY MUSICAL EXCHANGE
Leopol Fuenkenstein

NEW YORK PRESS PATROL
JJ Cauchois

NEW YORK RECORDERWJ
D.F. Bradley

NEW YORK TRIBUNE MARCH
A. LaGuardia

NEWS MARCH
.....Rose M. Jones. Dedicated to the leading newspapers of Texas, "The Galveston News" nad "The Dallas News" M28.J

OCTOROONS (BSMC)
.....J.W. Johnson. (Respectfully dediated to MALLOR BROs) of Ishams Octoroons)



O WESTERN U! (Western University Glee Song)
.....Prof Robt G. Jackson (music); Prof. Albert Ross (words)


Has picture of Ward Hall, Trades' Hall, Stanley Hall, Bishop Abraham Grant, D.D. (President of the Board of Trustees, Western University and Wm T. Vernon, A.M. D., D. President of Western University) M1959.WJ

ORGAN (PIPE ORGAN) (BSMC)
....."Marche Religioso" by Leonard Z. Johnson. M28.J

OUR BOYS AND GIRLS MARCH
Edouard Hesselberg. To the Philadelphia Times.

PHILADELPHIA RECORD
H. Engelmann

PITTSBURG DISPATCH
J.S. Duss

PITTSBURGH GAZETTE MARCH
Carl Bruno

PRESS MARCH
Composed and dedicated to the Philadelphia Press. By Edouard Hessellberg.

SISSLE, NOBLE
....See America First (Music: Eubie Blake)

STATON'S MUSIC JOURNAL
H. ENGLEMANN

TICKLED TO DEATH (BSMC)
Chas Hunter



UNCLE REMUS (BSMCI)
.....Griffith J. Jones. Arr. Harry I. Lincoln. (M28.J). Black man sitting on a porch in a chair with a cane.


WASHINGTON BEE (BSMC)
.....Wellington A. Adams (Photo of W. Calvin Chase)



"Wellington Adams gave Aida Ward first lesson"
(Pitts C, 1/19/29, 2S1)


WASHINGTON EVENING STAR
Inex DeM. Keck (pic of Evening Star bldg)

WASHINGTON HERALD MARCH
Antonio Ceflo

WASHINGTON POST
F.Fanciulla

WATERLOO POST MARCH
Harvey H. Fleming

WHITE, Dr. J. HERBERT (Pres. Mississippi Valle State College)
"I SHALL RETURN"
N.C. Davis

Iconography File

This file represents photographs or references. Most items in the list are illustrations on sheet music, or pictures in programs. Few are the actual photos.

ADAMS, ELWYN
......National Negro Opera Company Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress, Box 5, folder 4

ADAMS, LESLIE
......National Negro Opera Company Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress, Box 6, folder 6

ADAMS, MAMIE S
.....Sheet music cover. "There is Room in Heaven For You" by Wallace D. Adams. M2199.A

ADAMS, WELLINGTON
......Harmon Foundation Collection, Manuscripts Division, Library of Congress, Box 55



ADDISON, ADELE (Voice of Dorothy Dandridge)
......Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/pphome.html

ALEXANDER, MILDRED
.....Come Enter My Heart. M2199.A

ALFORD, DEACON ELSTON
.....A Zeal Burning in my heart. M2199.A

ANDERSON, AL (BMSC)
....."My Darktown Gal" by Lee Johnson. Sheet music cover

ANDERSON, MALETUS
.....Pitts C, 8/3/39, Front Page

ANDERSON, MAMIE
....."My Darktown Gal" by Lee Johnson. Sheet music cover

ARTISTS
.....Charles White, talented young negro artist. Mural at Hampton, People's Voice, 1/29/44, 15

AUSTIN, PATTI (7 Years Old)
.....Cash Box, 4/19/58, p41



BANKS, RALPH
.....Pitts C, 5/29/26, p6

BETHEL, FANNIE
.....Chair of a Detroit Negro Opera annual pre-opera ball. Chi Def, 5/6/39, 16

BIGGERS, MRS LELA M
.....Biggers Business College Song, M1959.B65W

BOYD, HENRY ALLEN
.....President of the Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company (Nashville), the oldest Negro bank in the country, Pitts C, 8/17/29 (2/1)

BRADFORD AND CRUMBLEY (BSMC)
.....New York Prime Favorites. Sheet music cover. "The Heart That I Love" by Lee Harrell, Copyrighted by Lee Harrell (Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 1902)



BRISTER, SILAS W. (Sr)
.....New freedom's training ground. M1630.B

BROOMFIELD, LEROY
.....Partner of Famous Easter dancing team (Aurora Greely, other partner). Pitts C, 8/10/29 (3/2)


CHARLTON, MELVILLE

Melville Charlton was the first black artist admitted to the American Guild of Organists.

He was born in New York City on August 26, 1880, received piano instruction from E.B. Kinney (a Dvorak pupil), won a free scholarship at the National Conservatory of Music, and studied organ and composition under Charles Heinroth (musical director and organ recitalist, Carnegie Hall, Pittsburgh, PA). In 1915, he passed an examination conducted by Horatio C. Parker and received the degree of Associate of the American Guild of Organists. In 1924, he received an honorary doctorate from Howard University.

He was organist at Union Theological Seminary and a Jewish Temple in New York City.
He died November 13, 1973 in New York City.

CHILDREN (PICTURE OF FOUR BLACK CHILDREN ON SHEET MUSIC COVER) (BSMC)
.....Sheet music cover. "Happy Little Coons in Dixie" by Julia S. Holloway. Adams Music: Passaic, N.J. 1903)



COBB, WILLIAM MONTAGUE
.....Violinist and professor of anatomy at Howard University, http://www.jstor.org/view/10773711/di007676/00p0501m/0

COLE, JOSEPH
.....First african american to sing with the Detroit Civic Orchestra, Chic Def, 2/5/38, 6

Davis, Nathaniel C.
.....A&I State Normal March, M28.Davis

DAWSON, MARY CARDWELL
.....National Negro Opera Company Collection, Library of Congress, Music Division



DAWSON, WILLIAM L.
.....Pitts C, 11/24/34 (8/2)

DEPPE, LOUS B.
.....Baritone. Pitts C, 12/7/29 (3/2)

DIXIE JUBILEE SINGERS
.....Eva Jessye, Dir. Pitts C, 5/22/26, p7

DIXIE MELODY MASTERS
.....http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/traveling-culture/chau1/pdf/dixiemel/2/brochure.pdf

DIXON, DEAN
.....Prints and Photographs Catalog, Library of Congress. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/pphome.html

DIXON, VANCE
.....Pitts C, 1/9/26, p10

DOMINGO, EULALIE
.....concert pianist, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Pitts C, 8/21/26, 6

DUCKETT, RUTH
.....Sam Perryman Collection



DUNHAM, KATHERINE
.....People's Voice, 7/1/44, p22

DOUGLASS, FREDERICK (BSMC)
.....Sheet music by W.C. Handy. Frederick Douglass photo top right



DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL MARCH
.....Music by Isabelle R. Hammond. Arranged by Wellington Adams (see his photo)



DUNBAR, RUDOLPH
.....http://www.overgrownpath.com/2007/04/berlin-philharmonics-first-black.html

FREEMAN, H. LAWRENCE
.....Opera composer, Amst News, 8/29/28, 7

EVERETT, DORETHA
.....No Weapon, Mildred Alexander, M2199.A

FLEMING, CHARLES W
.....6 Women, 4 Men on Afro Honor Roll, Wash Afro, 4/24/71, 13

GRAY, MALVIN
.....Manuscripts Division, Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/rr/mss/

GREELY, AURORA
.....Partner in Famous Eastern dancing team (Leroy Broomfield), Pitts C., 8/10829 (3/2)
.....Pitts C, 5/26/26, p6

HAGAN, HELEN E. (1893-1964)
.....Crisis Magazine, Nov,. 1911, 18 (also Helen Hagan: also see clipping under "Yale"). First black to earn a B MUS. in music from Yale 91912)

HALL, ADELAIDE
.....Get your Body Off That Rockin' Chair. M1739.2.M (Morton Morrow)

HALL, PROF FREDERICK
.....Prof Frederick D. Hall returned to US from 2 year study in Europe and West Africa, Amst News, 8/17/35 (5/1) Pictured with his wife

HANDY, W.C. (BSMC)
.....Composer of sheet music. Photo bottom right.



HAPPY LITTLE COONS IN DIXIE (BSMC)
....By Julia S. Holloway (sheet music cover)

HEBRON, J. HARVEY
.....University of Pennsylvania (Marian Anderson website0


HINDERAS, NATALIE
.....New York World-Telegram/Sun Collection, Prints & Photographs, Library of Congress.

HINES, PROF. J. EARLE
....It means a lot to know jesus for yourself. Doris Akers, M2199.A

HOFFMAN (JR), J.W.
.....Photograph on a sheet music cover. Violinist. Song title: Love's Greeting Waltz. Publisher, J.W. Hoffman, Jr., 1904. M32.H



HOLLOMAN, CHARLOTTE WESLEY
.....Sam Perryman Collection



.....Singer Charlotte Holloman has sculptured face, long brown hair. Jet, 2/21/54, p21 "Are the Prettiest Girls from ashington?

HOLMES, HENRY
.....Manuscripts Division, Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/rr/mss/

JACKSON, MAHALIA
....A Spring in Galilee, Margaret Aikens, M2199.A

JOHNSON, DR. CHARLES S.
.....Pitts C, 12/1/34 (2/1)

JOHNSON, JESSIE LEE
.....Bennett College (Female) Quartette, Pitts C, 8/3/29, 6/2

JONES, LOUIA VAUGH
.....Center. Pittsburgh Courier Collection (Washington Edition), Howard University



KNIGHT, GLADYS (8 years old)
.....Winner of the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, 1952. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/pphome.html



LEWIS/ROBINSON
.....Anne Harrison Lewis and Lawrence Robinson. A dance team. Afro, 4/8/50, p18

LEWIS, ANNE HARRISON
.....Of the dance team of Lewis and Robinson. Afro, 4/18/50, p18

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ACAPPELLA CHOIR
.....Bulletin. National Association of Teachers of Singing Journal (N.A.T.S.)Nov-Dec 1953, p3

MCFERRIN, ROBERT
.....Jet, 12/16/54, p58

MOORE, WILLIAM TOOTS
.....I've Cried My Last Tear. William Toots Moore, M1630.2.M

MOSES, ETHEL
.....Most beautiful American colored girl, Pitts C, 8/17/29, Feature section

MUSE, JESSIE ESTELLE
.....Crisis Magazine, Nov. 1911, 18 (also Helen Hagan: also see clipping under "Yale")

NELSON, ANNIE B.
.....Sam Perryman Collection



NEW WESLEY AME ZION CHURCH
.....See: Organ

NORTH CAROLINA MUTUAL QUARTETTE
.....Pitts C, 11/9/29 (5/2)

ORGAN (PIPE ORGAN)
.....On sheet music cover. "Marche Religioso" by Leonard Z. Johnson. Picture of pipe organ dedicated to New Wesley AME Zion Church (Harrisburgh, PA)


PEELER, P. LAWRENCE
.....Pitts C, 12/29/34 (6/1)

PERRYMAN, SAM



PHILLIPS, CARRYE MAE
.....Pitts C, 8/24/29 (2/1)

PILGRIM TRAVELERS
....Jesus i'm thankful. M2199.Alexander, J.W.

PRICE, CHATTIS
.....Bennett College (Female) Quartette, Pitts C, 8/3/29, 6/2

RAHN, MURIEL
.....Chi Def, 12/4/43, 10

RAY, WILLIAM
.....Sam Perryman Collection



Rector, Eddie. Dancer. Pitts C, 5/1/26, p10

RHODES, ALBERT, Tenor. Wash Afro, 5/1/71, 5

RICHARDSON, MAYME
.....President of the Detroit Branch of the National Assoc of Negro Musicians (1920s), NNOC: 14/33

ROBESON, PAUL
.....The Peat Bog Soldiers (Die Moorsoldaten). M1735.M

ROBINSON, LAWRENCE
.....Of the dance team of Lewis/Robinson (Anne Harrison). Afro 4/8/50, p18

ROYE TRIO
.....Pitts C, 5/3/26, woman's page

SANDIFER, L'FREDA
.....Bennett College (Female) Quartette, Pitts C, 8/3/29, 6/2

SANDRIDGE, JUSTIN
.....Pianist, appears in recital at Carnegie Music hall, Friday night, Pitts C, 11/16/29 (8/1)

SEWELL, EDITH
.....People's Voice, 2/12/44, 31

Skinner, Arturo
.....The hour of deliverance, M2199.Alexander, Mildred.

TALBERT, WEN
....Pitts C, 10/9/26, 13

TRENHOLM, H.C.
.....President of Alabama State in the mid 1920s.

WASHINGTON EVENING STAR
.....Inez DeM. Keck. M28.K



WATKINS, MARY
.....http://www.oaklandopera.org/FANNIEMAY.html

WEEKS, S.S.
.....Amst News, 8/17/35 (5/1)

WEEMS, E.L.
.....W.L.Weems who owns and operates the Weems Photo Studio at 327 Broad Street, Jacksonville, FL. Grad of Tuskegee School of Phography under the late C.M. Battey, has worked in the best white studios in the south. Worked in Atlanta where he was staff photographer for the Atlanta Constitution. Studio in Jacksonville, which has been open for two years, is valued at $2500. Pitts C, 12/7/29 (2/1). Photo

WEINGLASS, DEWEY
.....World's greatest colored russian dancer, Pitts C, 9/4/26, 3

WHITE, CHARLES
.....Talented negro artist. Has mural at Hampton. People's Voice, 1/29/44, 15

WILBERFORCE SEXTETTE
.....Will give recital, 11/22/29 in Pittsburgh, Pitts C, 11/16/29 (8/1)

WORK, FREDERICK
.....Brother of John Wesley Work, Pitts C, 8/3/29 (11/1)

WRIGHT, NANNIE
.....Bennett College (Female) Quartette, Pitts C, 8/3/29, 6/2

(UNIDENTIFIABLE)

.....BLACK MALE IN UNIFORM...New Mac Cuist Nagel March. G. Katzenberger. M28.K



PIANOS



Source: Pittsburgh Courier, 12/15/28, 10. Ellison piano.
L.F. Ellison Piano House, 967 Liberty Avenue

Source: Sheet music cover. Fischer piano. Established 1840.
J. & C. Fischer, 110 Fifth Avenue, Cor. 16th St., NEW YORK
>




Source: Sheet music cover. Hafelin piano. Arnold Hafelin, manufacturer

Friday, December 14, 2007

Musical Stage Performers






(Photograph of Al/Mamie Anderson on the covers of sheet music.)

ANDERSON, AL/MAMIE (BSMC)

(Also, an entry on Albert Anderson is listed in Henry T. Sampson's "Blacks in Blackface" (Scarecrow, 1980)

ANDERSON, AL
.....Al Anderson now at rest. Final tribute to a most brilliant actor and gentleman.
When the final curtain rang down on Al Anderson, lat of the team of Anderson and Goines, the american stage lost one of th emost brilliant actors of two generations. As a man, he was especially distinguished morally and intellectually and his deportment as a gentleman has never been surpassed by any actor of his race.

Albert E. Anderson died at his home in Keokik, Ia, Tuue, Dec 8 of heart failure from a nervous breakdown. he was born in that city, Aug 25, 1869. He went on stage at the age of 15 with McFadden's Untom's Cabin. he had two brothers, Morris and York, with whom he doubled separately, but York Anderson was first to become famous as a quartet man and with Ben Payne and George Moore, the two brothers formed the Eclipse Quartet which became popular in the east. They joined "Martell's South Before the War" but when Al began to shine as a comedian, Sam T. Jack signed him with his creole company, the first colored company ever booked in burlesque houses. It was in this company that he fell in love with Mamie Riley, a most beautiful girl, and married her. He then proceeded to train his wife for vaudeville and after they had opened on the keith Circuit as the team of Al and Mamie Anderson, they immediately became famous. his former travels with minstrels shows led him to dress in clean tailor-made expensive, floppy clothes and he wore a little side cap on his head which made his beautfy and his smile always captivating. his chief riot in comedy in his vaudeville act was chasing his shadow around with the spotlight different from any ever seen of which he was the originator. Now, in the hight of his carer, when musical comedy was all the rage, following affter the pace of Bob Cole and Billy johnson, Williams and Walker, Ernest Hogan, Black Patti (Sissieretta Jones) and Bob A. Kelley about 1902, the Anderson's starred in a production entitled 'Lady Africa"

Al Anderson had then become so popular in Boston that he had a standing contract for a summer run of minstrelsy at Cresent Gardens, the elite summer resort at Winthrop. he would surname his show "Lady Africa's Minstrels" with an afterpiece "On Broadway in Dahomey" beautifully met. This was in 1904, when as the Freeman representative, I was on one occasion his special guest. In the company of Happy Billy Brigs, J. Hamilton Goines and Mr. Hazzard, "Christioan" the foot cyclist and rollere skater. Bobby Kem and his Wangdoodle Four which included Leslit Tripplet, Johnny Greene, Will Cooke and a Chorus. Soon after this date, Anderson's wife became tired and retired from the stage and later left her husband. Anderson and Billy Briggs joined hands but not for long. Anderson had not recovered from the separation from his wife, which broke his heart, the smile seen in the picture had faded and he never again wore the same smile. he next joined hands with J. Hamilton Goines, a fine singer and a fine quality man like himself and quietly toured the country on the big time for over twenty years until his break down in New York which ended in his death. (Pitts C, 1/16/26 p16 picture)

.....Al Anderson, of Anderson and Goines, whose death was announced last week, was sad tidings to his western friends. His stage history will be reviewed in the next issue. Pitts C, 1/2/26 (10)

BROOMFIELD, LEROY
.....Partner of AURORA GREELY of the Famous Eastern dancing team, Pitts C 8/10/29 (3/2)

CHILTON AND THOMAS
.....Dancers of national repute who are being headlined at the Stanley Theater this week. The team sails on the Ile de France from New York on 12/6/29 and will open at the Pallidinn theatre, London for two weeks, upon their arrival. From there they will go to the Double Kit Kat Club in Berlin and then to Paris. Pitts C, 11/23/29 (3/2)

COLSTON, VIOLA
.....One of the dancing girls in Showboat", Amst News, 9/12/28, 6

DANCER, EARL

GREELY, AURORA
.....Partner to Leroy Broomfield of the Famous Easter dancing team. Pitts C, 8/10/29 (3/2)

RAHN, MURIEL
.....'Carmen Jones' adds triumph to Theatre. Afro, 1/1/44, p13

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Conversations

CHARLOTTE WESLEY HOLLOMAN





Charlotte Wesley Holloman came from a musical family. Her father, Charles Harris Wesley (1891-1987) was a noted historian, educator, author, musician and minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He developed an exceptional voice, which led him to sing with Roland Hayes and the Fisk Jubilee Singers as a student. In addition, he received a Master’s degree in history and economics from the graduate school at Yale University before beginning a teaching career at Howard University. Subsequently, he received his Ph.D. from Harvard University, making him one of the first African Americans to do so in History. Her mother, Louise Johnson, sang in the Howard University Choir as a student. Her late sister, Louise, was a pianist.

Mrs. Holloman studied piano at Howard University with Hazel Harrison. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Piano, then obtained a Master’s degree in voice at the suggestion of her undergraduate voice teacher, Todd Duncan. After her concert debut at Town Hall in 1954, she studied and performed in opera in Europe for many years.

My conversation with Mrs. Holloman took place at her home in Washington., DC on August 18, 2007.

SP: Tell me about your career?

CH: I did not do a great deal of singing throughout the country until I made my concert debut at Town Hall in 1954. Apparently, it was quite an occasion for the newspapers and magazines. They were extremely taken by my concert, and I got some marvelous reviews.

SP: How did you become interested in music? Was it a part of your family?

CH: From the time I was able to touch the piano, I was taking piano lessons as an experiment at the age of three and a half. I took lessons from Camille Nickerson from Howard University, who was trying to do some pedagogy with some very young children. I stayed with her until I graduated from high school.

SP: How did your career progress?

CH: I graduated from Howard University with a major in piano. And, my senior year in college, my teacher for singing was Todd Duncan. I needed only one credit to graduate and I took singing. As a result of that semester, he suggested that I continue to study voice. I did, with several of his teachers. When I was getting ready to do graduate work, Mr. Duncan suggested that I consult both the piano and voice department to see if they would accept me as a major. I did and was accepted in both departments, but selected the voice department.

SP: Of course, Todd Duncan was a legend, the original Porgy in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. What was he like as a person? What was he like to work with?

CH: A fascinating person, and wonderful personality. His intellect was so great that you are fascinated from several standpoints; kept you laughing and enticed.

SP: While at Howard, you said that you studied piano for four years with Hazel Harrison. I might mention that the Library of Congress has a radio broadcast of a program called “Freedom’s People” (3/15/42), and on it Professor Harrison plays a selection entitled “Will O’ the Wisp.” Would you tell me about your relationship with your former piano teacher?

CH: I took my lessons very early in the morning. She would be practicing in her studio at three o’clock in the morning. Because I had my senior recital coming up, I went to her and said, “Miss Harrison, I don’t see how I can prepare myself for my recital, considering my class schedule as it is now”. She called everybody “baby.” She said, “baby, you live two blocks from here, don’t you?” I said, “yes ma’am.” Then she said, “now, you walk around the corner to my studio, and I’ll be here practicing starting at three o’clock in the morning. You come at five, practice until eight, and then we’ll have a lesson. We’ll do that everyday”. And, that’s how I prepared for my senior recital. She also said, “I’ll know when you’re not here because I won’t hear you.”

SP: Such a great story. Did you aspire to become a concert pianist?

CH: Not really. But I got coaxed into majoring in piano at Howard. I had been playing pretty well. Everyone had been pushing me to become a pianist, but I felt that there were others in the piano department who could play better than I. It sort of took the starch out of me, because I didn’t think that I was a very good pianist. But I had a sister who was a piano major who graduated from Oberlin. I thought that she was much better than me. So I had things that discouraged me. But at the same time, I felt it was what I could do best at that particular point.

SP: Did you come from a musical family?

CH: My father sang with the Fisk Jubilee Singers along with Roland Hayes from 1907-1911. After that, he, Roland Hayes, and a third male singer (I can’t recall his name), decided that they would form a vocal trio and tour the east coast as a way to finance their continued education. Mr. Hayes wanted to go to Boston and my father wanted to go to New Haven, Connecticut. When my father got to New Haven, he took a little time off from the group and applied to Yale University. He was accepted and also got a job waiting tables in the faculty dining room. So, that is where he received his Master’s degree. He was a singer, and he learned to play a little bit while at Fisk.

My first experience with singing occurred when I was about eight years old. Madame Lillian Evanti came to our house because my mother wanted me to sing for her. So, I did. Madame Evanti must have thought that I had a nice little voice. She said, “how nice.” But I thought that my singing was awful.

SP: Did your mother also sing?

CH: Yes. She was in the Howard University Choir. My father was already teaching there. While a student, she didn’t let too many people know who she was, because she didn’t want to embarrass my father. I distinctly remember her telling me that.

CH: Your father eventually became a Presiding Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. When did he have time for his religious work?

SP: My father worked twelve hours a day and pastored on weekends. Back then, we lived in the parsonage that was in Georgetown. The church was right across the street from the parsonage. He also ran for the bishopic in the 1930s.

SP: Tell me about your career in Germany? Did you go over there because a lot of American singers felt that they had to have European credentials to be accepted as an opera singer?

CH: Yes. Another reason was that I needed experience with smaller opera companies. We did not have that kind of set up in this country at that time.

SP: You started out as a coloratura soprano, but later your voice changed.

CH: Yes. This occurs with age. My voice began to drop. I had a friend who would always say that I had a certain amount of fat in my voice. Well, it was there, and it gave my voice a richer sound.

SP: While you were a coloratura soprano, you performed an amazing feat. You sang simultaneous roles of “The Queen of the Night” and “The First Lady” in a German premiere performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. First of all, why did you do that and how?

CH: Oddly enough, I was cast as "The First Lady.” "The Queen of the Night” became ill during rehearsals. I had a lot of friends in the cast. When we were doing rehearsals, I was playing around vocally with the role of “The Queen of the Night.” Apparently, the news traveled to the Intendent of the theater. The next day, "The Queen of the Night,” who was originally cast for that role, was still ill. So, he said, “Charlotte Holloman, sing 'The Queen of the Night!’” So, I did. Well, he then put me under rehearsal for "The Queen of the Night” as a cover. She did not make the premiere performance. The morning of the dress rehearsal, they said over the loud speaker that I should come to the stage. So, I went to the stage and he said “we would like you to sing 'The Queen of the Night.’ And I said “well, who’s going to sing 'The First Lady?’” And he said “well, you’ll sing that too!” So, I did the premiere performance. I had about sixty seconds to come onto the stage as "The First Lady” and to come back on as "The Queen.” This feat had been unheard of!

SP: You have a member of your family on a postage stamp. How did that come about?

CH: On January 29, 1993, my uncle by marriage was commemorated as a chemist. His name was Percy Lavon Julian. His discoveries did a lot for life today.

SP: You spent several years in Germany. When you left there where did you go?

CH: I came back to the United States to teach. I didn’t do any more singing because I was discouraged that I could not stay in Germany. I wanted to stay and didn’t have funds. So, I came back and taught with the idea of going back. But I never went back.

SP: Do you still teach?

CH: Yes. I started out teaching in New York at Lehman College (CUNY). Then my parents took ill and I came to Washington and continued teaching there. I’ve done adjunct teaching at the University of the District of Columbia, Catholic University, Northern Virginia Community College, and now I teach full time at Howard University. I am still actively teaching, and I carry a rather busy schedule teaching at both the University of the District of Columbia and at Howard. I think I may have gotten my energy from my father.

SP: Madame Holloman, thank you for such an inspiring conversation.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

My Darlin' Aida [Original, Musical]
Performer: Lilly
Performer: Charlotte Holloman [Singer] Oct 27, 1952 - Jan 10, 1953

The Barrier [Original, Musical, Drama]
Performer: Sally
Performer: Charlotte Holloman [Young Cora Singer] Nov 2, 1950 - Nov 4, 1950


----------




WILLIAM BENJAMIN RAY, SR.


By Sam Perryman

PROFESSOR WILLIAM BENJAMIN RAY, SR. was a faculty member at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts (Graz, Austria), Professor of Voice at Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland), and Professor of Voice and Head of the Voice Faculty at Howard University’s School of Music (Washington, DC) where he retired in May 2000. He was educated at Oberlin College; the Academy of Music (Vienna, Austria), and Heidelberg University (Heidelberg, Germany). He studied privately with Dr. Daniel Harris and Maestro Sergei Radamsky. His multi-faceted career in Europe included major opera companies, orchestras, oratorios, and stage and television engagements. In addition, he is the founder of Black Theater Productions of Stuttgart, Germany.

SP: Where were you born and what year?

WR: I was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1925.

SP: Were you from a musical family?

WR: No. Not as far as I know. Family members sang in the local choir, as I did. However, I received lots of encouragement from members of the First Baptist Church in Lexington.

SP: Where else did you sing when you were growing up?

WR: Anywhere I received an opportunity.

SP: Who were some of your influences?

WR: There was Joanna Offord, who was a music teacher in the segregated schools in Lexington. She would come to our particular school once a week and lead the children in song. When she found out that I was doing solos, she became my unofficial accompanist. She invited me to her house to learn new repertoire, and correct my mistakes.

SP: When did you know that you wanted to become an opera singer?

WR: In High School. There was a non African American gentleman from Boston who would come to my house or to Ms. Offord’s house and teach me vocal technique. He was the soloist of a major white church in Lexington. Once, he asked his minister to allow me to be brought to the church to rehearse (so that I my voice could reverberate in the auditorium). The minister refused his request.

SP: How did you get started in opera?

WR: I finished High School and was drafted in 1943. After I was released from military service in 1945, I immediately enrolled at Kentucky State College to study pre-law (with the idea of later switching over to music). I thought that it would sound acceptable to my parents if I told them that I was studying pre-law since they assumed I would starve to death trying to launch an immediate career in opera. You see, at that time, there were no opportunities for black men to sing opera in this country.

At Kentucky State College, there was a woman by the name of Ms. Michaels, whose chorus I sang in at the college. She said to me, “we don’t have enough music for you here. Why don’t you go to Oberlin Conservatory? Carrie Kellog (my wife), William Brown and Sylvia Olden are there.” She continued naming students whom she thought I knew. I said,“ but I don’t have the music background.” She then said, “you’ll get it. Persevere. They’ll give you a scholarship based on your talent.” So, I went, auditioned, and got a scholarship. After a couple of semesters at Kentucky State, I transferred to Oberlin where I graduated from in 1952.

SP: How did you end up in Germany?

WR: After Oberlin, I went to Cleveland and began working at a social services agency. I also sang in the evenings with a theater company called Karamu. At one of our performances, there was an agent from Vienna in the audience. He came back stage and asked me if I would be interested in coming to Vienna to portray the role of the “Black King” in Menotti’s "Ahmal and the Night Visitors." He said that his company couldn’t pay for my transportation to Vienna, but I would receive a nice honorarium for my work once I got there. I talked it over with Carrie, and went to Vienna alone. During rehearsals there, agents talked to me about other engagements, such as doing a concert tour and singing on the radio with the Vienna Orchestra. Opportunities poured in. I felt confident at that time that I would remain in Europe, so I got in touch with Carrie (who was teaching music in High School in Cleveland) and told her to put our furniture in storage and bring our children to Europe. I had already paid six months on an apartment in Stuttgart, because I was working in that area for the radio and also preparing for an opera career on the side. That was the beginning of my European career that lasted for twenty five years.

SP: Tell me about the Black Theater Production Company that you established in Germany.

WR: I created the Black Theater Production Company as a teaching tool.

During World War 2, troops from many countries arrived in Germany. Many white Americans, some of who were racially prejudiced against Blacks at home, came also. As a result, the white Americans would impart their racial myths about blacks to the Germans, and subsequently, many Germans (though not all) would begin imitating the behaviors that racially prejudiced American whites portrayed against Blacks in America.
Because I knew that that was wrong (and ironic) for a Germans, I felt compelled to use the Black Theater Production Company as a way of putting on productions to bring home a lesson: that lesson was that oppressed people (Germans) should be the last to oppress others (Blacks). It was effective, because many Germans were able to reflect on their behaviors as a result of watching the productions that I sponsored.

SP: So, in a sense, you used the stage as a pulpit?

WR: Exactly. This was in Stuttgart. The actors were amateurs who would often get on stage and read scripts that were given to them. For example. a German actor in one of my productions played the role of a waiter in a restaurant. He went to a table where whites were (a black party was sitting at a table next to the table that he was waiting on), and he’d look at the blacks and frown. The audience sighed as they watched his behavior.

SP: Were you the only person doing this kind of work at that time in Germany?

WR: I was the only person who founded that kind of organization, but I had a lot of help from Germans and black American volunteers. But the idea was mine and it was based on my experiences.

SP: And how long did this company last?

WR: About twenty years.

SP: What are you doing now that you’re retired?

WR: Mainly, I adjudicate for several vocal competitions and teach voice privately. Occasionally, I am invited to educational institution to give talks.

SP: Why did you to retire from the concert stage when you did?

WR: At some point, when singing, I felt that I was no longer able to produce the sound that I once did. That was my cue to consider retirement from professional singing.

There are some folk who should retire (because of a natural deterioration of their voice which comes with age) but they continue. Leontyne Price had the insight to stop. One of her last operatic performances was a televised production of Verdi's "Aida," which was glorious. Her voice was at its top. In addition, she is an actress. Now, she had gotten some criticism for just singing and not acting at times; but not this time.

SP: Mr. Ray, thank you for an inspiring conversation

Names List

This is a partial list of names gleaned from newspapers and elsewhere. I did not aim to be comprehensive, nor did I not try to judge whether a person was important enough to warrant an entry. What makes this list unique, hopefully, is that it includes names possibly found no where else.

This database is mostly reflective of people who performed/created music in the western tradition. Therefore, one would find little representation of blues and jazz singers, performers, dancers here. Artists are given one medium listing (i.e. John Doe, piano), when they may have been known as a performer in more than one area (i.e. John Doe, baritone, pianist, conductor). I listed the information found in my sources at the time. Subsequently, if I run across additional information, I will list it at that time.

There are many individuals/groups who are not listed but should be. Many of those individuals are well documented; hence, one is able to determine who was left out. The point, again, is to try and write in those that do not appear elsewhere, a very small percentage of them you would probably agree to be important, though invisible. For example, Ethyl Wise, William Duncan Allen. These individuals were quite active, but not very well documented, in my opinion. There are many others, and, while I'm not trying to bring everyone out of obscurity, I am listing that information I encountered in my research up until about 1950 -thusfar.

One final note. Because this is my list, I can include anyone I wish! Therefore, I intend to share with you (probably in extended version -an oral history!- of some individuals who have changed my life as a result of our encounter. For example, Charlotte Holloman and William Ray, who are listed in my 'Conversations' section.)

A capellas. Choral group. Richard Green, conductor

Adams, Wellington (composer, arranger)

Afro-Haitian Play Dance: Pear Primus
http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rbmscl/adfprimuspearl/inv/

Aikens, Margaret (composer: has two daughters: Cynthia and Marsha)

Alex Jackson's Orchestra

Alexander, Mable. Sang with the American Negro Opera Company

Allen, Betty. MEzzo soprano Betty Allen who won a $500.00 Marian Anderson award last year, was scheduled to sing a solo role with the Hartford, Conn Symphony Orchestra in a performance of the Verdi Manzoni Requieem. Miss Allen who attended Wilberforce, redently won a John Hay Whitney Foundation fellowship. Jet, 2/21/54, p60

Allen, William Duncan (piano)

American Negro Opera Company. Conducted by Frederick Vajda.

Anderson, Alyse. Sister of Marian Anderson.

Antoine, Leroy. haitian baritone.

Arion Quintette

Associated Negro Press. The Chicago Defender was the headquarters. Founded in 1919 by Charles A. Barnett, a salesman for the Chicago Defender, the ANP received news from member newspapers about their own areas.

Bailey, Zenobia Laws (composed music for Delta Sigma Theta song)

Baker, Bertha. Sang with the American Negro Opera Company

Baker, Harvey, tenor

Baltimore Boys Choir. Conducted by William Meredith H. Birche, Jr. (Afro American, 4/8/50, p18)

Banks, Harold. Baritone

Banks, Ralph. (tenor: appeared in recital in NYC, 11/15/29. just came back from Italy, Pitts C, 11/16/29, 11/1)

Barrett Sisters. Gospel singers out of Chicago

Bass, Dorothy. 15 year old piano student at the Mt. Morris Music School (in Harlem) as of 7/1/44 (People's Voice, 7/1/44, p10). Considered to have concert pianist potential

Bean, Reginald A. (Secretary of the New York -Brooklyn?- Branch of NANM. E. Aldama Jackson, Prez. Amst News, 11/25/31, p7)

Beasley, Rev. Moses. Nationally known gospel singer, radio artist appearing on station WNBR(Memphis). Studied voice under the late I.j. Berry and Mme C.N. Stephens of Lane College

Beckett, Mary (dancer). Pitts C, 1/18/30, p6
Will take part in the annual Mardi Gras of the Lucy Stone Civic League. Went to University of Pittsburgh

Belfrom, Henry. Violin

Bennett, Justin. Alto. Member of the Baltimore Boys Choir.

Bennett, M. Elizabeth (piano)

Bennett, Robert C. Member of the Detroit Symphony Board

Berry, Prof. I. J. Voice teacher at Lane College

Bethune Cookman Quartette (directed by Wilhelm A. Sykes, head of the music department)

Blanche, Mrs. Vidi Ridout. Recital in Burlington, N.J. Taught art at Burlington State Normal School, Fayetteville, NC. Coloratura. Was a tudent at South Broad Street Conservatory (Philadelphia). She was assisted by her daughters, Gretchen Ridout Blanch (violin) and Natalie Olmmsted Branche, pianist. Both daughters will enter Hampton. PItts C, 7/27/29 (8/2)

Blanchet, Madame Lina. Head of a group of Haitian folk dancers.

Blanton, Carol. Pianist. head of music department at Dillard at some point.

Blount, Mr. L.C. Insurance and musicians' executive

Bonds, Estell C.

Bonds, Margaret (pianist)
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:vhPipCvIJ3cJ:aamr.alexanderstreet.com/View/306275+harold+dickinson+%22margaret+bonds%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
Bowers, William (baritone. former member of Hall Johnson choir)

Boyd, Arthur (violin: New York String Quartet member)

Bradford and Crumbly: The New York Prime Favorites. Picture on sheet music: The Heart that I Love, by Lee Harrell, M1622.H. Picture of two black men, whose names are, presumably, Bradford and Crumbley.

Brady, Gladys, pianist

Brice, Eugene. Bass. Lola Hayes' pupil; also margaret tynes is hayes' pupil

Brice, John J. Director of Howard University's 50 piece ROTC Band (1930s), Chi Def, 4/25/31, 24
Tuskegee had a 65 piece band under Frank Drye during the same time.


Bridgetower, George A.P. (1789-1860: Beethoven dedicated a sonata to him)

Bradley, Jack (violin)

Broadfield, Claudius James (tenor)

Bronx Symphony Orchestra (Harry Meyer as conductor)

Brooklyn, Bernard (pianist)

Brooklyn Male Choral Club (Charles H. Waters, Dir)

Brooklyn String Trio: Alma Creasey, H. Leonard Jeter and David Hawkins (piano)

Brown/McGraw. Dancing team. Pitts C, 5/21/26 p10

Brown, Anita Patti (soprano)

Brown, Thomas. Gospel music arranger.

Brownlow, J. Taylor (baritone)

Brunson, Thelma (organ: Grad of the Guilmant organ School)

Byron, Thomas. Grad of Oberlin. Met his wife at Oberlin. Amateur Hour contestant

Buchanan, Hugh (Dir. Quinn Chapel Choir; Chicago; late 1920s)

Buckner, Ms. Neal Hawkins (coloratura)

Bulger, Robert A. Tenor with the Continental-Aires

Bullill, Helen (organ)

Burleigh, Alston (son of Harry T. Burleigh). Head of Division of Music Supervision, Virginia State College, 1930. Alston Waters Burleigh.

Burleigh, Harry T. 1866-1949. Leader in setting the spirituals to piano accompaniment for solo voice and and for chorus

Burroughs, Ruby. Soprano from MOntclair NJ

Bush, Beatrice, violinist for the Elite Quarteet, Pitts C, 6/2/23, 4

Byron, M. Calloway (coloratura)

Byzelle, George. Sang with La Julia Rhea and the American Negro Light Opera Company, 4/12/40.

Cain, Sherman. Violinist

Callaghan, j. Dorsey. Music and Drama critic of Detroit free press

Campbell, Deloris Barrett. Gospel singer

Campbell, Vance (manager of Caleb Peterson, Jr.)

Capers, Valerie
Valerie Capers (b.1935) was trained as a classical pianist, but was encouraged to play jazz by her late brother, saxophonist Bobby Capers, and her father, jazz pianist Alvin Capers. She has appeared at the Newport and Kool Jazz Festivals and on radio and television. Blind since the age of six, Capers earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at The Juilliard School and has taught at the Manhattan School of Music and Hunter College. She is chairperson of the Bronx Community College's Department of Music and Art in New York City. Her works include a Christmas cantata; a choral and instrumental work, In Praise of Freedom, based on the March on Washington speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and an "operatorio" on the life of Sojourner Truth. These two pieces are from Portraits in Jazz, which consists of 12 teaching pieces, each dedicated to a particular musician. Cool-Trane has a melodic line similar to that played on the saxophone, closing with a quote from John Coltrane's Cousin Mary. Billie's Song is a ballad dedicated to Billie Holiday. (solo piano)

Carnan, Matthew. New York Baritone appeared in recital Sunday night at Times hall in a progrom of french, italian, german and english including four spirituals. Was Afro, 1/20/45, p16


Caribbean Carnival: Musical revue:

Productions Dates of Production
Caribbean Carnival [Original, Musical, Revue]
Music by Adolph Thenstead;
Produced by Adolph Thenstead;
Lyrics by Adolph Thenstead Dec 5, 1947 - Dec 13, 1947

The credits for this production have not yet been completed or verified.
Caribbean Carnival
International Theatre, (12/5/1947 - 12/13/1947)
Preview: Total Previews:
Opening: Dec 5, 1947
Closing: Dec 13, 1947 Total Performances: 11


Carrington, Terri Lyne. Jazz drummer
World-renowned drummer, composer, producer and clinician, Terri Lyne Carrington, has maintained her status in the industry as a person to watch for over 20 years.

Born in Medford, Massachusetts in 1965, Terri developed a reputation as a child prodigy, jamming with jazz veterans Dizzy Gillespie, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Oscar Peterson, Joe Williams, and many more. At 7, she was given her first set of drums, which had belonged to her grandfather, Matt Carrington, who had played with Fats Waller and Chu Berry. After studying privately for three years, she played her first major performance at the Wichita Jazz Festival with Clark Terry. Shortly afterward she received a full scholarship at age 11 to Berklee College of Music where she started playing with such people as Kevin Eubanks, Mike Stern, Greg Osby and others. She also studied under master drum instructor Alan Dawson and made a private recording entitled, TLC and Friends, with Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, George Coleman and her dad, Sonny Carrington, before turning 17.

Throughout high school Terri traveled across the country doing clinics at schools and colleges and in 1983, encouraged by her mentor, Jack DeJohnette, moved to New York and started working with Stan Getz, James Moody, Lester Bowie, Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, and David Sanborn.

In 1989, Terri moved to Los Angeles where she became the drummer for the "Arsenio Hall Show". She has also toured the globe with Mike Stern, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock and spiritual mentor, Wayne Shorter. Her debut release on Polygram, Real Life Story, was nominated for a Grammy Award and featured Carlos Santana, Patrice Rushen, John Scofield, Grover Washington, Jr., and Gerald Albright.

Recently, she has concentrated her efforts on writing and producing with various artists including Gino Vannelli, Dianne Reeves, Siedah Garrett, Marilyn Scott and Danish pop singers Stig Rossen and Monique. Her production of Dianne Reeves' Grammy-nominated CD, That Day, hovered at the top of the charts for many months. Terri was also the drummer on the late night TV show, "VIBE", hosted by Sinbad.

In 1998, she recorded along with Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock's CD, Gershwin's World and is currently touring with both his electric and acoustic bands. Her latest solo CD, Jazz Is A Spirit, (released in March 2002 on the ACT Music label) has enjoyed considerable media attention and critical acclaim in the European and Japanese markets.

Terri Lyne endorses Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals & Sticks, and Remo Drum Heads.
http://www.terrilynecarrington.com/
Cato, Minto (soprano)

Charlton, Melville (organ. Organist/choir director at St. James. Shelby Rooks' church. Shelby Rooks is pastor of St. James Presbyterian in New york and husband to Dorothy Maynor). he's from brooklyn

Clark, Dorothy. Mezzo soprano

Clarke, Hope.
Hope Clarke
HOPE CLARKE (dancer) was in Bernstein’s cast of West Side Story. She went on to play lead roles on Broadway in Grind, Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope, Purlie, and Hallelujah Baby, and Off-Broadway in The Reckoning, House of Flowers, On Last Look, Othello, Raisin In The Sun, Dark Of The Moon, Time Slips and The Vagina Monologues. Her starring role in The Beautiful La Salles won her an AUDELCO Award nomination for Best Actress in 1991. In 1992, she earned a Tony nomination for best choreography for the Broadway hit Jelly’s Last Jam, and went on to receive the Dramalogue Award, Joseph Calloway Award, Outer Critic’s Circle Award, and the NAACP Image Award. She danced with Katherine Dunham, Talley Beatty, Louis Johnson, George Faison, and was a principal with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Hope has appeared in Hill Street Blues, Three’s Company, The Jeffersons, Hart to Hart, New York Undercover, Sex In The City, and others. She co-starred in the film A Piece Of The Action and A Book Of Numbers. Hope has directed Cosi fan Tutti, The Medium, The Telephone, La Sevra Padrona, and an acclaimed production of Porgy & Bess for the Houston Grand Opera and Opera Ebony (Finland). She directed/choreographed John Henry Redwoods The Gathering (New Professional Theater), and Hallelujah Baby (York Theater). With writer/director George C. Wolf she has created dance and staging for Spunk, The Colored Museum, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Tempest, and The Odyssey. Hope recently received the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Choreography for the Broadway hit Caroline, or Change. She will be choreographing the revival of Hallelujah Baby.

Cleveland, Rev. James (singer, composer)

Cobb, W. Montagne. 10/12/52, he was 48 years old. Guess his birth year? Violinist and professor at Howard University in the school of medicine. Or, dentistry.

Cole, Celeste. Concert soprano and voice instructor

Cole, Joseph (tenor: musical America, 5/55, pp19, 25)

Cole-Talbert McCleve: From Memphis

Coleman Home Boys Band

Coleman, Charles D. (Organist and composer)

Coleman, Elizabeth (soprano)

Collins, Cleota. Cleveland soprano appeared in a recital at Bordertown Manual Training School in New Jersey last friday night. She's a former teacher there and gave a program of classics. Amst New, 5/16/36, p9

Colonial Park String Endemble. Under the direction of Bernard L. Graves.

Colored Orphan Glee Club

Community music school. Gladys Wade Dillard, president

Compton, Lucille. Song writer, singer, teacher

Continental-aires. Vocal ensemble. Julian Parrish, pianist/arranger (Musical America, 2/15/55, 174)

Cook, Helen Woods: Contralto of Youngstown, OH. (Gospel. M2199.Adams, Wallace)

Cooper, Alice Grant. Composer, arranger and performer of Spirituals.

Cosmopolitan Music Study Club (Indianapolis)

Craig, Geneva. pianist

Creasey, Alma (volin)

Crunkleton, Mrs. Byrdie E. pianist. Pitts C, 6/16/23, 6

Cumbo, Mario ('cello. In Brookly String Trio and NY String Quartet)

Dancy, John C. Director of the Detroit Urban League and member of the Detroit Symphony Board

Davis, Ellabelle. Ellabelle Davis to sing in N.C. (Greensboro). Ellabelle Davis, sop. will be presented by the Bennett College lyceum comm in a recital at the college Sat night, 2/3/45. Miss Davis will be heard at Town Hall, New York, Sat, 1/13 in a recital from the stage where she made her debut two years ago. Immediately following her recital at Bennett, she returns to New York to sing with Dean Dixon's Youth Orchestra at the Hunter College auditorium.

She made her twon hall recital, october 1942.

Davis, Evelyn. Concert pianist

Davis, Georgia. Contralto

Davis, Walter (baritone)

Dawson, Mary Cardwell (soprano)

Debose, Prof. Tourgee (head of School of Music at Talladega College, 1935, impresed Director Kyrl of the Kyrl Symphony band with Professor DeBose's piano renditions and was asked to appear with the symphy as guest soloist, Pitts C, 12/21/35,8 photo included)

Delaney, Shirley. Soprano

DeLyon-Leonard, Emma (Mme... on NANM Committee, Amst News, 11/25/31, p7

Dennard, Brazael W. Tenor and choral conductor

DePaur, Leonard (Musical America, 5/55, 9)
Leonard DePaur's Infantry Chorus, organized in 1942 when they were all GIs, will take off on a tour of the Korean battlefront and European army bases. Jet, 11/6/52, p64 (pic)

De Lavallade, Carmen
Carmen deLavallade
CARMEN DELAVALLADE (dancer) first appeared in NYC with the Lester Horton Dance Theatre and subsequently made her Broadway debut with Alvin Ailey in House of Flowers. She has appeared in a number of films for Twentieth Century Fox including Carmen Jones (1954), in which she danced with Ailey and Jack Cole. As a dancer she has had ballets created for her by Alvin Ailey, Lester Horton, John Butler, Glen Tetley, Agnes De Mille, Geoffrey Holder, Donald McKayle, Louis Johnson and Tally Beatty. She was a principle dancer with the Metropolitan Opera, a guest artist with American Ballet Theater and a soloist with the NYC Opera. At Yale she taught movement classes for actors and eventually became a member of the Yale Repertory Theatre and the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard. She has choreographed for Dance Theatre of Harlem, Joyce Trisler, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and a number of operas including the landmark production of Porgy & Bess at the Metropolitan Opera House. She continues to do stage and film projects, such as Oscar Wilde’s Salome with Al Pacino, and in John Sayles’ film Lone Star. She received the Dance Magazine Award in 1964 and an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the Boston Conservatory of Music in 1994. Carmen received a 2000 New York Dance and Performance Award (a.k.a. "Bessie") for Sustained Achievement in Performance.

Deppe, Lois B. Baritone and orchestra leader

Detroit Civic Opera Company. Jerene G. Maclin, Exec Direct

Detroit Civic Light Opera Company. Barrie O'Daniels, Managing Dir.

Detroit Musicians' Association, Inc. c/o Dean Robert L. Nolan, 552 East Warren Avenue

Dillard, Gladys Wade. Music educator. President of Community Music School

Diggs, Carol Blanton. Teaching career began at Dillard 91938-42). From 46-47, she was on the faculty of Hampton. She joined Morgan in 1947 and stayed there til her death. She was a grad of spellman 91933, received a master's in piano from Juilliard and did further study at Catholic. Piano organ and theory student under Kemper harreld.

Diggs, Charles. Soprano. Member of the Baltimore Boys Choir.

Dinkins, Wheeler Robert. Sang with the American Negro Opera Company

Dixon, Dean (conductor)

Dixon, Lucille
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Allegro Archives
Volume CIV No. 12
December, 2004

Requiem

John Abbott (Abatematteo) - Guitar/Arranger/Copyist

Maurice Bialkin - Cello

Jack C. Bigelow - Trombone

George Brown - Viola

Gene Bruggeworth - Trumpet

Rudolph De Julius - Drums

Lucille Dixon - Bass

Roland Dupont - Trombone

Bert J. Hall - Saxophone

Alfred Hart - Violin

Bob Helm - Drums

Patrick Iarrusso - Trumpet

Alexander Intrator - Violin

Herman H. Lang - Bass

Lucile Lawrence - Harp

Frank Loscalzo - Drums

Robert Quine - Guitar

Vincent Royal - Clarinet

Art Ryerson - Guitar

Sam Samuels - Saxophone

Mongo Santamaria - Conga Drums

Herb Schoales - Bass Trombone

John W. Schust, Jr. - Organ

Leonard Sharrow - Bassoon

Jimmy Sigler - Keyboards

Vincent E. Smith - Trumpet

Brian A. Wayne - Drums

Ron Wolfe - Piano

Dennis M. Wyka - Drums

Maurice Bialkin

Maurice Bialkin, 91, a cellist and a member of 802 since 1936, died on Sept. 7.

Mr. Bialkin studied at Juilliard in 1933-36 and later studied with Percy Such.

He won the Naumburg prize in 1937 over Leonard Rose and, for winning the competition, performed solo at Town Hall the following year.

He performed the world premier of Vladimir Dukelsky’s cello concerto with the Paris Orchestra and later the CBS Symphony.

During his life, Mr. Bialkin performed numerous freelance gigs, recorded many albums as an ensemble player -- including one with Tony Bennett -- and played with the CBS Symphony, NBC Orchestra and Glenn Miller Army/Air Force Band.

He was first cellist with the Brooklyn Philharmonia and also played in the Galimir Quartet, Phoenix Quartet and Tameo Quartet.

Mr. Bialkin also performed in Broadway shows, including "Pippin," "Two by Two" and "They’re Playing Our Song," among many others.

He played on the "Show of Shows," and the Ed Sullivan, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson shows.In the 1930’s and 40’s, Mr. Bialkin was musical director at the Tamiment resort in the Catskills, where Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Sid Caesar all came through.

He is survived by his wife Joyce, son Edward, daughter Karen Odaira and granddaughter Elizabeth.
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Lucille Dixon

Lucille Dixon Robertson, 81, a bassist and an 802 member since 1946, died on Sept. 23. She was the first woman to be elected to 802’s Executive Board. She also served on the Trial Board.

Ms. Dixon began playing bass in high school and she successfully auditioned for the All City High School Orchestra and studied under Fred Zimmerman of the New York Philharmonic for 15 years.

During her sophomore year at Brooklyn College, Ms. Dixon toured with the Sweethearts of Rhythm, one of the first all-female bands in the U.S. Following the tour, Earl Hines asked her to tour with his band.

In the late 1940’s, she started playing in New York City clubs. She formed her own band called the Star Lines, which ultimately became the Lucille Dixon band. She played the Club Harlem, 845 Club and the Savannah Club in Greenwich Village where she remained the business manager and leader of the house band for 12 years. Her band included such jazz giants as Taft Jordan, Tyree Glen, Fats Navarro, Buddy Tate, George Kelley, George Foster and Sonny Payne.

Ms. Dixon also performed in the classical arena. She successfully auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra where she played under Fritz Reiner and Otto Klemperer. She participated in the Dimitri Metropolis Competitions and was the principal bassist in the National Orchestral Association. She played with numerous symphony orchestras including the Boston Women’s Symphony, National Symphony of Panama, Bridgeport Symphony, Scranton Symphony, Westchester Philharmonic, Ridgefield Symphony and Orchestral Society of Westchester.

In 1964, Ms. Dixon and others formed the first integrated symphony orchestra in the U.S., the Symphony of the New World, which was made up of 40 percent musicians of color and 30 percent women. She was the company manager and bassist for about 10 years.

Ms. Dixon and her husband retired to Puerto Rico in 1996, but at the age of 79 she started playing again in Old San Juan at Carli’s Café Concierto Lounge owned by Carli Munoz, a well-known pianist. She recorded a CD this year, "Live at Carli’s, Vol. 1" with Carli Munoz, Gonzalo (Gonchi) Sifre and Eddie Gomez.

In her life, Ms. Dixon played with Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Eubie Blake, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry and Billie Holiday among with many others. She also played with many Latin musicians, such as Charlie Palmieri and Machito.

She is survived by her brother Arthur, sons Augustus and Ernest, daughter Pamela, daughter-in-laws Barbara and Sherri, son-in-law Robert, grandchildren Sonia, Adrian, Lindsay, Alberto, Andrew, Sydney and Ernest, great-grandson Jayden, nephew Douglas, grandnephews Michael, Angela and Douglas Jr., sisters-in-law Elena and Rosa and brother-in-law Ken.

Dixon, Vance. Clarinet/saxophone artist with the Symphonium Serenaders (pic), Pitts C, 6/2/23, 5

Rock Daniel. Pearl Primus. See: http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rbmscl/adfprimuspearl/inv/

Dobbs, Mattiwilda (soprano)

Domingo, Eulalie. concert pianist, originally from Kingston, Jamaica.

Donnell, Martha Merrick (member of the North Carolina Mutual Quartette)

Dorsey, James E. Director of Lincoln Univesity Music organizations, Amst News, 3/28/28, p5

Drewry, marie. Soprano

Dudley, Chester (organist and director of the Young People's Chorus at Carron Street baptist church)

Dunbar, Rudolph (conductor)

Duncan, John. Faculty member, Music Education, Alabama State, 1950s. He was a member of AMS, born in Anniston, grew up in Manessa, PA, received his ba and ma from Temple. He did advanced work in orchestration, composition and music history under gustave reese and curt sachs. He arrived at State in 1940 and was its band director for a time. Upon becoming register, he had to slow down his teaching
Dupre, Marvin. Choir master

Duncan, Todd. Was chosen by Arthur Rodzinski, director of the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra to sing one of the solo parts in Lukas Foss' cantata based on Carl Sandburg's poem "The Prairie"
Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art
Chorus America established this Honorary Citation in 1978 to honor an individual with a lifetime of significant contributions to the professional choral art. Michael Korn, one of the founders of Chorus America and its first President (1977 to 1985), received the citation in 1986. Mr. Korn was artistic director and conductor of The Philadelphia Singers, which he founded in 1972; and also the associate conductor and chorus master of the Opera Company of Philadelphia. In 1991, in response to Mr. Korn's untimely death at the age of 44, this citation was renamed The Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art. It is the prerogative of the officers (chairman, treasurer, secretary, and either the immediate past chairman or the chairman-elect) of the Chorus America board of directors to select the annual recipient. Nominations are solicited from the membership of Chorus America. 1985 Lukas Foss & Walter Gould
1984 Todd Duncan & Gregg Smith
1983 Robert Shaw
1982 Jester Hairston
1981 Roger Wagner
1980 Margaret Hillis & Hugh Ross
1979

Duncan, John: Professor of music at Alabama State University, also Band director.

TODD DUNCAN GIVES UP PORGY AND BESS and is replaced by William Franklin who was recently seen and heard in "The Mikado" Eddie Matthews didn't get the role over William Franklin. Afro, 1/22/44, p15
http://www.chorusamerica.org/awards.cfm

Dunham, Katherine. DK buys 17 room mansion in NY.
Durant, Elaine (piano)

Dyett, Neota Louise McCurdy (pianist; Pres of the RNDett Club and wife to Walter Dyett, Bandmaster of Wendell Phillips High School Band in Chicago, 1934)

Dyett, Capt. Walter Henry (bandmaster)

Edwards, Joseph. Gospel singer. M2199.Adams, Wallace

Elite Quartette. Presented in musical/vocal cocert at Watt School Auditorium. Mrs. Ross (Detroit), pianist, Miss Beatrice Bush, violinist

Elkins Negro Ensemble (NY)

Elzy, Ruby (soprano)

Enty, Charlotte D. (piano)

Ethel Waters, Cora Green, Edith Wilson, Gertrude Saunders, Ada Ward, Lena Wilson and Evelyn Preer: were all at Florence Mills' funeral, Baltimore Afro 11/12/27, 1

Etheridge, Henry (tenor)

Evanti, Lillian. Soprano.
People who contribute to the cultural progress of the race and community are warriors just as much as those who advance the cause of civil and social liberties. Just as music soothes the angry beast, it also allays the forces of intolerance and hatred.

Few in Washington did more to accomplish that end during 1940s than Madame Lillian Evanti, whose performance in “La Traviata” before a mixed audience of 17,000 at the Watergate won her acclaim of the public and critics alike. A native Washingtonian, she abandoned her position as public school teacher for an artistic career at a time when the field of grand opera held no promise for African Americans. Afro, 1/15/44, 10


Exel, Winifred Van (piano)

Ferrell, Cloesta. Dramatic soprano

Ferrell, Harrison H. (violinist)

Ferrell Symphony Orchestra

Fleming Charles. Director of the Minor Alumni Choral group. Also, pic and bio, Wash Afro, 4/24/71, 13. "6 Women, 4 Men on Afro Honor Roll". Organist and senior choir director at Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, DC

Fitzpatrick, Newell Coleridge was head of the voice department at Knoxville College. Pitts C, 1/12/35 (5/1). pic

Fleming, John (Bariton: Bronx)

Fletcher, Jeanne. Member of the Dett Club of Chicago. Won medals in piano

Flowers, Martha. Soprano (musical America, 1/1/55, 16)

Forbes, Kathleen Holland (organ)

Ford, John B. President, Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Fowler, Manet Harrison (piano. head of the voice department at the Mwalimu school))

Frances, Lew. Tenor. Once sang with Black Patti

Franzel, Carlotta. Soprano

Frazier, Thurston G. Arranger of song by Doris Akers, God is so good, M2199.A. Out of Los Angeles

Freeman, H. Lawrence (composer)

Garner, George (tenor)

Garnett, Ann: trained in many phases of the drama and dance art, having studied with such leading dancers as Katherine Dunham, Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. Received her academic training at the University of Pitts. She was recreational director for the Board of Ed in NY and taught drama and dance in the public schools in michagan. Drama, however, has alwways been her first love and after much persuasion by fellow artists, she decided to oper her own drama and dancing school in NY. Miss Garnett has appeared in leading roles in Summer Stock and major TV netrowks. Recently she mad a hit as Stell in "Anna Lucasta" in NYC and on tour in the New England states.

Gary, Elizabeth. president of the Detroit Music Association

Gaston, Olden. Piano

Gauntlett, Myrtle. Piano

Gibbs, Leroy. Director of the Junior choir of the St. Stephen's AME Church

Glass, Clyde L. (piano)

Glenn, Gayla P. (winner of 3rd place in the NYEJ festival concert on 7/20/35), student of R. Nathaniel Dett). Also sang with the American Negro Opera Company.

Goins, Gregoria A Fraser. Brooklyn music teacher.

Grace Jones Orchestra

Graham, Shirley (composer)

Graves, Bernard L. Director of the Colonial Park String Ensemble

Greenaway, Annie (soprano)

Green, Richard, conductor of choral group called A capellas.

Greene, John (baritone)

Griffin, Oscar. Sang with the American Negro Opera Company

Groce, Ellsworth R. (violin)

Hackley, Emma Azalia (soprano)

Hall Johnson and his carolinas: sang at Florence Mills' funeral, Balt Afro, 11/12/27, 1

Hall, Frederick D. Chair of the music Department at Alabama State, early 50s. Mildred Greenwood Hall was his wife and she was also the chair of the piano department there during the same time.

Hall, Mildred Greenwood. has accompanied Clarence Cameron White, Florence Cole Tolbert and others.

Hall, Purnell. Member of Dixie Jubilee Singers. Eva Jessye, Director. Picture. Pitts C, 5/22/26, p7

Hampton Institute Glee Club. R. Nathaniel Dett, Director. Pitts C, 4/7/23, woman's page

Hancock, Eugene W. (organ)

Handy, D. Antoinette.
Dr. D. Antoinette Handy-Miller was director of the music program of the National Endowment for the Arts from 1990-93 (assistant director 1986-90), and helped set up the National Jazz Service Organization, which administers the National Jazz Network. Her approach in that role was not universally admired, but she exerted huge influence in that position, at a time when funds were available at a more generous level.

She played flute, and wrote on jazz history, including books on the all-women swing band The International Sweethearts of Rhythm and the role of Black Women in American Bands and Orchestras, as well as a biography of Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr, Jazz Man's Journey.

She died from liver cancer.

Harcum, Freda (soprano)

Hare, Maud Cuney. pianist and author, born in Galveston, TX and is the daughter of the late Norris Wright Cuney of Galveston. One of the foremost leaders in American politics. Her maternal grandparents came from Miss just across the line from parish of West Feliciana, LA, while the family of Cuney's coming from Switzerland, migrated to Rapids Parirish, Louisian and settled in Texas. A lecturere-recital on the subj of "Afro-American and Creole Folk Music" was givein during the season 1918-19 in the Boston Public Libary Lecture Course in which she was assisted by William H. Richardson, baritone. CHi Def, 2/28/20, p12

Hare, Maud Cuney. Well known pianst. writer of the first comprehensive history of negro music (negro musicians and their music), 1936


Harreld, Josephine (piano)

Harreld, Kemper (violin)

Harrison, Hazel (piano)

Harrison, Gertrude (Mrs. Richard B.) (pianist)

Harison, Julius, tenor

Harrod, Archie. Director of the Harrod Jubilee Singers

Harrod Jubilee SIngers. Group of well known musicians who have pleased large audiences all over the US, England, Canada, Australia, Trinidad, Bermuda and Hawaii. Archie Harrod, leader, is well known in Philadelphia where he has made his home for a number of years. Pitts C, 4/28/23

Harry Waters Colored Band

Hawkins, David (piano)

Haygood, Mae (contralto)

Hays, Ernest Haywood (organist, Hampton Institute, 1930s. Member of AAGO). Director/accompanist of the Vespers Quartet

Helen Robinson Youth Chorus

Hobson, Charlotte (educator)

Holland, Kathleen Forbes. Member of the American Guild of Organists

Holloman, Charlotte (soprano). LaVerne Hutcherson and Charlotte Holloman have been signed for the singing leads in "Shuffle Along", all negro musical starring Pearl Bailey. The show opens New Year's eve at the Colonial Theater in Boston. Jet, 12/13/51, p54

Holt, Nora (music critic). President of the Chicago Musician's Association, an organization mostly of trained negro musicians who were involved with directing church and civic choirs and in teaching private music lessons to chicago negro musicians. (1918). They were formed

Hoyle, W.O. gospel music arranger

Hinderas, Natalie (piano)

Hughes, John P. well known chicago singer who sang for six years with the Chicago Operetta company.... joined the operetta company in 1936, and for six years had major roles with this group, the first to 'swing' the gilbert and sullivan comic operas in many outstanding sucesses. from 1932-36, private hughes worked with the Negor folk play group sponsored by the Cube theatre of the University of Chicago. A native of pitttsburgh, he had resided at 3416 calumet, chicago for many years. Chi Def, 12/4/39, p9
,
Hunt, Aimee (piano. piano teacher

Hunt, Lulu (on NANM Committee)

Hutcherson, LaVerne. LaVerne Hutcherson and Charlotte Holloman have been signed for the singing leads in "Shuffle Along", all negro musical starring Pearl Bailey. The show opens New Year's eve at the Colonial Theater in Boston. Jet, 12/13/51, p54

Ingram, Rex. Film and stage actor. Rex Ingram (October 20, 1895 – September 19, 1969) was an African American film and stage actor. Born near Cairo, Illinois on the Mississippi River (his father was a steamer fireman on the riverboat Robert E. Lee), he claimed to have obtained a medical degree from Northwestern University in 1919 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, but this is not confirmed.

He went to Hollywood as a young man where he was literally discovered on a street corner by the casting director for a Tarzan movie, which starred Elmo Lincoln. He first appeared on film in Tarzan of the Apes (1918) and had many small roles, usually as a generic black native, such as in the Tarzan films. With the arrival of sound his presence and powerful voice became an asset and he went on to memorable roles in Green Pastures (1936), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (the 1939 MGM version, opposite Mickey Rooney), The Thief of Bagdad (1940), his best-known film appearance, The Talk of the Town (1942), and Sahara (1943).

Innis, Josephine (Chicago Music Association) member. Pianist. . Participated in National Association of Negro Musicians COnvention. Other were: Fannetta Nelson (pianist), Frederick Johnson (baritone), Albert Fairweather (pianist: new york), Irene Hooker (pianist, Washington, DC), Cecile Roberts (pianist, Indianapolis), E. Lett Dixon (pianist: indianapolis), Annabelle White/Fannie Balock of Detroit) Chi Def, 9/12/36, p3

Jackson, Albertha. Sang with the American Negro Opera Company

Jackson, E. Aldama (Pres. of the New York Branch of the NANM -Brooklyn? Amst News, 11/25/31, p7)

Jackson, Gertrude Smith. pianist organist conductor accompanist.

Jackson, Mahalia: featured several selectinos: "Lord don't let me fail", "a spring in galilee", M2199.Aikens, Margaret.

Jackson, Raymond. pianist. Internationally acclaimed concert pianist ,is a prof of music at howard and chair of the piano division, in addition to being coordinator of applied music studies. a grad, summa sum laude from the new england conservatory, he subsequently earned advanced degrees from juilliard where he ultimately received the dma under the late renowned artist-teacher ania dorfman. as a recitalist and orchestral soloist, he has performed throughought the us, europe and south america. his accoomplishments as a prizewinner in nationatl and interneational piano comps as a concert and recoridng artis, and musical scholar in the piano music of black composers have merited his election into the rhode island heritage hall of fame as well as being included in several national and international music directories and reference books.

James, William Laurence: was a band director for Morehouse in the 50s.

Jarboro, Caterina (soprano)

Jean Stor's Syncopated Choir

Jeter, H. Leonard (cello)

John Wesley Quartet

Johnson, George Leon. tenor

Johnson, Gertrude. Student of Mary Cardwell Dawson. Was new choir director for Bethlehem Baptist in McKeesport, 1945.

Johnson, Jimmy: Called the Dean of Jazz Pianists

Johnson, Luther H. Baritone. Member of the Baltimore Boys Choir

Johnson, Maudelena. Director of the Treble Clef Choir (Pittsburgh). Pitts C, 3/3/56, 14

Johnson, Penelope (violin)

Johnson, Richard. Alto-Tenor. Baltimore Boys Choir

Johnson, Wilbur P. (organ: admitted to the AAGO, see "Bits and Pieces")

Jones, Edward. Member of Dixie Jubilee Singers. Eva Jessye, Director. Picture. Pitts C, 5/22/26, p7

Jones, J. Wesley. Dir of the choir at Chicago's Metropolitan Community Church. Picture, Amst News, 9/16/39, 19. Dean of Choral conductors.

Jones, Louia Vaughn (violin)
"Plays with Symphony". Louia V. Jones, head of the violin dept in the school of music at Howard last week became the first negro to play as a member of a major symphony orchestra here in the national's capital. The violinist distinguished himself during the recent opera season of the negro opera company headed by mary cardwell dawson. though jones had appeared as violin soloist with the national symphony, this was the first time he played as a member of the group. People's Voice, 9/2/44, 22

Jones, Rae Lee (soprano)

Jones, Wilhemina (pianist: Washington, DC)

Joyner, Alfred. Tenor. Member of the Baltimore Boys Choir

Juvenile Wonders (Geraldine/Ruth Moye)

Kennedy, Priv. Walter M. Organizer and director of the 95th wing a capella choir in Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. went to Miles college and transferred to Alabama State where he received his ba in music in 1941. That same summer he was selected as assistant director of his college choir and later as dramatic coach at westville high school in birmingham. he specialized in piano and voice and was a member of the national musician's association.
(Chic Def, 10/16/43, p16)

Kerr, Thomas H. Pianist from Baltimore, Md, and member of the faculty of the School of Music at Howard University. Often duo pianist with Sylvia Ward Olden, a native Washingtonian.

Ladies Crystal Quartet of Pittsburgh

Lafayette, Lenora. Sings at London Opera House. 26 year old soprano, portrayed the title role of a Japanese woman in Madam Butterfly at London's famed Covent Garden Opera house. Critics praise the fisk trained singer and observed that she is a first rate interpreter. Miss Lafayette, who won an Marian Anderson award in 1947, previously sand Aida at Covent Garden. A native of Baton Rouge, she studied at the Juilliard School of Music on a Rosenwald Fellowship and later studed opera in Europe on a Whitney Fellowship., Jet, 12/31/53, p59 [pic]
Lawson, Warner (piano)

Lee, Barbara Edwards (soprano)

Lee, Chauncey. Director of the Whispering Orchestra

Lee, Everett (violin)

Lee, Sylvia Olden Ward (pianist)

Leer, David. Dancer. Danced with the American Negro Opera Company and the National Negro Opera Company.

Lewis, Anne Harrison (Dancer of Fredericksburg, Va. From the dance team of Lewis and Robinson. Lawrence Robinson)

Lewis, Mabel Sanford

Livas, Hattie (piano: member of the North Carolina Mutual Quartette)

Mahony, Robert (tenor)

Malloy, Miss Loncie. Songstress, composer and choir director and her accompanist, Dr. Russell Woolen who is also a composer. Woollen taught at howard after he left Catholic. She's from Cleveland. Woollen was the pianist for the National Symphony Orchestra. Call and Post, 7/21/73, 8A

Manning, Samuel: Producer/Director for the calypso musical revue, “Caribbean Carnival” Adolph Thenstead wrote the music.


Marchant, Claude: Performer, Choreographer

Productions Dates of Production
Katherine Dunham and Her Company [Original, Special, Dance]
Performer: Claude Marchant Apr 19, 1950 - May 20, 1950
Caribbean Carnival [Original, Musical, Revue]
Performer: Claude Marchant;
Choreographed by Claude Marchant Dec 5, 1947 - Dec 13, 1947
Show Boat [Revival, Musical, Drama]
Performer: Claude Marchant [Dancer];
Performer: Claude Marchant [Mala] Jan 5, 1946 - Jan 4, 1947
Tropical Revue [Original, Special, Dance]
Performer: Claude Marchant [Dunham Dancer] Sep 19, 1943 - Nov 15, 1943

Margetson, Edward (organ, composer)

Margetson, Marie (piano)

Marshall, Harriet Gibbs. Music studio teacher in Washington, DC

Marshall, Hattie (sop from the Harvey Baker Studio of Voice)

Marshall, Virginia Davis ; gospel music arranger.

Martin, Gertrude (in NY String Quartet: on NANM Committee)

Martin, Goldie Guy: female pianist. Duo with June Monroe Trice. Afro, 4/14/44

Mason, Bernard Lee (violin)

Mason, Lydia (pianist)

Matthews, Edward (Baritone)

Matthis, Burke M. (Boley, OK: tenor) Student of R. Nathaniel Dett.

Mattox, Anna (soprano from the Harvey Baker Studio of Voice)

Maynard, Frankie (soprano)

McCleave, Florence Cole (soprano: See also: Talbert, Florence)

McCurdy, Neota (president of the Nathaniel Dett Club)

McFadden, Claron (soprano): http://www.moderecords.com/profiles/claronmcfadden.html

McLane, Henrietta Loveless (soprano)

Medford, Sylvia (violin)

Merrick Lydia (member of the North Carolina Mutual Quartette)

Meyer, Harry (conductor of the Bronx Symphony Orchestra)

Miller, James Moore (piano). Honor student of Schenley High School calss of 26, matriculated at Carnegie Istitute of Technology. Pitts C, 9/25/26, p7

Miller, Olivette (harpist)

Mitchell, Abbie (soprano). Pioneer operatic star is the stage director in association with Frederick Scheppe of New York. "Three Operas to be given at Watergate. Wash Post, 7/23/44, p56

Monarch Symphonic Band (Lieut Fred W. Simpson, conductor)

Morehouse song: Here comes ole morehouse

Morgan Park Assembly Church (Rev. and Mrs. Herbert C. Moore)

Moten, Etta, replaced Anne Brown as Bess in 1942.

Moye, Geraldine (Juvenile wonder. There were two: Ruth Moye also. Offered song and dance)

Moye, Ruth (Juvenile Wonder. There were two: See: Geraldine Moye. Offered song/dance)

Murdock, Mrs. David V. One of Pittsburgh's most dynamic musicians and speakers. Pitts C, 11/24/56, A17

Muse, Clarence (baritone/composer)

Mu-Te-Or Branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians (Brooklyn)

National Negro Hour. Radio program, Cleveland. Station WGAR.

Negrismo: A literary movement. Negrismo appeared in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Santo Domingo. Negrismo appeared first as a way to represent certain African cultures mostly through imitating African sounds. In this part of the Caribbean, José Zacarías Tallet and Emilio Ballagas, two white Cubans, began to cultivate a poetry that dealt with black issues. A few years later, Nicolás Guillén, who was mulatto, gained prominence with his "Versos mulattos". In Puerto Rico, the movement was carried out thanks to the poetic creativity of Luis Palés Matos; and finally in Santo Domingo, Manuel del Cabral spread the new literary creation. What attracted these white poets to negrista poetry can be explained in different ways. In societies where race was the principal factor in determining a person's social standing, these poets took the risk of rethinking national identity through poetry. Hence their verses affirmed the African cultural presence in the Hispanic Caribbean

Negro Achievement Hour (broadcasted over WAAT, 9/29 at 1:45p, right after the Wilson Lamb Male Singers. Amst News, 9/25/29, p11)

Negro Dance Company (New York)
Newsome, Mr. LaVerne. Instructor of violin at Talladega College, recital Sunday afternoon, 11/24/29. Pitts C, 12/7/29 (4/1)

Negro Oratorio Society: Headed by Joan M. Salmon. Wash Afr, 4/8/72, 17

New York String Quartet (Gertrude E. Martin Felix Wer, Arthur Boyd, Marion Cumbo)

Norfleet, Mrs. S. V. (member of the North Carolina Mutual Quartette)

North Carolina Mutual Quartette

Outerbridge, Mrs. Beryl Paul (pianist)

Pankey, Aubrey. Baritone, Pittsburgh. Student of R. Nathaniel Dett.

Parham, Percival (composer)

Paris, Virginia.
http://www.vahistory.org/WWII/image_archive/image.php?image_id=1130&page=image_archive

Glamorous soprano Virginia Paris of Los Angeles, who is one of th efew Negro singers added to the Metropolitan Opera's enlarged chorus. She made her choral debut same night another Angeleno bowed, prima ballerina Janet Collins. Movie star Loretta young gave La Paris her big break which led to a European tour. The soprano once was her maid. jet 11/8/51, p44


Parker, Charles. Member of Dixie Jubilee Singers. Eva Jessye, Director. Picture. Pitts C, 5/22/26, p7

Parker, Clyde (pianist)

Patters, Phillip. member of Dixie Jubilee Singers. Eva Jessye, Director. Picture. Pitts C, 5/22/26, p7

Peeler, Lawrence (violin)

Perkinson, Coleridge Taylor. Conducted the Symphony of the New World, 4/8/71 in New York. Symphony of the New World was founded by Lucilee Dixon, an african american woman.

Peterson, Caleb (baritone)

Pilot, Ann Hobson: harpist
http://www.annhobsonpilot.com/index.asp

Powell, Bertha. Member of Dixie Jubilee Singers. Eva Jessye, Director. Pitts C, 5/22/26, p7

Powell, Isabelle (contralto)

Powell, Minnie Richardson (mezzo)

Pratt, Awadagin (piano)

Premice, Josephine: Dancer

Price, Florence B. (composer)

Primus, Pearl. Dancer. Staff of Carver School, 57 W 125th St. Pearl is to do a "strange fruit" dance at the Watergate on June 9, 1944. (Composer of Strange Fruit: Abel Meeropol, pseudonym for Lewis Allan): STRANGE FRUIT: Book by Lillain Smith. Set to Music by Lewis Allan. "When Billie Holiday introduced the song at Cafe Society, some Southern white women tried to prevent her from singing it. One woman went so far as to go to her at the piano and take hold of her dress telling her over and over 'you don't want to sing that song. Afro, 5/20/44, 15

DUKE ELLINGTON AND CAFE SOCIETY'S PERARL PRIMUS will appear on program at Madison Square Garden, 6/26/44 when the Negro Freedom Rally is presented by the Labor Victory Committee and affiliated groups. The script has been write by Owen Dodson, young playwright especially for the rally. The reading will be done by Hollywood actors, Leigh Whipper and Will Geer. Afro, 5/20/44, 15


Prince Jarahal (baryton-sonantone)

Purvelin String Quartet

Pyle, Winifred Gordon (soprano: Lew Leslie's "Blackbirds")

Rahn, Muriel (People's Voice, 7/1/44, p22)
Recently withdrew from the cast of "Carmen jones, was the star attraction on the MGM Screen Test program last Monday night over station WOR at 9:15pm. She sang three numbers: Dats love, Great Day (from Vincent Youmen's musical by the same title) and homing. The object of the MGM Screen Test" is to give established players auditions for Metro Talent Scouts

Tuskegee's Muriel Rahn uits "Carment Jones" Next Month. Afro, 5/27/44, 17

When her contract with Billy Rose expires in June, MR will quit "Carmen Jones". Miss Rahn had look at her title role in this Broadway hit show as a stepping stone to even greater heights...Publicity grip. aside from her personal ambition, Miss Rahn has several grips agaist Billy Rose, Producer: "My number one grip is unequal publicity. Rose has failed to exploit me because I'm not his personal discovery. I was singing before I came to Carmen Jones and I'm still a singer. Because I worked my way up by hard study, Rose has avoided giving me publicity. He says that I don't have the Cinderella angle and that people like to think that colored actors are just luky finds, picking cotton or washing dishes today and a Broadway star tomorrow. That's not so. We study and work like all other actores and singers... Afro, 5/27/44, p17

Ray, Elizabeth Anne. Tuskegee Dancer in DC Recital. Afro, 5/27/44, p10. A dance recital by Elizabeth Anne Ray assisted by Doris V. Evans, pianist was presented by Beta Siga Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sority in Banneker Jr High last Saturday. Miss Ray, who has develoted three years to teaching the danc at Tuskegee and Howard, presented a number of interpretive dances in cluding "Uncle Sam Says" or "Jim Crow" in the armed forces. Miss Evans, an honor student in the Howard Univesity School of Music played "Nocturne in F Mjaor: "Garden in the Raid" "Post Ludium" "Intermezzo Op 117 and other selections. Afro, 5/27/44, p10

Ray, William (baritone)

Raymond Rasberry Singers. Gospel singers out of New York City

Rector, Eddie. Dancer

Reed, Edna Curtis (contralto)

Rene, Prof. St. Clair (pianist: 452 Putnam Av, Brooklyn)

Rhea, La Julia (soprano). Spoke to Henry Rhea, 1/24/08. "Rea Parada" is the name that Julia Ray (which is her birth name) was given by her voice teacher early on. When she auditioned for the Major Bowes Amateur Hour, she was called Rea Parada, an italian name, because it was so difficult for blacks to get a break. Later, she married Henry Rhea. Coincidentally, his last name was spelled differently!

Richardson, Mayme. Dramatic soprano

Richardson, Richard G. Percussionist for the Baltimore Boys Choir

Robinson, Lawrence. Dancer of Washington DC. From the dance team of Lewis and Robinson (Anne Harrison Lewis)

Ruby Blakey Jubilee Choir

Salmon, Joan M.: First black woman to preside over the Presbyterian Church. Also, Director of the Negro Oratorio Society (1972). Wash Afro, 4/8/72, 17


Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Female Quartet

Sandridge, Justin. Pianist

Savannah State College song: we hail thee ssc

Scarborough, Duncan. piano. Accompanist for Bessie Trent, negro coloratura and student of Wilson Lamb, NYT, 11/19/35, p26

Sesqui-Centennial Negro Chorus

Sewell, Edith. Dramatic soprano, willgive her first town hall recital sunday afternoon, 2/20/44 at 3. Born in Philly, miss Sewell received her training in Music at Howard Conservatory of Music studying voice under Lulu Childers, theory under M. Coleman, and piano under C. Cohn. She later won a scholarship with maestro Alberto Scarretti and is his protege. She also studied voice with Hans Gaitner of Vienna and is at present under the direction of Adele hewfield. One of the few singers experienced in opera, Miss Sewell has been seen in cavalleria Rusticana with the mascagni Opera Company and was presented by Maestro Alfredo Salmaggi in the role of Aida last year. People's Voice, 2/12/44, 31 (picture)

Shipp, Jesse: Read scripture at Florence Mills' funeral, Baltimore Afro, 11/12/27, 1

Shorter, Lillian (soprano)

Simmons, Alice. Tuskegee musician.

Simmons, Maude (contralto: in Juanita Hall's choir)

Simpson, Fred W. (Dir of the Monarch Symphonic Band)

Smith, Adelaide (contralto)

Smith, Evelyn (soprano)

Smith, Muriel (Soprano. Went to Curtis in Philadelphia)

Smothers, Maude C. (piano)

Snowden, Dorothy L. pianist

Solomon, Gus
Gus Solomons jr
GUS SOLOMONS JR (artistic director/choreographer) - dances (guest with Martha Clarke, et al), makes dances (Solomons Company/Dance, Ailey II, et al), teaches dance (Master Teacher at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, and worldwide), writes about dance (Dance Magazine, Gay City News, DanceInsider.com); loves pockets, puzzles, and structures (architecture degree from M.I.T.); danced in companies of Pearl Lang, Donald McKayle, Martha Graham, and Merce Cunningham; bicycles everywhere. He created the leading role in Donald Byrd/The Group’s nationally acclaimed The Harlem Nutcracker. He also created a dancing role in Martha Clarke's production of The Magic Flute at Glimmerglass Opera and Canadian Opera, and danced recently as a guest artist with Complexions. Solomons received a 1999-2000 New York Dance and Performance Award (a.k.a. "Bessie") for Sustained Achievement in Choreography. In 2001, Solomons was the first recipient of the annual Robert A. Muh Award for a distinguished artist/alumnus of M.I.T. In 2004, he was honored by receiving the American Dance Festival’s Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching. During the 2006-7 season, he was a Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar.

Souza, Ruth de. Brazilian Negro actress. jeJet. 11/8/51, p56

Spearing, Gerald. Sang with the American Negro Opera Company

Spivey, Victoria. Born c 1910 in Houston. Blues singer with strong voice and rhythmic style. Grew up in Dallas, played piano in local theater at 12. began recording 1926. Leading role in first negro sound movie: Hallelujah 1929.

Steel City Council Quartet: W. Harry Wilson (ten), William O. Bradley (tenor), Robert A. Lewis (baritone), Walter Rainey (bass), Mrs. Stella Ramsey (accompanist)

Stone, Ms. Odell (soprano)

Suthern, Orrin (organ)

Sykes, Wilhelm A. (director of the music department at Bethune Cookman and Director of the Bethune Cookman Quartette)

Symphonium Serenaders. Vance Dixon plays with them (picture), Pitts C, 6/2/23, 5

Talbert, Florence Cole (soprano: See also: McCleave, Florence)

Talley, Thomasina, of Juilliard School. Excennelt pianist.
Taylor, Bernard (violin, Des Moines)

Taylor, Dr. A.R. (conductor)

Taylor, T. Theodore (piano)

Thenstead, Adolph: Wrote the music for the calypso musical revue, “Caribbean Carnival”

Thigpen, Helen. Soprano soloist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, New York

Thomas, Blanche. Instructor in chuch school music in the Harlem Training Scool for Religious Workers.

Thompson, Slow Kid: Florence Mills' husband, Baltimore Afro, 11/12/27, 1

Thompson, Walter (tenor, direct of the St. Paul Baptist Church choir)

Tibbs, Roy W. (organ)
Lecture-Recital given in Baltimore at Metropolitan ME, last Tues, Pitts C, 12/28/29 (8/1). Professor Tibbs was head of the department of piano and organ at Howard University since 1912. He died at the age of 56. Afro, 4/8/44, 15

Timpson-Hardy Singers

Todd, Clarence R. Gaye Adegbalola
Biography

Singer | Songwriter | Performer | Public Speaker | Educator

Gaye Adegbalola has been singing and playing guitar and harmonica with Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women since the popular acoustic blues group's inception in 1984. Together they have recorded seven CD's for Alligator Records, and have toured widely throughout the U.S. and abroad, receiving international acclaim. In 1990 Ms. Adegbalola was the recipient of the prestigious W.C. Handy Award for her song Middle Aged Blues Boogie.

Now through her latest album, Neo-Classic Blues with Roddy Barnes, Adegbalola embraces and redefines the classic style of the great blues divas of the 1920s and 30s - those often fiercely independent "wild women" who were unashamed to lay their souls bare and unafraid to give advice. Adegbalola and accompanist Roddy Barnes conjure up another era and deliver a dynamic cabaret-style performance that is both educational and entertaining.

Originally an educator with Fredericksburg, Virginia, public schools, Adegbalola was honored as Virginia State Teacher of the Year in 1982. She is a dynamic, engaging and motivational public speaker, and conducts a variety of workshops and seminars.

More about Gaye...

Born in Fredericksburg Virginia on March 21, 1944. Fredericksburg was, at that time, a segregated town. Her Dad, Clarence R. Todd, was a Planner & Estimator and was quite an artist--drawing and painting, part time jazz musician, and founder of Harambee 360s Experimental Theatre. Her Mom, Gladys P. Todd, was a community organizer who spearheaded the local civil rights struggle. She worked part time at the Youth Canteen and brought home all its old records--influencing Gaye's musical taste early on. 1st job was sorting dirty laundry, 45 cents/hour, The Sunshine Laundry.

Sat-in & picketed in Civil Rights Movement, 1960's. Graduated valedictorian, 1961. Received B.A. in Biology, minor in Chemistry, Boston University 1965. Jobs before teaching career--Technical Writer, TRW Systems; Biochemical Researcher, Rockefeller University; Bacteriologist, Harlem Hospital (also Union Representative Local 1199), 1965-70.

Activist in the Black Power Movement in New York City and formed Harlem Committee of Self-Defense, 1966-70. Married (since divorced) in NYC to Olumide (then manager of the original Last Poets -- the 1st rappers), from this union, son Juno Lumumba Kahlil born, 1969. Began work on novel, 500 Year Diary of An Oppressed Woman - 1969, completed 4th re-write in 1979; never published. Returned to Fredericksburg, 1970

Trent, Bessie: negro coloratura, made first ny appearance at Steinway Hall. Born in Wilmington, NC, has studied with Wilson Lamb of East Orange and is solist at the Union Bapt Church of Montclair NJ. Her home city. The accompanist was Duncan Scarborough. New York Times, 11/19/35, p26

Treble Clef Choir. Maudelena Jones director, Peggy Freeman Accompanist, Pitts C, 3/9/57, A9

Trice, June Monroe. Piano duo with Goldie Guy Martin. Afro, 4/14/44

Trotter, Charles. Organ

Turner, Lucy (soprano)

Turnstall, Nelson. Member of Dixie Jubilee Singers. Eva Jessye, Director. Picture. Pitts C, 5/22/26, 7

Utica Jubilee Singers (of New york)

Van Buren, Catherine. Lyric soprano, Chi Def, 10/18/43, p18

Van Whitted, Sylvester (organ)

Varona, Katharine (organ)

Vespers Quartett. Pitts C, 6/2/23, 4

Virginians: Bob Price (first tenor), Fred Lane (lead tenor), Bill Waters (baritone), Walter Roper (Bass)

Walker, George. pianist. George Walker received much of his early training in the Junior Department of the Schoool of Music at Howard University and graduated from the Oberline Conservatory of Music with highest honors. He has appeared as soloist with the conservatory orchestra in the Tcschaikowsky piano concerto and made a brillant record of his two and a half years study at the urtis Institute of Music.
"Afro, 2/26/44 (3)
An Analysis and Comparison of Piano Sonatas by George Walker and Howard Swanson
D. Maxine Sims
The Black Perspective in Music, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Spring, 1976), pp. 70-81
doi:10.2307/1214404
This article consists of 12 page(s).


Enlarge Page Size

Walker, Joseph Rodgers. pittsburgh musician, music teacher and choral conductor

Walker, Mable Roberts (contralto)

Wasler, Florence Hughes. Violinist of Washington, PA. appears with the Trble clef choir at A. Leo Weil School, 3/13/57. She also studied with Louia Vaughn Jones at Howard University. Was staff violinist at the Holy Redeemer Church (DC) and a violin teacher at Washington Jr. College of Music in DC. PItts C, 3/9/57, A9

Waters, Ethel. Ethen's birthday was 10/10/52. She was 42 years old; therefore, her birthdate is 10/10/1900

Watkins, Mary. Music director.
ary Watkins' new opera tenatively entitled "Dark River " tells the history of the SNCC (Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee) and the biography of Fannie Lou Hamer, a central figure of the early to mid sixties Civil Rights Movement. Ms. Hamer was a prominant organizer in Mississippi and the South, and an important symbol of the grass roots civil rights struggle/movement which became an important turning point for African Americans in US history. She is perhaps best known for the quote: "I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired." Ms Hamer’s character portrays both the ugliness of the period and the resiliency of the human spirit. She is a sharecropper, illiterate, with little formal education; in many ways the product of a system engineered to exploit her. Her story is important for various reasons on both a local and national level. The opera will present a revealing portrait, not only of the titular character, but the regional South, SNCC (Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee) and other activist movements, and the shaping effect that the summer of 1964 had on the history of our country.


In 1962, when Hamer was 44 years old, SNCC volunteers came to town and held a voter registration meeting. She was surprised to learn that African-Americans actually had a constitutional right to vote. When the SNCC members asked for volunteers to go to the courthouse to register to vote, Hamer was the first to raise her hand. This was a dangerous decision. She later reflected, "The only thing they could do to me was to kill me, and it seemed like they'd been trying to do that a little bit at a time ever since I could remember."
When Hamer and others went to the courthouse, they were jailed and beaten by the police. Hamer's courageous act got her thrown off the plantation where she was a sharecropper. She also began to receive constant death threats and was even shot at. Still, Hamer would not be discouraged. She became a SNCC Field Secretary and traveled around the country speaking and registering people to vote. Hamer co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP).concert production of Queeara. Sc
Watkins, Parker (tenor)

Watts, Andre (piano)

Weir, Felix (violin: in Brookly String Trio and NY String Quartet)

Wendell, Bruce. Piano

Wheeler, Elizabeth Belle (soprano)
Featured in concet 5/22/23 at the Washington Conservatory of Music.

Whispering Orchestra. Director: Chauncey Lee.

White, Clarence Cameron (violin)

White Constance Berksteiner (soprano)

White, Rosa B. Picture. Member of Dixie Jubilee Singers. Eva jessye, Director. Pitts C, 5/22/26, 7

Whitman Sisters (in DC, 11/14/29, Pitts C, 11/16/29, 3/2)

Whitted, Mrs. Bessie A. J. (member of the North Carolina Mutual Quartette)

Wilberforce Quartet

Wilberforce Sextette

Wilcher, Jackson and Robert (gospel singers)

Williams, Alex (violin)

Williams, Ann: harpist

Williams, Bert. Comedian. Born in Nassau, 11/12/1874

Williams, Dudley
Dudley Williams
DUDLEY WILLIAMS (dancer) after graduating from The Performing Arts High School in 1957, he attended The Juilliard School of Music and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School. He performed with the companies of Alvin Ailey, May O'Donnell, Martha Graham, Donald McKayle, Eleo Pomare, Hava Kohav, Talley Beatty, and the Coyote Dance Company. He has made numerous solo appearances on television both at home and abroad. He is a sought-after teacher, most recently at The Juilliard School and the Martha Graham School. In 1994 the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater celebrated his thirtieth anniversary with them by presenting him in signature works. He has been honored with the Dance Magazine Award (1997) and the 2001 Dance Award for Longevity & Distinguished Contributions to Dance by the International Association of Blacks in Dance. Dudley recently retired from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater after celebrating his 40th year with the company.
Keith Sabado

Williams, Les. Popular local musician (DC) will appear in recital at St. Mark Methodist Church in NYC, Sunday, 6/4/44. An accomplished pianist, organist, baritone solist and composer, he studied music at Howard Universiy and is a graduate of the Naples School of Music. For two years, he headed the music department of the National Training School for Boys in Bladensburg, MD, and was solist for the National Broadcasting Company on a coast-to-coast network. Afro, 5/20/44, 13 (pic)

Williams, Wilson. Dancerhttp://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:N8yAUjgTkPUJ:www.pbs.org/wnet/freetodance/timeline/timeline4.html+%22Wilson+williams%22+%27dancer%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Wilson Lamb Male Singers (Broadcasted over WAAT on 9/29 at 1:15p, Amst News, 9/25/29, p11)

Wilson, Billy. Dancer. Wash Afro 5/1/71, 19. Of the Sydney School of Dance/ Philadelphia born dancer, married an 18 year old Dutch ballerina (Sonja van Beers) and headed the Dance Department at Brandeis University in Mass. , Amst News, 1/15/66, Also, Philadelphia Tribute, 7/12/66, 15. Did an all black production of GUYS AND DOLLS, Philadelphia Tribute, 4/13/76, 10.


Wilson, Gerald E. Student of R. Nathaniel Dett

Winfrey, Nellie. Florence Mills's mom (Baltimore Afro, 11/12/27, 1)

Winters, Lawrence. Baritone Lawrence Winters became the first Negro ever to sing a white role with a major opera company. Winters sang title role of New York City Opera Company's production of "Rigoletto". Jet 9/25/52, p12

Wisdom, Leon (violin). Picture, really young, on page 7 of the Pitts C, 9/25/26

Wise, Ethyl (soprano. Director of Music at North Carolina A&T 1933-36, accompanied by Julia Young Sessoms at the piano and Bernard Lee Mason on violin (often). Sessoms was in the Physical Ed Department at A&T. Mason was on the faculty at Howard. He was on the music faculty at A&T too. Wise graduated from Howard in 1931. She was at A&T before Warner Lawson. Hattie Maloy Webster also accompanied her at the piano.

Woodbeck, Wilson. Sang with the American Negro Opera Company and the National Negro Opera Company

Woods Jr., Kenneth (arranger)

Wood, Marguerite (piano)

Woodward, Sidney. Florida musican

Wright, Elmer. Bass. Member of the Baltimore Boys Choir.

Yales, Carrie. Member of Dixie Jubilee Singers. Eva Jessye, Director. Pitts C, 5/22/26, p7


"A STRING OF NAMES"

Alpha Floyd, Mareda Gaither-Graves, Hilda Harris, Kenn Hicks, Rafael LeBron, Ilya Martinez, Dorothy Rudd Moore. Margaret Harris, Raymond Jackson, Don Shirley, Keley Wyatt, Cheng Zang Yin; Kermit Moore and Garfield Moore (cellists). Frank Wang and Jue Yao as Violists.

Tisdale, Clarence: tenor, member of the Clef Club (People’s Voice, 1/1B, 2; also, Baltimore Afro American, 11/12/27, 1.)