For anyone seeking to research how the Apollo Theater worked, the economics of the black entertainment industry, and the ups and downs of stars’ drawing power, there is only one place to go: the Archives Center of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. That’s where the Frank Schiffman Apollo Theatre Collection trove of sixteen boxes of rare and fascinating material—is preserved.
The Schiffman family ran the Apollo from 1934 to 1976. In 1946, Frank Schiffman began keeping a 5”x8” card on each and every act he hired—from singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Chuck Berry to dancers such as Honi Coles, and comedians like Redd Foxx. There are over twelve hundred such cards.
Each card listed the opening night of the booking (most bookings were for one week), the amount each was paid, and—most interesting of all—Schiffman’s pithy comments on the act’s drawing power, polish, affordability, freshness or staleness, reception, attitude, and cooperativeness with management. All the comments were typewritten, making the cards completely legible and easy to read.
I'm sorry but I always saw her as the Walmart version of Ella Fitzgerald
Machito (born Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, December 3, 1909 – April 15, 1984) was a Latin jazz musician who helped refine Afro-Cuban jazz and create both Cubop and salsa music.[1][2] He was raised in Havana with the singer Graciela, his foster sister.
In New York City, Machito formed the band the Afro-Cubans in 1940, and with Mario Bauzá as musical director, brought together Cuban rhythms and big band arrangements in one group. He made numerous recordings from the 1940s to the 1980s, many with Graciela as singer. Machito changed to a smaller ensemble format in 1975, touring Europe extensively. He brought his son and daughter into the band, and received a Grammy Award in 1983, one year before he died.
Machito's music had an effect on the lives of many musicians who played in the Afro-Cubans over the years, and on those who were attracted to Latin jazz after hearing him. George Shearing, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Stan Kenton credited Machito as an influence. An intersection in East Harlem is named "Machito Square" in his honor.
HERES' THE LINK....POST OTHERS AS YOU FIND THEM PLEASE!!
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