Photograph of jazz trumpet player Lammar Wright, who was active in Kansas City from the early 1920's until 1927. He is shown here as the lead trumpeter of Cab Calloway's Orchestra in New York City. This photograph is signed by Wright and addressed to VeEssa Spivey, owner of Kansas City's Black Hawk Barbecue.
American Jazz Museum
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Photograph of Kansas City jazz pianist Margaret "Countess" Johnson (1919 – 1939). She was active in the 1930's as a teenager in Harlan Leonard's bands and substituting for Count Basie and for Mary Lou William's in Andy Kirk's band.
Circa 1938 photograph of Tommy Douglas and his orchestra posed in front of their tour bus. The back of the photograph is an advertisement for the band that reads: "'Howdy' Folks, Tommy Douglas and his Band, The finest and fastest Colored Band on the road, Showmen, Vocalists, Musicians - A Real Entertaining Attraction.
Photograph of a "colored wading pool" located in the median of The Paseo just south of 15th Street (now Truman Road), Kansas City, Missouri.
Photograph of Kansas City blues shouter Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr. Turner performed in Kansas City in the late 1920's and early 1930's before moving to New York City.
Photograph of the Lincoln High School Cadet Band and Orchestra posed in front of the school. Major N. Clark Smith, director, is pictured in the back to the right.
Photograph of jazz singer Elmer "Pha" Terrell. He was active in Kansas City, primarily with Andy Kirk and the Twelve Clouds of Joy, from the early 1930's until 1941. This photograph is signed by Terrell and addressed to VeEssa Spivey, owner of Kansas City's Black Hawk Barbecue.
Photograph of people riding the Vine Street Streetcar in Kansas City, Missouri
Photograph of Bennie Moten's Orchestra posed outside. Pictured left to right: are Jimmy Rushing, Jack Washington, Woodie Walder, Count Basie, Leroy Berry, Bus Moten, Eddie Durham, Willie McWashington, Vernon Page, Thamon Hayes, Harlan Leonard, Ed Lewis, Booker Washington, Bennie Moten.
Photograph of an abandoned building at the southwest corner of 19th Street and Vine Street in Kansas City, Missouri. The building used to house a Sam's Market and a shoe shining parlor.
Cocktail menu and listing of packaged liquors available for sale at The Pink Elephant, "Kansas City's Most Beautiful Cocktail Room," located at the Hotel Stats on 12th Street. The cover notes that for patron protection, "every bottle of liquor in this hotel is registered and carries a permanent number."
1932 photograph of Thamon Hayes’ Kansas City Rockets group posed in front of the Fairyland Park stage at the southeast corner of Prospect Avenue and 75th Street. From left: Ed Lewis, Baby Lovett, Jesse Stone, Richard Smith, Herman Walder, Thamon Hayes, Vic Dickenson, Woodie Walder, Harlan Leonard, Booker T. Washington, Vernon Page.