Milton Larkin (1910-1996) was born in Navasota, Texas. After his father's death, his mother brought him to Houston when he was six years old. Larkin started playing the trumpet when he was 16, and was mostly self-taught. He organized his own band in 1936, but he made his name in the early 1940s at Chicago's Rhumboogie Club. Members included Eddie
"Cleanhead" Vinson, Illinois Jacquet, Wild Bill Davis, and Arnett Cobb. Larkin took up the trombone while in the service during World War II. Following the war, he had his own group at the Celebrity Club in New York City, but he never regained the status he had prior to World War II.
The collection contains an oral history interview and photographs.
None.
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Milton Larkin Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
Milton Larkin Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.
Donated by: Milton Larkin, September 11, 1984.
Processed by: Charles Stephenson and Tammy Jordan, April 20, 2007.
Materials in the Milton Larkin Collection are arranged by item type or format. All developed photographs are described at the item level. The oral history tape is housed with the Oral History Collection OH 447, separate from MSS 252-the Milton Larkin Collection.
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Photographs |
| Number |
| MSS252.001 |
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Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.002 |
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Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.003 |
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Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.004 |
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Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.005 |
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Earl Hines |
| Number |
| MSS252.006 |
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Milton Larkin playing trumpet during a performance |
| Number |
| MSS252.007 |
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Baby Briscoe who fronted a girls’ band |
| Number |
| MSS252.008 |
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Earl Hines |
| Number |
| MSS252.009 |
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Orlando Robinson, singer |
| Number |
| MSS252.010 |
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Tiny Bradshaw, drummer and bandleader |
| Number |
| MSS252.011 |
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Cab Calloway |
| Number |
| MSS252.012 |
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Rex Stewart, trumpeter; Publicity photo for
Jazz at the Philharmonic |
| Number |
| MSS252.013 |
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Rex Stewart playing trumpet; publicity photo for
Jazz at the Philharmonic |
| Number |
| MSS252.014 |
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T-Bone Walker, singer-guitarist; sang with Milton Larkin and His Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.015 |
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Sherman
"“Scatman”" Crothers |
| Number |
| MSS252.016 |
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Coleman Hawkins, tenor saxophonist and bandleader |
| Number |
| MSS252.017 |
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Buck Clayton, bass player |
| Number |
| MSS252.018 |
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Jimmie Lunceford, bandleader |
| Number |
| MSS252.019 |
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Wild Bill Davis, pianist |
| Number |
| MSS252.020 |
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Trummy Young, trombonist; publicity photo for
Jazz at the Philharmonic played in Louis Armstrong’s band |
| Number |
| MSS252.021 |
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Avery Parrish, pianist with Erskine Hawkins’ Orchestra; famous for After Hour |
| Number |
| MSS252.022 |
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Howard Callender, trumpeter in Lil Green’s Orchestra; husband of Lil Green |
| Number |
| MSS252.023 |
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Milton
"Tippy" Larkin, trumpeter; son of Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.024 |
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B. B. King, guitarist and singer; his first road trip was with Milton Larkin’s Orchestra through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama |
| Number |
| MSS252.025 |
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Buddy Tate, saxophonist |
| Number |
| MSS252.026 |
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Ike Harris, dancer at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.027 |
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Kid
"Lipps" Hackette, drummer and dancer featured with Eddie Durham’s Band |
| Number |
| MSS252.028 |
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Male dancer at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.029 |
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Clarence Foster, comedian; Nickname:
"Pops" |
| Number |
| MSS252.030 |
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Mary Lou Williams, singer, composer and arranger, appeared with Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy; composed Moten Swing |
| Number |
| MSS252.031 |
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Beverly White, singer, featured with Claude Hopkins and His Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.032 |
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Female singer at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.033 |
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Ruth Ellington, sister of Duke Ellington |
| Number |
| MSS252.034 |
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Singer at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.035 |
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Mabel Franklin, singer with Milton Larkin’s Band |
| Number |
| MSS252.036 |
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missing |
| Number |
| MSS252.037 |
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Helen Humes, singer; publicity photo for
Jazz at the Philharmonic |
| Number |
| MSS252.038 |
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Velma Middleton, vocalist with Louis Armstrong; died in Africa |
| Number |
| MSS252.039 |
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Peggy Thomas, singer |
| Number |
| MSS252.040 |
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I. H. Smalley, Houston bandleader |
| Number |
| MSS252.041 |
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Arthur Prysoc, singer |
| Number |
| MSS252.042 |
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Arthur Prysoc, singer |
| Number |
| MSS252.043 |
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Budd Johnson, saxophonist, who played with Cab Calloway and Count Basie; drawing by Don Hester |
| Number |
| MSS252.044 |
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Illinois Jacquet, saxophonist; drawing by Don Hester |
| Number |
| MSS252.045 |
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Arnett Cobb, saxophonist; drawing by Don Hester |
| Number |
| MSS252.046 |
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Milton Larkin, singer; unsigned drawing, but similar to drawings by Don Hester |
| Number |
| MSS252.047 |
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Earl
"Fatha" Hines; Caricature by Wachstetter |
| Number |
| MSS252.048 |
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Milton Larkin and unidentified man, a graduate of Prairie View A & M and manager of Apollo Theater |
| Number |
| MSS252.049 |
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Click and Click, dancers at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.050 |
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Unidentified man and Roy Branca of The Three Peppers |
| Number |
| MSS252.051 |
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Sonny and Dotty who performed at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub in Houston and at The Rhumboogie in Chicago |
| Number |
| MSS252.052 |
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Nicholson Brothers, Harold and __?_; dancers |
| Number |
| MSS252.053 |
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Joe Louis, prizefighter; Eddie Arcaro, jockey and
"Bojangles" Robinson |
| Number |
| MSS252.054 |
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Johnny Moore Trio; guitarist Moore played in Nat
"King" Cole’s Trio |
| Number |
| MSS252.055 |
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Cedric Haywood, pianist; Allan _?_ who played with Earl Hines,
1941, and “Hog” _?_ |
| Number |
| MSS252.056 |
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Dance team at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas; no identification |
| Number |
| MSS252.057 |
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Milton Larkin, bandleader and singer, during a performance |
| Number |
| MSS252.058 |
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Milton Larkin and Ernest Hart in Los Angeles |
| Number |
| MSS252.059 |
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Dennis Brooks; Cathy _?_ and Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.060 |
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Don Cannon, Secretary of the Musicians’ Union Local Cedric Haywood, pianist; and Ed Gerlach, Houston bandleader and Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.061 |
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Bass player unidentified; George Thompson, drums; Tippy Larkin, trumpet; Fletcher Smith, piano; and Milton Larkin, trumpet and trombone |
| Number |
| MSS252.062 |
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Arnett Cobb and unidentified man at the Savoy Ballroom, New York City |
| Number |
| MSS252.063 |
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Tippy Larkin, trumpet, and Monty Owens, singer-guitarist, at a street concert in New York City |
| Number |
| MSS252.064 |
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Monty Owens, guitarist and unidentified guitarist and Willie Bridge, saxophonist, during a street concert in New York City |
| Number |
| MSS252.065 |
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Mrs. Milton Larkin and Willie Mabon, singer, who recorded "I’m Mad" and a song later used in a commercial |
| Number |
| MSS252.066 |
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Milton Larkin, Warren Daniel and unidentified guitarist |
| Number |
| MSS252.067 |
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Milton Larkin and Peg-Leg Bates, owner of a country club in upper New York State and who danced at the Cotton Club |
| Number |
| MSS252.068 |
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Jitterbug dancers at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.069 |
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Dancers at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.070 |
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Dancers at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.071 |
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Dancers at Abe and Pappy’s Nightclub, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.072 |
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Trombone section; International Sweethearts of Rhythm |
| Number |
| MSS252.073 |
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International Sweethearts of Rhythm, trumpet section, featuring Evelyn McGhee |
| Number |
| MSS252.074 |
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Dixie Rhythm Girls |
| Number |
| MSS252.075 |
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Louis Jordan dancing with girls; L. F. Simon, tenor saxophone; Wild Bill Davis, piano |
| Number |
| MSS252.076 |
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Milton Larkin singing with his Orchestra at the Rhumboogie Club, Chicago, Illinois |
| Number |
| MSS252.077 |
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Don Albert Band at the Tick Tock Tavern |
| Number |
| MSS252.078 |
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Saxophone section; Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy |
| Number |
| MSS252.079 |
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Billy Bowen Quintet |
| Number |
| MSS252.080 |
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Milton Larkin Band (l-r): Monty Johnson, trumpet; Milton Larkin, trombone; Frank Scott, baritone saxophone; Charlie Ferguson; Duke _?_, piano; Ted Sturgis, bass; Vess Paine, drums; at the Celebrity Club |
| Number |
| MSS252.081 |
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Milton Larkin, Mrs. Milton Larkin, Daisy Richards and unidentified person |
| Number |
| MSS252.082 |
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Unidentified singer; Milton Larkin, playing trumpet |
| Number |
| MSS252.083 |
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Milton Larkin Band: Skinny Brown, saxophone; Milton Larkin, trombone |
| Number |
| MSS252.084 |
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Milton Larkin Band: Milton Larkin; Warren Daniels; Sid Melton; and Stella _?_ |
| Number |
| MSS252.085 |
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Milton Larkin, unidentified, and Warren Daniel |
| Number |
| MSS252.086 |
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Milton Larkin Band: Milton Larkin; Warren Daniel; Stella _?_; Tippy Larkin at far right |
| Number |
| MSS252.087 |
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Brass Section, Jimmy Lunceford Band |
| Number |
| MSS252.088 |
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Pete Mays, Eric Lewis, Arnett Cobb; Eddie
"Cleanhead" Vinson, a trumpeter from Duke Ellington’s band and Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.089 |
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Milton Larkin Band performing on a New York street: Milton Larkin; Tippy Larkin; unidentified saxophonist; Willie Bridges, who went into church music in 1988; and
"Sonny" _?_ |
| Number |
| MSS252.090 |
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Charles Gordon; Milton Larkin; Arnett Cobb; _?_ Hart; and George Lane |
| Number |
| MSS252.091 |
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Harold Singer; Dennis Brooks; Dick Boone; Mrs. Milton Larkin; Milton Larkin; and Mrs. Dennis Brooks |
| Number |
| MSS252.092 |
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Milton Larkin; unidentified; the bandleader at Wiley College; Wild Bill Davis and a promoter |
| Number |
| MSS252.093 |
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Copacetics Cookie Youngblood and Buster Brown with Milton Larkin. Copacetics were a dance team managed by Milton Larkin for two decades. Copacetics was Larkin’s recording label |
| Number |
| MSS252.094 |
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Standing: Peg-Leg Bates and spectator; Arthur Prysock seated on the right |
| Number |
| MSS252.095 |
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Milton Larkin; Conrad Johnson and Mrs. Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.096 |
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Milton Larkin Orchestra: postcard |
| Number |
| MSS252.097 |
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Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.098 |
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Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.099 |
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Floyd Ray and His Orchestra; Milton Larkin’s Orchestra replaced this orchestra on the West Coast in
1940 when Ray dismissed his entire group; Larkin retained the girls to sing with his orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.100 |
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Sunset Royal Entertainers Band from Florida |
| Number |
| MSS252.101 |
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Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.102 |
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Eddie
"Cleanhead" Vinson and His Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.103 |
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Milton Larkin Orchestra at the Aragon Ballroom, Houston, Texas: (l-r): H. F. Sloan; L. F. Simon; Lonnie Moore; Frank Dimangio; Willie Lott Tompkins; Lawrence Cato; George Lane; Clifford Mitchell; Charles Gordon; Arnett Cobb; Lester Patterson; Eddie Vinson and Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.104 |
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Unknown band |
| Number |
| MSS252.105 |
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The 375th Army Service Forces Band of Camp Shanks, New York: Cy Oliver; Cholly Adkinson; Buck Clayton; Dan Minor; Bobby _?_ Barry Lanier; Milton Larkin; __?_ Blair; Frank Scott; Jack __?_; Freddy Williams;
"Skinny" Brown; “Bunny” __?_ and Sgt. “Sarge” __?_ |
| Number |
| MSS252.106 |
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Ruth Brown, sister of Duke Ellington. Carl Mack Thompson, singer, at extreme right. Others unidentified |
| Number |
| MSS252.107 |
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Father (Earl) Hines and
"The Swinging Rays of Rhythm" from Piney Woods School, Piney Woods, Mississippi |
| Number |
| MSS252.108 |
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Lil Green’s Orchestra: (l-r):Wild Bill Davis, kneeling; Milton Larkin, third from left; Big Bill Boozer also in picture. Others not identified |
| Number |
| MSS252.109 |
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Sylvia and Her Rhythmettes, a dance act; individual photographs |
| Number |
| MSS252.110 |
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Rhumboogie Girls |
| Number |
| MSS252.111 |
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Kneeling: unidentified Houston singing group; (standing, l-r): May June; Jean Wurl; DeeDee _?_; Honey Cole, (Rear Center); Elsie Blow (front-center); Tonda Lear (center-right); __?_who married Sonny Stritch; one of the Brown Twins; Charlie Schaefer’s wife |
| Number |
| MSS252.112 |
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Milton Larkin and Morris Merritt, kneeling. Standing, center: Queen of Jack Yates High School; at The Old Harlem Grill, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.113 |
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Girls in front of Larkin Orchestra, known at the Copacetics: (l-r): Mrs. Charlie Schaefer; one of the Brown Twins; Elsie Blow, and Bea _?_; Performance at Broadway and 52nd Street, New York City |
| Number |
| MSS252.114 |
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Buddy Tate, soloist, with Milton Larkin Orchestra; Jerome Doss, guitar; Hilton Jefferson, alto saxophone; Bobby Brown, alto saxophone; _?_, baritone saxophone; Back row: Joe Marshall, drums; Johnny Grimes and Tippy Larkin, trumpet. Photograph taken after intermission that opportunity for the band to change costumes completely |
| Number |
| MSS252.115 |
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Arthur Prysock; Johnny Grimes to right of Prysock |
| Number |
| MSS252.116 |
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Big Momma Thornton and the Copacetics, New York City |
| Number |
| MSS252.117 |
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George Schmidt, singer |
| Number |
| MSS252.118 |
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Milton Larkin Band playing at an outdoor concert in a Brooklyn schoolyard |
| Number |
| MSS252.119 |
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Lester Williams, second from right, at Prince’s B-B-Q, Los Angeles. Others unidentified |
| Number |
| MSS252.120 |
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Milton Larkin in military uniform at The Harlem Grill, Houston, Texas; _?_ Goldberg wearing Shriner’s cap |
| Number |
| MSS252.121 |
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Milton Larkin, center; no other identification |
| Number |
| MSS252.122 |
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Sam Taylor; Mrs. Milton Larkin; Mrs. Arnett Cobb; Mrs. Sam Taylor; Arnett Cobb’s Mother; Arnett Cobb |
| Number |
| MSS252.123 |
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The 375th Army Service Forces Band, Camp Shanks, NY; identifications at bottom of photograph |
| Number |
| MSS252.124 |
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Audience at a street dance in New York City; music provided by Milton Larkin Band |
| Number |
| MSS252.125 |
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Milton and Tippy Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.126 |
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Tippy Larkin at a New York City street concert; audience in background |
| Number |
| MSS252.127 |
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Saxophonist, street concert, New York City |
| Number |
| MSS252.128 |
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Phil Young, drummer, in Milton Larkin Band at a street concert, New York City |
| Number |
| MSS252.129 |
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Young girl spectator during street concert in New York City |
| Number |
| MSS252.130 |
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Milton Larkin during a street concert, New York City; audience in background |
| Number |
| MSS252.131 |
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Tippy Larkin, Milton Larkin, and Phil Young, drummer, at street concert, New York City; pianist not identified |
| Number |
| MSS252.132 |
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Milton Larkin, trombone, and Tippy Larkin trumpet |
| Number |
| MSS252.133 |
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Phil Young, drummer, during a street concert by Milton Larkin Band |
| Number |
| MSS252.134 |
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Photographic collage: Pearl Bailey; Co-Petites; Billboard; dancers |
| Number |
| MSS252.135 |
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Photographic collage: (clockwise from upper right:) Not identified; Cook and Brown, a comedy team; T-Bone Walker; Sam
"The Man" Taylor; T-Bone Walker; Milton Larkin; Derby Wilson; European acrobatic dancers. Center: Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.136 |
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Crowd at Negro Actors’ Guild Dance where music was provided by Milton Larkin Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.137 |
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Positive film strip: 1. Milton Larkin; 2. Milton Larkin; 3. Kathy Whitmire; 4. Milton Larkin Band; 5. Larkin Band; 6-13. Crowning of Milton Larkin as King ____; 14. Audience; 15-17. Milton Larkin; 18-20. Audience; in 1986 in Sam Houston Park, Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.138 |
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Dancer, unidentified |
| Number |
| MSS252.139 |
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Milton Larkin after an automobile accident, New York City; in souvenir folder |
| Number |
| MSS252.140 |
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Milton Larkin Orchestra, Houston, Texas, c.1937: Lonnie Moore; Eddie Vinson; Arnett Cobb; George Lane; Clifford Mitchell; Lawrence Cato; Lester Patterson; Cedric Haywood; Willie Lott Thompkins; T-Bone Walker; Milton Larkin; Charles Gordon; H. S. Sloan; Frank Dominguez |
| Number |
| MSS252.141 |
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El Dorado Ballroom; Houston, Texas |
| Number |
| MSS252.142 |
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Postcard photograph: Milton Larkin and His Famous Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.143 |
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Junior Parker |
| Number |
| MSS252.144 |
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375th Army Band, original copy; rolled photo behind numbered photographs |
| Number |
| MSS252.145 |
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The Late Johnny Ace |
| Number |
| MSS252.146 |
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Milton Larkin and Louis J. Marchiafava, during personal interview |
| Number |
| MSS252.147 |
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Milton Larkin |
| Number |
| MSS252.148 |
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Clarence
"Gatemouth" Brown |
| Number |
| MSS252.149 |
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Sammy Davis, Jr. and Milton Larkin’s Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.150 |
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Milton Larkin and Louis J. Marchiafava during a personal interview |
| Number |
| MSS252.151 |
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Milton Larkin and His Orchestra |
| Number |
| MSS252.152 |
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Milton Larkin and His Famous Orchestra; postcard |
| Number |
| MSS252.153 |
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missing |
| Number |
| MSS252.154 |
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Milton Larkin; _;___;_________; |
