Original Photographs and Backstage Pass to the Apollo

A collection of thirteen items relating to the jazz trumpeter and bandleader Bobby Lee Booker. The collection contains 3 group photographs taken in restaurants, one labeled by hand as "Havana, Cuba nite spot, April 1938"; 1 photograph of a band onstage in Malta; a photograph of Georgie Smith with his drumsticks, signed and inscribed to Booker in Paris, August 8, 1950; 1 promotional photograph of a band in matching suits and ties, labeled "Melody Makers"; 5 assorted photographs of friends and family of Booker, including a hand-colored portrait photograph of his brother, John C. Booker, inscribed "To my bro from his bro"; and a circular fabric guest backstage pass to the Apollo Theatre.

Photographs range in size from 2.5 x 3.5 to 8 x 10 inches and are in varying conditions from poor to very good; most have creases and mounting remnants, several have large tears. Signed photograph of Georgie Smith in very good condition.

Born in 1907 in Jacksonville, Florida, Bobby Lee Booker came to New York in the 1920's.  Appearing on the Theatre Owners Booking Association circuit, he then played with Tab Smith, Dave Nelson, Alphonso Trent and Danny Smalls.  Booker toured South America with the Cotton Club Show in 1938.  After a hiatus from performing during the 1950's and 60's, when he was a New York City cab driver, he returned to the stage and formed his own big band of veteran performers, the Bobby Booker Big Band, in 1975.  Booker was interviewed for David Griffiths' book Hot Jazz: from Harlem to Storyville (Maryland: Storyville Press, 1998). (12940)

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Archive

Unsigned Photo

Jazz

Signed Photograph

• Sold