Iconic African American Musicians

Historical photographs of influential African American musicians and entertainers in the mid-20th century, capturing moments of performance and presence.

New America boxer Carl Coates arrived tonight. March 17, 1954. (Photo by Bert Power/)

Louis armstrong, 60s

Poll photo collection. SPIVs in Soho, London. Theater agent Yvon - nicknamed The Duke of Soho - in his office. 1947. England, London

12/31/1959. Nat King Cole.

New America boxer Carl Coates arrived tonight. March 17, 1954. (Photo by Bert Power/)

American musician Ray Charles, 1955.

El músico de jazz Duke Ellington en el año 1933.

American singer and musician Nat King Cole.

American singer and performer Jackie Wilson.

Count Basie, pianista de jazz estadounidense, en el año 1941.

William Lee Conley "Big Bill" Broonzy (1893-1958), Blues Musician and Composer Portrait, 1957

Howard Rollins, Half-Length Portrait on-set of the TV Movie, "For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story", PBS, 1983

Louis Armstrong (August 4, 1901- July 6, 1971) at the 1970 jazz festival in Newport, Rhode Island.

Louis Armstrong, 1968.

Louis Armstrong American Jazz Trumpeter (1900-1971)

Anefo photo collection. Arrival Chuck Berry (singer) at Schiphol, Chuck Berry and His sister Lucy Ann during press conference. February 3, 1965. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Anefo photo collection. New governor of the Netherlands Antilles, Drs. B. M. Leito, arrives at Schiphol; Leito, head. 25 June 1970

Joe Brown. December 12, 1950.

Ben Vereen, Publicity Portrait for the Television Show, "The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen - His Roots", ABC-TV, March 1978

El cantante y pianista Ray Charles.

Anefo photo collection. Prime Minister Vegel van Suriname arrived in the Netherlands. (Head) angel. April 29, 1963. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Louis amstrong

American singer and musician Nat King Cole.

El saxofonista y compositor de jazz Charlie Parker. 1946.

Louis Armstrong, trompetista y cantante estadounidense de jazz.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG (1900-1971) TROMPETISTA Y CANTANTE ESTADOUNIDENSE. ARMSTRONG LOUIS 1900/1971-LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

October 6, 1948Portrait of Lionel Hampton playing the vibraphone at city auditorium.

El músico de jazz Duke Ellington en el año 1963.

American singer and performer Jackie Wilson.

Ray Charles, 1981.

Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis poses for a portrait early in his career playing his horn in circa 1955 in New York City.

Joe Brown. July 23, 1950.

A. Philip Randolph, civil rights leader proposed an African American 'March on Washington' in 1942. He aimed to protest racist job discrimination in war industries, lynching, and segregation of the American Armed forces. The threatened demonstration of 50 (BSLOC_2016_7_36)

El guitarrista B.B.King.

Sammy Davis Jr. American Singer, Actor and Dancer (1925-1990)

El pianista de jazz Art Tatum.

ARETHA FRANKLIN in JAZZ ON A SUMMER'S DAY (1960), directed by BERT STERN.

El saxofonista y clarinetista de jazz Coleman Hawkins.

Anefo photo collection. Arrival at Schiphol van Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, leader of Ziloeland (South Africa) and chairman of the Inkatha freedom party. Arrival and departure politicians, portraits, buthelezi, mangosuthu. 10 June 1983. North Holland, Schiphol

Cab Calloway. September 15, 1955.

Robert Lee Johnson (1911-1938), Anonymous

El trompetista Miles Davis en el año 1957.

Lionel Hampton, Jazz Bandleader & Percussionist, (1908-2002)

Anefo photo collection. Thelonious Monk (jazz pianist) (head) gave night concert in Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. February 14, 1964. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Anefo photo collection. Arrival Chuck Berry (singer) at Schiphol, Chuck Berry and His sister Lucy Ann during press conference. February 3, 1965. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Sammy Davis Jr. featured with Will Mastin TrioSammy Davis, Jr., appears with the Will Mastin trio on the vaudeville show opening today at the Palomar. October 10, 1949. (Photo by Capitol Recording Artist).

1960s PORTRAIT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN SMILING BROADLY WEARING SUIT AND TIE LOOKING AT CAMERA

William Lee Conley "Big Bill" Broonzy (1893-1958), Blues Musician and Composer Portrait, 1957

Fats Domino concert, Eutiner Jazz Days, on July 23, 1980 in Germany, Europe

LOUIS ARMSTRONG. 1932.

Canadian jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson.

Jack Johnson

Ray Charles, 60s.

SIDNEY POITIER.

JAMES EARL JONES in THE BINGO LONG TRAVELING ALL-STARS & MOTOR KINGS (1976), directed by JOHN BADHAM.

Jimmie Daniels (1908-1984) American Cabaret performer, nightclub owner and Harlem Renaissance figure, head and shoulders portrait, Carl Van Vechten Collection, July 1940

El saxofonoista Grover Washington.

1950s 1960s PORTRAIT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN WEARING SUIT AND TIE LOOKING AT CAMERA

Archie Moore. April 17, 1940.

Jimmy Carter. August 31, 1949.

Japanese Tommy

Jackie Robinson. January 26, 1951. (Photo by Cowles Syndicate).

Little Stevie Wonder, Singer and Songwriter, (1950- )

HARRY BELAFONTE.

Anefo photo collection. Arrival Ray Charles (head) at Schiphol Ray Charles. October 5, 1968. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

El músico de jazz Duke Ellington.

Anefo photo collection. Brazilian football team arrived from Paris at Schiphol. Pele (head). April 29, 1963. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Rhapsody In Black -- The Ink Spots pictured in London to-day (Friday). Top of the scale is Herb Kenny, the talking bass. Beneath him are, his brother Bill Kenny, who sings the high notes, then Charlie Fuqua and, at the bottom, Billy Bowen.The famous American colored team of singsters, The Ink Spots, have arrived in London. They are to appear at the London Casino from next Monday. August 29, 1947.

Sidney Poitier (1924- ) Actor

Louis Armstrong, trompetista y cantante estadounidense de jazz.

Description: Barbados. 'Dr H G H Cummins, CBE, Minister of Social Services'. Later Premier of Barbados Photograph No D 77006 Official Barbados photograph compiled by Central Office of Information. Red square up pencil marks on the front. Publicity statement on reverse. Location: Barbados Date: 1955 Mar barbados, caribbean, caribbeanthroughalens

HARRY BELAFONTE. 1962.

Anefo photo collection. Arrival at Schiphol from Drs. R. F. Macwilliams, minist of labor and social affairs at Netherlands Antilles (head). August 16, 1972. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Duke Ellington circa 1930.

Jackie Gleason (1916-1987), American comedian and actor, whose hit TV variety program, "The Jackie Gleason Show," was second only to "I Love Lucy" in national ratings. He played bus driver Ralph Kramden on another hit TV show, "The Honeymooners."

West Baden, Indiana: August 4, 1950 Joe Louis who retired as the undefeated heavyweight boxing champion of the world has started training in an attempt to regain his title.

H.S. Groves. December 14, 1951.

Charles David.

Asa Philip Randolph (1889-1979) prominent African America civil rights leader.

Anefo photo collection. Pangeran Aji Kertanegara (member of the federal government of Indonesia). January 19, 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

James Brown

Aretha Franklin and Ted White, 80s.

Joe Louis. text. Portraits, Photographs. 1937. General Research Division. Slovak Americans, African American boxers, Louis, Joe, 1914-1981

Nellie Small. September 6, 1953.

Booker T. Washington

Anefo photo collection. Arrival of Robert Mugabe (Patriotic Front for Zimbabwe) at Schiphol. Robert Mugabe. October 19, 1979. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

JAMES EARL JONES and DIAHANN CARROLL in CLAUDINE (1974), directed by JOHN BERRY.

BILL COSBY and SIDNEY POITIER in GHOST DAD (1990), directed by SIDNEY POITIER.

James Baldwin, 1963

Anefo photo collection. President Nyerere van Tanzania, heads. November 25, 1975

Chuck berry, the rainbow theatre, finsbury park, london 1973

Booker T. Washington, Seated Portrait, Washington DC, USA, Harris & Ewing, January 1909

Anefo photo collection. Boxing champion Georg Foreman at Schiphol, Georg Foreman with Romeo Ommel. March 17, 1973. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

LITTLE RICHARD in LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING (2023), directed by LISA CORTES.

Portrait of James Coyner (actually Alonzo Robinson), Anonymous, 1935 photograph United States of America baryta paper gelatin silver print historical persons. adult man

Freeman Gosden as Amos of AMOS 'N' ANDY, circa 1930

PACO MARTINEZ SORIA.

'Mr. Blues' Is 78-W. C. Handy, often called "father of the blues" relaxes in his publishing office here on the eve of his 78th birthday. The composer of such hits as "St. Louis Blues," Memphis Blues," and others will be feted tonight by friends at the Waldorf Astoria. Now partially blind, the famed cornetist now spends most of his time promoting the W. C. Handy foundation for the Blind. W. C. Handy, acknowledged "father of the blues," composed such jazz hits as "St. Louis Blues" and "Memphis Blues." His life story has been filmed.November 16, 1951. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

09/19/1935. Joe Louis.

Civil rights leader James Farmer

Anefo photo collection. President Nyerere van Tanzania, heads. November 25, 1975

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