1959 BLUES OPERA AUTOGRAPHED PERFORMERS PHILIPS RECORD AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

Description

[24205] (African - American - Music History - Autographs).
Andre Kostlelanetz and His Orchestra Harold Arlen's Free and Easy Blues Opera Signed By Performing Members of the Show
. Bruxelles Belgium: Philips Minigroove, 1959. Recorded music blues opera album; recorded "Gala Femmes d'Aujourd'hui, le mardi 22 decembre 1959"; written by American composter- writer Harold Arlen (1905 - 1986), originally performed by Kostelanetz at Carnegie Hall in 1957, then taken "on the road" to Europe; with several performer signatures, including: Lillian Hayman (1922 - 1994) African-American Tony Award-winning actress and singer; Norma Mae Donaldson (1928 - 1994) African-American actress and singer; Paul Harris (1917 -1985) African American actor, personnel manager and music publisher "...in the late 1950s, looking for work, he left the United States for Europe. He came to Paris with the cast of Free and Easy..." (Jet Nov 28, 1968) and others: James Randolph, F. Cowen, James Randolph, Charles "Smiles" Thompson, Patti Boon, Jacqueline Walcott; the biography "Hi-de-Hoe" the Life of Cab Calloway (Shipton 2013) states that the show was not a success and ended stranding the performers in Europe after a short Paris run; Calloway had declined to be part of the production; cover texts in French; 10" Philips Minigroove record in 'shopping bag' handled illustrated cover-sleeve; no inner liner; some edge, tips wear, creasing and soiling to sleeve; Walcott signature faint, all others very good and clear; disc not played by us to check for fidelity; in good condition.