Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1987.9.062 |
Title |
Letters to Louis - A-J |
Object Type |
Correspondence |
Collection |
Louis Armstrong Collection |
Description |
This folder contains letters and other mail sent to Louis Armstrong from senders with last names ranging from "Alexander" to "Jordan." Contents include: Note from Peter Alexander of London, asking Louis to autograph a book for him; fan letter from 18-year-old Ricky Ballantine, who had seen Armstrong live the previous evening and is requesting an autograph; letter from songwriter Bob Barber with lyrics to some songs he has written; letter from disc jockey Ron Barry, thanking Louis for the interview and sending his best to Tyree Glenn; letter from Marshall E. Bean, dying from cancer, asking Louis to write out a few bars of music and send an autograph a picture ("My hours are most painful now and hearing from you would help so much."); invitation to a birthday party for Jesse Culp in 1961; handwritten letter from "Bern" thanking Louis for his great kindness to Willie; letter from Myrtle Bellamy asking Louis about the blues and how she would like to sing them; envelope from Laurence Berzin that originally contained 15 snapshots, now located in Snapshots of the Louis Armstrong Collection; interview request from Ella Clark; invitation by "The Cool Cats Combo" to Louis, Lucille and Velma Middleton to a jam session in Uganda on October 30, 1960; handwritten letter from "Chink" Collins of the Copasetics, inviting Louis and Lucille to an event, mentioning that Slim Thompson will be performing at it; Christmas card from Gregory Pool Cummings, a young boy, with a handwritten note thanking Louis for the letter and picture he sent and invitation to visit him in his dressing room anytime; letter from J. C. Davis on December 4, 1957, thanking Louis and the All Stars for a wonderful concert; letter to Louis and Lucille from Juaie Eckstein [sic?], who visited them in Paris, complimenting Louis on his appearance; lyrics to "Down in the Dumps" by Ilene Dubrinsky; letter from I. Duwald, who enjoyed Louis's show the previous evening but asks "please DON'T take the name of Jesus in vain. He died for you!" [Louis used to say, "Jesus, boy" to Danny Barcelona after his drum break on "Now You Has Jazz.]; letter from Herbie Ellefson, mentioning Al "Jazzbo" Collins, Bennett Cerf and Mezz Mezzrow; letter from Gabe Esposito, thanking Louis and Lucille for their friendship and offering some tapes if Louis wants to copy them, including Bing Crosby's "Musical Autobiography"; letter from Del Faddis, Student Body Vice-President of Brigham Young University, asking Louis to play their homecoming event on November 4, 1961; note from Gene R. Faringer [sic?] originally enclosed with an unspecified book in 1955; letter from a fan who saw Louis in Buenos Aires in 1957 and requested autographs for seven people in that city, giving their names and addresses (includes Joe Halpin, Margaret and Agnes Giraldo, Tessie Killian, Mary Dunne and three members of the Dillon family); letter from K. "Baron" Harris thanking Louis for the $185 he sent and expressing his desire to sing with him, hurt that Sonny Woods didn't keep his promise to recommend him; fan letter from Herb Ireland, mentioning how he knew Nat Gonella in he 1940s; letter from Helen Jacobson that originally came with a score for "That's What I Thought You Said," recommended to Louis by Teddy McRae (see 1987.13.779 for the score); letter from C. L. R. James of London, writing about how he spent time with Lucille during her visit to Ghana in 1957 and will be sending a book, "The Black Jacobins," to Louis; note from Tony Janak originally accompnay a tape of material about the Apollo 11 moon flight (note was found in book, "Harlem on My Mind"); "Get Well" card from 1971 from Dolly and John Jordan. |
People |
Alexander, Peter Armstrong, Lucille Wilson Ballantine, Ricky Barber, Bob Barcelona, Danny Barry, Ron Bean, Marshall E. Bellamy, Myrtle Berzin, Laurence Cerf, Bennett Clark, Ella Collins, Al "Jazzbo" Collins, Chink Crosby, Bing Culp, Jesse Cummings, Gregory Pool Dubrinsky, Ilene Ellefson, Herbie Esposito, Gabe Faddis, Del Glenn, Tyree Gonella, Nat Harris, Baron Ireland, Herb Jacobson, Helen James, C. L. R. Janak, Tony Jordan, Dolly Jordan, John McRae, Teddy Mezzrow, Mezz Middleton, Velma Thompson, Slim Woods, Sonny |
Search Terms |
Africa Buenos Aires (Argentina) Ghana London Louis Armstrong and His All Stars |
Year Range from |
1955 |
Year Range to |
1971 |
Accession number |
1987.9 |