Black Lion Records Artists Codexery

Ellis Larkins

Jazz pianist and accompanist known for work with Ella Fitzgerald.

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Ellis Larkins (May 15, 1923 – September 29, 2002) was an American jazz pianist born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first African American to attend the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. After moving to New York City to attend the Juilliard School, he began his professional playing career.

While still at Juilliard, he performed jazz piano with guitarist Billy Moore at Café Society Uptown. Larkins is best known for his two recordings with Ella Fitzgerald: the albums Ella Sings Gershwin (1950) and Songs in a Mellow Mood (1954). He was also the pianist on the first solo sides by singer Chris Connor on her album Chris (1954).

Background

Larkins’s early career in New York took off while he was still a student at Juilliard. He played jazz piano with guitarist Billy Moore at Café Society Uptown, a key venue. Over the next ten years, he led his own groups or supported clarinetist Edmond Hall and singers Helen Humes and Mildred Bailey. In the 1940s, he recorded with Coleman Hawkins and Dicky Wells.

The 1950s brought recordings with Ella Fitzgerald, Ruby Braff, and Beverly Kenney. His 1960s work included recordings or performances with Eartha Kitt, Joe Williams, Georgia Gibbs, and Harry Belafonte. Though best known as an accompanist, Larkins recorded several solo albums in the 1950s. In the 1970s, he performed regularly at several New York venues, including Gregory's, a small bar on the Upper East Side.

Related entries

Juilliard School, Mildred Bailey, Coleman Hawkins, Georgia Gibbs, Harry Belafonte

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Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. In what year did Ellis Larkins die?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 2002.

From the source: “Ellis Larkins (May 15, 1923 – September 29, 2002) was an American jazz pianist born in Baltimore, Maryland, known for his two recordings with Ella Fitzgerald: the albums Ella Sings Gershwin (1950) and Songs in a Mellow Mood (1954). He was a”

2. In what year was Ellis Larkins born?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 1923.

From the source: “Ellis Larkins (May 15, 1923 – September 29, 2002) was an American jazz pianist born in Baltimore, Maryland, known for his two recordings with Ella Fitzgerald: the albums Ella Sings Gershwin (1950) and Songs in a Mellow Mood (1954).”

3. In which place was Ellis Larkins born?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Baltimore, Maryland.

From the source: “Ellis Larkins (May 15, 1923 – September 29, 2002) was an American jazz pianist born in Baltimore, Maryland, known for his two recordings with Ella Fitzgerald: the albums Ella Sings Gershwin (1950) and Songs in a Mellow Mood (1954).”

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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