Ellis Larkins
Ellis Larkins (May 15, 1923 – September 30, 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 also the pianist on the first solo sides by singer Chris Connor on her album Chris (1954). Larkins was the first African American to attend the Peabody Conservatory of Music, an institute in Baltimore. He began his professional playing career in New York City after moving there to attend the Juilliard School. While still at Juilliard, Larkins performed jazz piano with guitarist Billy Moore at Café Society Uptown and over the next ten years in his own groups, or in support of, clarinetist Edmond Hall and singers Helen Humes and Mildred Bailey. He recorded with Coleman Hawkins, and Dicky Wells in the 1940s. In the 1950s, he recorded 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 he was 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. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 26-50 of 102 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Decca | 82089 | 1/9/1952 | Over the rainbow | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 82090 | 1/9/1952 | Stormy weather | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 82091 | 1/9/1952 | Come rain or come shine | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 82092 | 1/9/1952 | Ill wind | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86087 | 3/29/1954 | I'm glad there is you | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86088 | 3/29/1954 | (Baby) What else could I do? | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86089 | 3/29/1954 | What is there to say | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86090 | 3/29/1954 | Makin' whoopee | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86091 | 3/29/1954 | Until the real thing comes along | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86092 | 3/29/1954 | People will say we're in love | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86093 | 3/30/1954 | Please be kind | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86094 | 3/30/1954 | Imagination | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86095 | 3/30/1954 | My heart belongs to Daddy | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86096 | 3/30/1954 | You leave me breathless | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86097 | 3/30/1954 | Nice work if you can get it | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 86098 | 3/30/1954 | Stardust | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 103854 | 12/2/1957 | (I don't stand a) Ghost of a chance-1 | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 103855 | 12/2/1957 | Stella by starlight | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 103856 | 12/2/1957 | When I fall in love | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 103857 | 12/2/1957 | Love letters | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 103858 | 12/2/1957 | My foolish heart | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 103859 | 12/2/1957 | Where can I go without you? | Ellis Larkins | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 103866 | 12/2/1957 | It's magic | Beverly Kenney | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 103867 | 12/2/1957 | A-You're adorable | Beverly Kenney | instrumentalist, piano | |||
Decca | 103868 | 12/2/1957 | Time was ; It's so peaceful inside | Beverly Kenney | instrumentalist, piano |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Larkins, Ellis," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106913.
Larkins, Ellis. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106913.
"Larkins, Ellis." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.
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External Sources
Wikipedia: Ellis Larkins
Discogs: Ellis Larkins
Allmusic: Ellis Larkins
Grove: Ellis Larkins
IMDb: Ellis Larkins
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Larkins, Ellis - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n93068128
Wikidata: Ellis Larkins - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q488340
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/5120113
MusicBrainz: Ellis Larkins - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e45c753d-226c-4ed7-9eba-0dee4b96b12d
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