“African-American Entertainment in Baltimore”
Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 0-7385-1513-2
By Rosa Pryor-Trusty and Tonya Taliaferro
Article
by: Derrick Warren
dwarren@excapethemetrix.com
Looking at Pennsylvania Avenue in
Baltimore City today, it’s hard to believe that it played such an
important role in the jazz world. Heck even in the entertainment world
as a whole. Baltimore as a city was once a hub for many of the great
acts and musicians ranging from Duke Ellington to Ella Fitzgerald. The
actual importance of Baltimore goes far below many people’s radar.
There are those of us who have parents and grandparents who would boast
about the music scene in Baltimore back when they were young enough to
swing. They would tell you how they would get dressed up on Friday or
Saturday night and see a band play or go to a club and still be able to
wake up Sunday in time to go to church.
“This isn’t merely a book for Baltimore historians, but for jazz heads as well.”
The Black America Series offered by Arcadia Publishing has a library of books highlighting African America roles in shaping this country as well as their own communities. In this series of course comes this gem, “African American Entertainment in Baltimore.” This book chronicles the history of Baltimore’s major role in the entertainment industry. Many entertainers wouldn’t just pass through on their way to DC, this was a singing and happening place in its own right. This book is full of photos and passages giving an oral and visual history. Rosa Pryor-Trusty is not only some enthusiast person taking an interest in the subject, she lived it. And you can see just how much she enjoyed it now as she did then. This book is a product of her passion and love for the Baltimore music set.
When reading through this book, you’ll notice that there are names you would recognize such as Lena Horne, Nat “King” Cole, Billie Holliday and Aretha Franklin (even Redd Foxx, who claimed Baltimore as his second home), as well as names you may not. Also covered in this text are radio personalities, local venue owners, promoters and artists. This isn’t merely a book for Baltimore historians, but for jazz heads as well. Just as Ken Burns’ “Jazz” gives such a detailed history of the music as a whole, this book localizes it. And not only in the sense of the Baltimore, Maryland area, but how such a scene could exist in many parts of the country.
“Rosa Pryor-Trusty is not only some enthusiast taking an interest in the subject, she lived it.”
More important than the artists who came and entertained were the people who came to see them and swing with them. A scene is nothing without its supporting cast of the fans, the listeners, and the crowd. The excellent photography throughout the book shows the people having great fun, including the patrons of the clubs, bars and venues. Some were dancing, some drinking and others simply sitting back and having a good time. In my opinion, this is the high point and the actual point of history in the book, those people who made up the character of Baltimore in those days. If you buy and read this book and you’re from Baltimore, ask an elder who grew up here and get the missing details. It is very worth it.