Betty Crow Collection

Jesse Price Band performing at an unidentified venue. From left to right: Franz Bruce holding a saxophone, Jesse Price playing drums, Laverne Barker standing with a bass, and Robert "Junior" Williams...

Jimmy McConnell sitting in front of a bookshelf. He is wearing a pinstripe suit and is smiling while looking forward. A vase of flowers is on top of the bookshelf.

Jimmy Witherspoon singing into a microphone on stage. He is wearing a suit and looking to the right. Unidentified musicians are playing behind him.

Jo Jones playing drums. He is wearing a dark suit and looking down at his drum set. Stage lights are shining brightly in the background.

Langston Hughes looking down. He is wearing a dark suit and patterned tie, standing in front of a blank background.

Lawrence Keyes at the piano. He is wearing a black tuxedo and looking up while he plays. There is a large signature on the white keys in the photo.

Lorenzo Manley Band performing at an unidentified venue. From left to right: Manley playing piano, Frank Williams playing guitar, Eddie Silvers playing saxophone, and John Mosley playing drums. They...

Murl Johnson holding a drum while sitting. He is wearing a dress shirt and tie, looking forward and smiling. Other unidentified musicians are standing behind Johnson.

Musician Union officials talking at the Local 627 headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Richard Smith, Ted Dreher, Wendell Brown, and Larry Phillips are standing left to right. They are wearing suits...

Musicians at the Local 627 office. Thad Jones, Willie Rice, and Ernie Williams are standing left to right and smiling while talking. They are wearing suits and standing in front of a wood panel wall.

Oliver Todd Duo performing at the Yum Yum Club on 31st Street and Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Oliver Todd is playing organ and looking forward while smiling. Bobby Stafford is playing...

Publicity photo of Bobby Moore. He is wearing a black tuxedo with a white bow tie. He is looking forward and smiling while resting his hands in front.

Orestie "Rusty" Tucker Band at the Orchid Room on 12th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. From left to right: Rusty Tucker playing trumpet, Arthur Jackson playing saxophone, Bill Jones playing drums...

Paul Quinichette performing at the Mutual Musicians Foundation lounge in Kansas City, Missouri. He is playing tenor saxophone into a microphone held by another person off-camera. The back wall is...

Pepper Neely Trio performing at an unidentified venue. Three musicians are playing piano, saxophone, and drums. A sign on the drum set reads "Featuring Portland's Own Satchmo." The piano and drum...

Pepper Neely Trio performing at an unidentified venue. Three musicians are playing piano, saxophone, and drums. A sign on the drum set reads "Featuring Portland's Own Satchmo." The piano and drum...

Publicity photo of Claude "Fiddler" Williams. He is looking forward and smiling while holding his fiddle and bow in both hands. He is wearing a dark suit and tie. The print has a caption with Williams...

Publicity photo of Jay McShann. McShann is wearing a white tuxedo jacket and black bow tie. He is looking slightly to the left and smiling. One hand is resting in front and the other is in his pocket.

Publicity photo of L.C. "Speedy" Huggins. He is wearing a white suit and is looking forward while smiling. He is also wearing a black bolo tie.

Publicity photo of Mary Lou Williams. She is looking forward with a neutral expression and is resting her head on her arms. A large inscription covers the bottom right of the photo.

Publicity photo of Tom Pendergast. He is wearing a suit, vest, and fedora while looking forward and smiling.

Publicity print for the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Several photos featuring musicians wearing band outfits are combined in a collage. All the women are looking forward and smiling.

Roy Searcy performing at Papa Nick's Cellar Lounge in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. He is playing piano while looking up with his eyes closed. A sign in back lists the name of the lounge.

Roy Searcy sitting at a piano. He is wearing a black suit and is looking up while smiling. The piano is against a wall with wooden panels.

Samuel "Baby" Lovett and Julia Lee performing at a nightclub, possibly Milton's at 3507 Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Lovett is standing behind drums, holding sticks while looking forward...