Grand Emporium Collection

An unidentified African American man, from his right side sitting at piano in a light-colored business suit, turns his head to the right and looks down into the camera. A saxophone and a snare drum...

United Dope Front, an acid jazz band comprised of five white men and one African American man, sit and stand among rubble, laughing, outside a collapsing brick wall of a building. Printed across the...

The Uptown Rhythm Kings, a rock and roll, rhythm and blues band comprised of three African American men and seven white men, play their instruments in a room with a small stage. They play around a man...

Blues vocalist Valerie Wellington turns to look back and grin at her band while performing on the stage of the Grand Emporium in Kansas City, Missouri. Her band is comprised of three African American...

Two separate negative photographs of blues singer Valerie Wellington and blues guitarist and vocalist Eddy Clearwater. Valerie's photograph is a close-up, head-shot photograph of her singing into a...

Singer Veldez closes his eyes as he sings into a microphone. He is wearing a double-breasted striped business suit. Printed in the margin below the photograph, "Veldez."

Vertu a jazz fusion band comprised of one white woman, one African American woman, two African American men, and one white man, wear dark formal clothing as they sit on or stand by a white staircase...

Vertu, a jazz fusion band comprised of one white woman, two African American men, one white man, and one African American woman, in separate portrait photographs in a collage. The name of each band...

Vince Agwada, blues musician and leader of the band, One Eyed Jax, looks straight at the camera in a close-up, head-shot photograph in which he wears a dark leather jacket. A brick wall is behind him...

Vinx, percussionist and singer, leans with his ankles crossed against a rough wall and looks down to the left toward the light on the left side. Printed in the margin below the photograph, "Vinx...

Vinx, percussionist and singer, rests his hands on the back of a light colored top hat he is wearing and looks seriously at the camera in a close-up photograph. He wears stylized eyeglasses. Printed...

Blues guitarist W. C. Clark smiles with his mouth wide open as he plays an electric guitar. He wears a business suit and a fedora hat. Printed in the margin below the photograph, "Booking: Ozark...

Blues guitarist W.C. Clark leans slightly forward as he plays an electric guitar. He wears a fedora. Printed in the margin below the photograph, "Black Top Records [logo]. "Paving the way to your...

Walt Richardson layers his hands as he smiles at the camera in a close-up, head-shot photograph. Printed in the margin below the photograph, "Walt Richardson & The Morning Star Band. Represented by...

Walter "Wolfman" Washington, jazz, funk, and blues guitarist, laughs and stands with one hand in his pocket and the other resting on the body of a guitar that hangs from a guitar strap around his neck...

Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters, a jazz, funk and blues band comprised of two African American men and five white men, who stand in a group wearing business suits or neckties and...

War, a funk band of six African American men, who stand in an alley with razor wire, graffiti and trash and look down at the camera. Printed in the margin below the photograph, "War. Artists...

War, a funk band of seven African American men and one Mexican American man, and one Japanese American man, stand outdoors on a staircase lined by brick walls and cactus. Printed in the margin below...

Warren "Dr Feel Good" Milton leans on his right hand and smiles at the camera. He wears a tuxedo. Printed in the margin below the photograph, "Warren "Dr Feel Good" Milton. For Bookings After 5:00 pm...

Wayman Tisdale, jazz bass guitarist, looks directly at the camera as he holds an electric guitar flat across his lap. His dark clothing, dark background, and the light guitar make his face, hands, and...

Wendy Neutzler leans her head into the cheek of an unidentified African American man who leans his cheek towards the side of her head at the Grand Emporium in Kansas City, Missouri as Little Charlie...

Blues singer Shawn Amos, in his persona of Whitey McFearsun, sits on a chair wearing white-framed sunglasses and bends to squeeze the toes of the loafers he is wearing. Printed in the margin below the...

Blues drummer and vocalist Willie "The Touch" Hayes purses his lips and looks over his left shoulder as he plays a drum set while wearing a dark fedora hat. Printed in the margin below the photograph...

Blues double bassist Willie Dixon laughs as he hugs his arms around the neck of his bass. He wears a light colored fedora hat and a light colored business suit and necktie.

Soul singer Wilson Pickett looks directly at the camera as he rests his hands on his bent left knee. He wears a business suit and tie with a tie tack. Printed in the margin below the photograph,...