Released by Transvideo Corporation of America, “Harlem After Midnight” was produced by Alexander, a distributor of African American films in the 1940s. The film features Billy Eckstine and his band with vocals by Eckstine and Ann Baker, and dancing by Nicky O’Daniel and Al Guster. The film was made in 1940 and photographed by Don Malkames.
William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 – March 8, 1993) was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing era. He was noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. His recording of “I Apologize” (MGM, 1948) was given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. The New York Times described him as an “influential band leader” whose “suave bass-baritone” and “full-throated, sugary approach to popular songs inspired singers like Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock and Lou Rawls.”
Eckstine first came on the scene when he joined Earl Hines’ Grand Terrace Orchestra in 1939. He stayed with the band as vocalist and trumpeter until 1943. By that time, Eckstine had begun to make a name for himself through the Hines band’s juke-box hits such as “Stormy Monday Blues”, and his own “Jelly Jelly.”
In 1944, Eckstine formed his own big band and it became the finishing school for adventurous young musicians who would shape the future of jazz. Included in this group were Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, and Fats Navarro, as well as vocalist Sarah Vaughan. Tadd Dameron, Gil Fuller and Jerry Valentine were among the band’s arrangers. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra is considered to be the first bop big-band, and had Top Ten chart entries that included “A Cottage for Sale” and “Prisoner of Love”. Both were awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.
Ann Baker (August 21, 1915 – August 29, 1999) was an American jazz singer. Baker was discovered by Louie Armstrong and played with his band on Broadway. She is best known for her time spent as a member of Billy Eckstine’s band, “The Dream Band” where she performed with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis and Art Blakey. In 2008, Baker was inducted into the West Virginia Musician Hall of Fame
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
