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.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 15, 1923 (Baltimore), Died September 29, 2002 (Baltimore)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1943 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, celeste, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 102 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 103869 12/2/1957 A Summer romance Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 103870 12/2/1957 Try a little tenderness Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 103871 12/2/1957 What is there to say Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 103872 12/2/1957 A lover like you Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 103873 12/2/1957 It's a most unusual day Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 103874 12/2/1957 You're my boy Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 103875 12/2/1957 What it's like in Paris Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 103876 12/2/1957 Sing a rainbow Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 103877 12/2/1957 Brooklyn love song Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 104190 1/23/1958 Blue star-1 Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano, celeste  
Decca 104191 1/23/1958 Golden earrings Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 104192 1/23/1958 Sweet Sue, just you-2 Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 104193 1/23/1958 Love me Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 104194 1/23/1958 Can't we talk it over?-2 Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 104195 1/23/1958 A love like this-1 Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano, celeste  
Decca 104211 1/28/1958 Do it again Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 104212 1/28/1958 A woman's intuition Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 104213 1/28/1958 Life can be beautiful Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 104214 1/28/1958 Mama do I gotta? Beverly Kenney instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107792 7/22/1959 A ship without a sail Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107793 7/22/1959 In love in vain Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107794 7/22/1959 Who can I turn to? Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107795 7/22/1959 Moon and sand Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107796 7/22/1959 Always you Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107797 7/22/1959 Ecstasy Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 51-75 of 102 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Larkins, Ellis," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106913.

Larkins, Ellis. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106913.

"Larkins, Ellis." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106913

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