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 76-100 of 102 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 107798 7/24/1959 Just Arlene Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107799 7/24/1959 Now Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107800 7/24/1959 Down with love Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107801 7/24/1959 Good for nothin' Joe Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107802 7/24/1959 Wrap your troubles in dreams Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107803 7/24/1959 I'm forever blowing bubbles Ellis Larkins instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1905 10-in. 12/8/1943 Voodte Coleman Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1906 10-in. 12/8/1943 How deep is the ocean Coleman Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1907 10-in. 12/8/1943 Hawkins barrelhouse Coleman Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1908 10-in. 12/8/1943 Stumpy Coleman Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1917 12/18/1943 Lover come back to me Coleman Hawkins Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1918 10-in. 12/18/1943 Indiana Coleman Hawkins Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1919 10-in. 12/21/1943 Linger awhile Dicky Wells Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1920 10-in. 12/21/1943 Hello babe Dicky Wells Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-19001 12/18/1943 Blues changes Coleman Hawkins Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-19002 12/18/1943 These foolish things Coleman Hawkins Quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-19003 12-in. 12/21/1943 I got rhythm Dicky Wells Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-19004 12-in. 12/21/1943 I'm fer it too Dicky Wells Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca N 2895 10-in. 12/4/1944 Opus 15 The Edmond Hall Sexet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca N 2896 10-in. 12/4/1944 The Sheik of Araby The Edmond Hall Sexet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca N 2897 10-in. 12/4/1944 Night and day The Edmond Hall Sexet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca N 2898 10-in. 12/4/1944 The man I love The Edmond Hall Sexet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca N 2899 10-in. 12/4/1944 Face The Edmond Hall Sexet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca N 2900 10-in. 12/4/1944 I want to be happy The Edmond Hall Sexet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca N 2901 10-in. 12/4/1944 Rompin' in 44 The Edmond Hall Sexet instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 76-100 of 102 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Larkins, Ellis," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106913.

Larkins, Ellis. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106913.

"Larkins, Ellis." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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