Ellis Larkins

Ellis Larkins (May 15, 1923 – September 29, 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 Baltimore (city in Maryland, United States), Died September 29, 2002 (Baltimore (city in Maryland, United States) )

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 1-25 of 116 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor E0VB-4993 10-in. 7/17/1950 Do I worry? Four Tunes Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-4994 10-in. 7/17/1950 Say when Four Tunes Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5117 10-in. 7/17/1950 Cool water Four Tunes Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5118 10-in. 7/17/1950 How can you say that I don't care Four Tunes Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0154 10-in. 2/20/1947 That ain't right Mildred Bailey ; Ellis Larkins Trio Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor D7VB-0155 10-in. 2/20/1947 I don't wanna miss Mississippi (anymore) Mildred Bailey ; Ellis Larkins Trio Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor D9VB-1443 10-in. 5/10/1949 Dîtes-moi Ellis Larkins Trio ; Jean Sablon Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D9VB-1444 10-in. 5/10/1949 Paris wakes up and smiles Ellis Larkins Trio ; Jean Sablon Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D9VB-1445 10-in. 5/10/1949 At the Cafe Rendezvous Ellis Larkins Trio ; Jean Sablon Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D9VB-1446 10-in. 5/10/1949 Simple melody Ellis Larkins Trio ; Jean Sablon Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO47179 10-in. 11/21/1951 I feel so right tonight Annie Laurie Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO47180 10-in. 11/21/1951 I don't get my kicks anymore Annie Laurie Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO47181 10-in. 11/21/1951 Get me some money Annie Laurie Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia CO47182 10-in. 11/21/1951 Cryin' sighin' dyin' Annie Laurie Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1908 10-in. 1939-1948 Stumpy Coleman Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Signature T-1906-1 10-in. 1939-1948 How deep is the ocean? Coleman Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 72177 10-in. 5/25/1944 Hurry hurry Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 72178 10-in. 5/25/1944 Darlin' Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 72179 10-in. 5/25/1944 I can't see for lookin' Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 72180 10-in. 5/25/1944 Who threw the whiskey in the well Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 72181 10-in. 5/25/1944 Lover man Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 72733 10-in. 2/8/1945 You must be blind Ida James instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 72734 10-in. 2/8/1945 I won't say but I won't Ida James instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 73128 10-in. 11/14/1945 I left a good deal in Mobile Josh White instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 73129 10-in. 11/14/1945 Did you ever leave a woman? Josh White instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 1-25 of 116 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Larkins, Ellis," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106913.

Larkins, Ellis. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106913.

"Larkins, Ellis." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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