CARMEN McRAE AT THE PIANO (1957) Glamour portrait

New York, Chicago, Los Angeles: Associated Booking Corp., 1957. Vintage original 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm.) black-and-white glossy silver gelatin photo. Wear and use including a few inner creases in blank white margin and creasing at bottom right corner, very good .

This lovely portrait of Carmen McRae, as the ink dated stamp of Aug 18, 1957, and newspaper notice indicates, is to publicize her appearance during the second annual New York Jazz Festival on Randall’s Island at the John Downey Stadium.

Carmen Mercedes McRae (1920-1994) was an American jazz singer. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the twentieth century and remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpretation of lyrics.

Joe Glasser (1896-1969) formed Associated Booking Corporation in 1940 with Louis Armstrong, after having managed Armstrong’s career. Many top jazz artists worked through Glaser. (Wikipedia)