Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Brice, Percy
2. Smith, Warren, 1934-
3. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
4. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Description

1. 2 videodiscs (148 min.) : soud, color; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

1. The oral history interview with Percy Brice begins with Brice describing his family and childhood in New York, 137th Street and 7th Avenue, during the Depression. His father was a postal employee. He describe his youth as going to school and earning extra money doing odd jobs in his neighborhood. His early exposure to music was his mother trying to teach him to play the piano but he was more interested in rhythm so his father bought him a set of drums instead. His early experience as a drummer was in ballroom dance school evenings in the 1930s. As he gained experience on the drums he branched out to various gigs in New York. He credits his success to working hard and taking any gig that was offered to him. His first band was playing drums for Luis Russell in 1944. He was not drafted into the Army. After his association with Luis Russell he joined Benny Carter's orchestra followed by and engagement with Mercer Ellington. He talks about traveling in the South with Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson in the late 1940s. The oral history interview follows Brice's career with various bands and fellow musicians, including Harry Belafonte and his transition to Broadway shows.

Subject

1. Jamal, Ahmad, 1930-2023
2. Belafonte, Harry, 1927-2023
3. Fuller, Gil, 1920-1994
4. Oral histories
5. Interviews
6. Hakim, Omar
7. Brice, Percy > Family
8. Ellington, Mercer
9. Williams, Cootie
10. Russell, Luis > Influence
11. Rock music
12. Jacquet, Illinois
13. Percussion music (Jazz)
14. Minton's House Band
15. Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra
16. Drum music
17. Parker, Charlie, 1920-1955 > Influence
18. African American musicians
19. Shearing, George > Influence
20. Eubie!
21. Duchamp, Jean
22. Brice, Percy > Childhood and youth
23. McRae, Carmen > Influence
24. Drum > Methods
25. Vaughan, Sarah, 1924-1990 > Influence
26. Green, Chuck
27. Jazz musicians > United States > Interviews
28. Ink Spots (Musical group)
29. Vinson, Eddie
30. United States > Race relations
31. Calypso (Music)
32. Thompson, Lucky, 1924-2005
33. Carter, Benny
34. Drummers (Musicians) > United States > Interviews
35. Percussionists > United States > Interviews
36. Smith, Tab, 1909-1971
37. Bubbling brown sugar
38. Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971 > Influence
39. Brice, Percy > Interviews

Genre/Form

1. Interviews.
2. Oral histories.

Call number

1. Sc Visual DVD-1085

Note

1. The Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project was funded by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.

Terms of use (note)

1. Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography (note)

1. Percy Brice (born March 25,1923. in New York) is an American jazz drummer.
2. Percy Brice (born New York, 25 March 1923) is an American drummer. He has worked with Luis Russell (1944-5), Benny Carter (1945-6), and Mercer Ellington (1947) he played with Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (late 1947-1951) and with Tab Smith, Cootie Williams, Tiny Grimes (1951-3), Lucky Thompson (at the Savoy in Harlem, 1953 - spring 1954), and Oscar Pettiford. Brice freelanced in the late '50s from a New York City home base, performing and recording with flutist Herbie Mann, guitarist Kenny Burrell, and singer Sarah Vaughan. He accompanied the latter artist for more than three years, including an extensive South American tour. Beginning in 1961 he worked with Belafonte for nearly eight years, followed by engagements with singer Carmen McRae and pianist Ahmad Jamal. Brice was active in the 1970s, concentrating on Broadway work, settling in for long runs on Eubie and Bubbling Brown Sugar, visiting Europe regularly. Between tours he worked with Illinois Jacquet.

Linking entry (note)

1. Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Author

1. Brice, Percy, interviewee.

Title

1. Oral history interview with Percy Brice.

Production

1. New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1994.

Type of content

1. two-dimensional moving image

Type of medium

1. video

Type of carrier

1. videodisc

Digital file characteristics

1. video file DVD video

Performer

1. Interviewer, Warren Smith.

Event

1. Recorded August 2, 1994 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Terms of use

1. Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography

1. Percy Brice (born March 25,1923. in New York) is an American jazz drummer.
2. Percy Brice (born New York, 25 March 1923) is an American drummer. He has worked with Luis Russell (1944-5), Benny Carter (1945-6), and Mercer Ellington (1947) he played with Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (late 1947-1951) and with Tab Smith, Cootie Williams, Tiny Grimes (1951-3), Lucky Thompson (at the Savoy in Harlem, 1953 - spring 1954), and Oscar Pettiford. Brice freelanced in the late '50s from a New York City home base, performing and recording with flutist Herbie Mann, guitarist Kenny Burrell, and singer Sarah Vaughan. He accompanied the latter artist for more than three years, including an extensive South American tour. Beginning in 1961 he worked with Belafonte for nearly eight years, followed by engagements with singer Carmen McRae and pianist Ahmad Jamal. Brice was active in the 1970s, concentrating on Broadway work, settling in for long runs on Eubie and Bubbling Brown Sugar, visiting Europe regularly. Between tours he worked with Illinois Jacquet.

Linking entry

1. Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Schomburg Moving Images and Recorded Sound

Added author

1. Brice, Percy, performer.
2. Smith, Warren, 1934- interviewer.
3. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
4. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Research call number

1. Sc Visual DVD-1085
2. Sc Visual VRC-295 MII videotape