On View
Musical Crossroads Gallery
Exhibition
Musical Crossroads
Photograph by
Joyce, James A., American
Subject of
Hawkins, Bill, American, 1909 - 1975
Ward, Billy, American, 1921 - 2002
McPhatter, Clyde, American, 1932 - 1972
White, Charlie, American, died 2005
Brown, Billy, American, died 2005
Lamont, Joe, American, died 1998
Ward, Billy & His Dominoes, American, 1950s-1960s
Hawkins, Bill’ Record Studio, American
WDOK 1260, American, 1950 - 2015
Date
ca. 1954
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (Image): 8 1/8 × 10 in. (20.6 × 25.4 cm)
H x W (Sheet): 8 3/8 × 9 7/8 in. (21.3 × 25.1 cm)
Description
A black-and-white photograph of Disc Jockey Bill “Hawk” Hawkins with Billy Ward and his Dominoes. The photograph, taken inside Bill Hawkins’ Record Studio, depicts, from left to right, Billy Brown, Clyde McPhatter, Bill Hawkins, Charlie White, Billy Ward, and Joe Lamont. They are standing behind a DJ console with a turntable and a microphone. Brown, standing on the far left, is depicted wearing a medium-toned suit jacket, light-toned trousers, a white collared shirt, and a white tie. He is looking at the viewer with a serious expression on his face. To the right of Brown and slightly behind Hawkins, is McPhatter. He is wearing a dark-toned suit and a white collared shirt. His chin is lifted and he is smiling at the viewer. Hawkins is depicted at the center, smiling, and looking towards the left edge of the photograph. He has a pair of headphones over his ears with black wires draped down the front of his shirt. He is wearing a white collared shirt, dark trousers, a medium-toned tie with dark and light diagonal stripes. To the right of, and slightly behind, Hawkins is White. He is depicted looking downwards. He is wearing a dark suit with wide pinstripes and a white collared shirt. To the right of White is Ward, who is depicted facing the viewer and smiling. He is wearing a dark-toned suit and a white collared shirt. On the far right is Lamont. Lamont is depicted smiling and looking downwards. He is wearing a medium-toned jacket and a white collared shirt. Leaning on the front of the turntable is a black sign with white text in varying fonts that reads, [See and Hear / Bill HawKins' / Show / 5:45 - 6:45 / Radio Station / WDOK [1260?]] / O[---?]]. Also leaning on the turntable, is an open display box with compartment dividers filled with a white plate, white utensils, and small white bowls and dishes. The other items on the table in front of the turntable include a display bottle of [Burkhardt’s / mug ale] attached to a cardboard cutout of a dog, a can of Burkhardt’s, a metal mixer with a glass mixing bowl, two [Hopalong / Cassidy] radios, a serving tray with an ice bucket and highball glasses, and a [Kromex / [---?] / Kakover] cake saver. In the bottom right corner is the photographer’s mark in black text that reads [JAMES A. JOYCE / PHOTOGRAPHER / CLEVELAND, OHIO]. The photograph has a white border and a landscape orientation. The back of the photograph is white with an upside-down photographer’s stamp at the center and a pencil inscription. The black ink stamp at the center reads [PHOTO BY / JIMMY JOYCE / 2222 EAST 29TH ST. / CLEVELAND 6, OHIO]. Just above the stamp is a pencil inscription that reads [Dominoes].
Place captured
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
Place printed
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
photographs
Topic
Photography
Radio
Rhythm and blues (Music)
Singers (Musicians)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of W. Allen Taylor, son of "Walkin' Talkin' Bill Hawkins," The First Black Disc Jockey of Cleveland, Ohio
Object number
2018.91.2.18
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5271ad869-6437-43a3-91f1-5171cba607bc

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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