Five Percolators (1 results)
Signed Photographic Christmas Card of the Five Percolators, Tap and Vocal Harmony Group in Cab Calloway's Circle, Early 1930s
[Music African American Vocal Harmony Cab Calloway Circle] The Five Percolators
Published by N.p. 1930
Seller: Auger Down Books, ABAA/ILAB, Marlboro, VT, U.S.A.Auger Down Books, ABAA/ILAB
Contact seller5-star sellerStudio portrait of the Five Percolators posed in coordinated light suits with dark ties, arranged in a low, forward-leaning formation common in some early 1930s Black vocal harmony ensembles. The group was active during the early to mid 1930s, performing with Cab Callowaywho apparently signed them to begin with out of Buffaloand… others as a downticket act supporting larger acts. The Buffalo Times noted that the Five Percolators "round out Cab's act on the Buffalo stage," identifying Buffalo as the hometown of members Cliff and Jimmy Moore and stating that the group performed in Buffalo night spots before "hitting out for New York where Cab signed them up."[1] The lower portion of the card bears the printed seasonal greeting: "With sincere wishes for your happiness at Christmas and throughout the New Year," with FIVE PERCOLATERS printed at bottom. A bold contemporary inscription reads: "To a beautiful little girl hoping I see more of you James," likely signed by the aforementioned James or Jimmy Moore. The group usually appeared downticket, but newspapers note that they headlined a show in 1933 at the Criterion Ballroom in New Jersey. Contemporary press accounts range from describing them as "percolat(ing) harmony and taps with skill," to lamenting "the excessively loud shouting of one of the tall fellows who plays the guitar" in the performance at Calloway's High Court of Hi-De-Ho show of 1935. By 1936 the group disappeared from the scene. [1] "Percolators," The Buffalo Times, December 2, 1934, 59. Minor edge wear; strong tonal range, near fine. Original 4 x 5 inch photographic Christmas greeting card. Gelatin silver studio publicity photograph mounted within printed holiday card stock, signed in ink.
