During World War II, Black musicians were recruited from across the country to officially serve as musicians in the U.S. Navy. Trained to play in big bands at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois, the men formed 25-piece bands to tour naval bases and boost morale. One of the bands was transferred to the Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle and became the jazz ensemble the "Jive Bombers." The band performed weekly at bond rallies at "Victory Square" in downtown Seattle, participated in parades, and performed at various Navy functions, and at other events for servicemen and defense workers. The band also performed, out of uniform, at private functions, often with local jazz musicians.

In this photo, a saxophonist from the Jive Bombers performs a solo during a performance at an unidentified venue.The musicians perform in their Navy uniforms, behind music stands bearing the band name and a US Navy emblem.

Caption information source: Jive Bombers jazz band of World War II by Jacqueline Lawson, HistoryLink.org Essay 7392 https://www.historylink.org/File/7392