Seattle-born photographer Al Smith was a familiar figure wherever jazz was played around the city. On this occasion, he photographed local vocalist Evelyn Williamson as she sang with Lionel Hampton’s jazz band at the Trianon Ballroom in late 1940. Williamson, a local vocalist who sang in Jackson Street area clubs, had already recorded a number with the band.

At this time, local black musicians couldn’t play downtown venues like the Trianon, but big-name artists like Hampton were allowed to play for the all-white audiences as shown here. Black patrons were permitted entrance only on designated nights set by the venue.

Caption information source: The Seattle Times, December 1, 1940, p. 45; September 2, 2002.
Caption information source: Paul de Barros, Jackson Street after Hours. Seattle: Sasquatch Press, 1993, pp. 58-59.