Elmer Gill: autographed to Joe Boles

This photograph of pianist and vibraphonist Elmer Gill (1926-2004) is signed by Gill and dedicated to Joe Boles (1926-2004). Boles was an influential audio engineer and owned one of the best recording studios in Seattle, Washington.

Gill, who moved to Seattle in 1946, was instrumental in challenging the segregation of Seattle’s music scene. After experiencing racial discrimination while playing at the Spinning Wheel, which was white only, Gill began stipulating in his contracts that “anybody, regardless of race, creed, or color, as long as they were acting in accord with the place” would be allowed to attend his performances. A year later, Gill became part owner of the Ebony Cafe and hired Al Turay (1913-2010) and Al Larkins (b. unknown - 1977) to play with him at the new venue. Both the new band and the new restaurant were a success. In 1956, Gill continued his work to desegregate Seattle music by proposing that the Elmer Gill Trio play at the New Washington Hotel’s Brigadier Room which was traditionally held by AFM Local No. 76, the white musicians’ union. Although the hotel’s local management were hesitant to accept, the hotel chain’s board of directors approved the proposal. Larkins and Turay eventually returned to playing at the Ebony Cafe, and Gill replaced them with Monk Montgomery (1921-1982) and Milt Green (b. unknown) thus becoming the “first black group to play in a first-class hotel in downtown Seattle.”