It Was Night / Al-ley Cat Noise

This single was recorded by the Elmer Gill Trio, although its exact origins are somewhat mysterious. The single is from Rube-K Records, which was located in Winslow, Washington, according to the label, and was likely owned by Roy Carter King (b. unknown), who is credited as the songwriter for “It Was Night.” King also held copyright on a number of songs with Rube King Music Productions, including “Sweet Girl” and “Triple-beating Heart” which were collaborations with Elmer Gill (1926-2004). Little else is recorded about King or his record label.

The Elmer Gill Trio was an interracial Jazz group, formed in the early 1950s by Gill with Al Turay (1913-2010) and Al Larkins (b. unknown - 1977). 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 Turay and Larkins 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.”