African American Music in Germany

The Red War - Mother or Comrade? - Human or Machine? - God or Devil? - Blood or Gold? - Pure Race or Half-Breed? - Folk Music or Jazz? - National Socialism or Bolshevism? (BArch, Plak 002-038-011).

The Red War - Mother or Comrade? - Human or Machine? - God or Devil? - Blood or Gold? - Pure Race or Half-Breed? - Folk Music or Jazz? - National Socialism or Bolshevism? (BArch, Plak 002-038-011).

“Weltstadt Rythmus”, Czechoslovakian Jazz Orchestra Gustav Brom, Wednesday, August 29, 1956, 7:30 pm, Open-Air Theater “Junge Garde” (BArch, Plak 103-061-003).

“Weltstadt Rythmus”, Czechoslovakian Jazz Orchestra Gustav Brom, Wednesday, August 29, 1956, 7:30 pm, Open-Air Theater “Junge Garde” (BArch, Plak 103-061-003).

“Schlager Revue”, Jazz Orchestra, Gustav Brom, Czechoslovakia (CSSR), September 2 and 8, 1956, 10.30 pm, Capitol Petersstrasse (BArch, Plak 103-061-005).

“Schlager Revue”, Jazz Orchestra, Gustav Brom, Czechoslovakia (CSSR), September 2 and 8, 1956, 10.30 pm, Capitol Petersstrasse (BArch, Plak 103-061-005).

Jazz musicians Benny Mämpe (on the right) and Horst Deutschendorf playing the saxophone at East Germany’s first jazz festival in East Berlin on June 13, 1956 (BArch, Bild 183-38956-0002 / Reuel).

Jazz musicians Benny Mämpe (on the right) and Horst Deutschendorf playing the saxophone at East Germany’s first jazz festival in East Berlin on June 13, 1956 (BArch, Bild 183-38956-0002 / Reuel).

The Kurt Hohenberger orchestra, which is part of the East German concert and guest performance division (Deutsche Konzert- und Gastspiel Direktion (DKGD), gives a jazz concert at the Thüringen-Halle in Erfurt on June 19, 1956 (BArch, Bild 183-38133-0

The Kurt Hohenberger orchestra, which is part of the East German concert and guest performance division (Deutsche Konzert- und Gastspiel Direktion (DKGD), gives a jazz concert at the Thüringen-Halle in Erfurt on June 19, 1956 (BArch, Bild 183-38133-0002 / Wittig).

Alfons Zschockelte’s amateur jazz band “Waschbrett-6” performs in the city of Halle, which is said to be East Germany’s new capital of jazz music, February 5, 1957 (BArch, Bild 183-44179-0001 / Gerboth).

Alfons Zschockelte’s amateur jazz band “Waschbrett-6” performs in the city of Halle, which is said to be East Germany’s new capital of jazz music, February 5, 1957 (BArch, Bild 183-44179-0001 / Gerboth).

Günther Schulz, apprentice and member of the “BBS Paper Mill Schwedt-Oder” Band, sounds the trumpet during a practice session with his band members on February 26, 1964 (BArch, Bild 183-C0226-0005-001 / Christa Hochneder).

Günther Schulz, apprentice and member of the “BBS Paper Mill Schwedt-Oder” Band, sounds the trumpet during a practice session with his band members on February 26, 1964 (BArch, Bild 183-C0226-0005-001 / Christa Hochneder).

Members of the jazz band “Jazz-Optimisten Berlin” playing “hot rhythms” at a concert at East Berlin’s Karl-Marx-Allee, May 17, 1964 (BArch, Bild 183-C0517-0010-097 / Christa Hochneder).

Members of the jazz band “Jazz-Optimisten Berlin” playing “hot rhythms” at a concert at East Berlin’s Karl-Marx-Allee, May 17, 1964 (BArch, Bild 183-C0517-0010-097 / Christa Hochneder).

African American jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong during a press conference at East Berlin’s “Berlonia” Hotel on March 3, 1965. On his left: Ernst Zielke, general director of the East German performing arts agency (BArch, Bild 183-D0319-0024

African American jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong during a press conference at East Berlin’s “Berlonia” Hotel on March 3, 1965. On his left: Ernst Zielke, general director of the East German performing arts agency (BArch, Bild 183-D0319-0024-003 / Christa Hochneder).

Premiere of East Berlin's first event series "Lyric-Jazz-Prose." Pictured here: Manfred Krug (middle) and Ruth Hofmann together with the East German jazz band "Jazz-Optimisten" on November 1, 1965 (BArch, Bild 183-B1101-0010-001 / Rainer Mittelstädt)

Premiere of East Berlin's first event series "Lyric-Jazz-Prose." Pictured here: Manfred Krug (middle) and Ruth Hofmann together with the East German jazz band "Jazz-Optimisten" on November 1, 1965 (BArch, Bild 183-B1101-0010-001 / Rainer Mittelstädt).

African American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald together with the Jimmy Jones Trio during her guest performance at East Berlin’s Friedrichstadtpalast on January 25, 1967 (BArch, Bild 183-F0126-0014-001 / Christa Hochneder).

African American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald together with the Jimmy Jones Trio during her guest performance at East Berlin’s Friedrichstadtpalast on January 25, 1967 (BArch, Bild 183-F0126-0014-001 / Christa Hochneder).

Accompanied by the Klaus Lenz Orchestra, East German performer Manfred Krug and Bahamian-born jazz and gospel singer Etta Cameron perform at a public concert in East Berlin on March 25, 1970 (BArch, 183-J0325-0017-001 / Klaus Franke).

Accompanied by the Klaus Lenz Orchestra, East German performer Manfred Krug and Bahamian-born jazz and gospel singer Etta Cameron perform at a public concert in East Berlin on March 25, 1970 (BArch, 183-J0325-0017-001 / Klaus Franke).

Jazz at the wine cellar of August II the Strong in Dresden, November 2, 1981 (BArch, Bild 183-Z1126-300 / Ulrich Hässler).

Jazz at the wine cellar of August II the Strong in Dresden, November 2, 1981 (BArch, Bild 183-Z1126-300 / Ulrich Hässler).

African American jazz singer Pat Peterson performs together with the Hannibal Marvin Peterson Quartet at the East German music event “Jazz-Bühne 83” on June 26, 1983 (BArch, Bild 183-1983-0626-004 / Bernd Settnik).

African American jazz singer Pat Peterson performs together with the Hannibal Marvin Peterson Quartet at the East German music event “Jazz-Bühne 83” on June 26, 1983 (BArch, Bild 183-1983-0626-004 / Bernd Settnik).

Egon Krenz, first secretary of the central committee of the Free German Youth, welcomes African American singer Harry Belafonte at East Berlin’s airport Berlin-Schönefeld on October 25, 1983. As the president of the international federation "Darstell

Egon Krenz, first secretary of the central committee of the Free German Youth, welcomes African American singer Harry Belafonte at East Berlin’s airport Berlin-Schönefeld on October 25, 1983. As the president of the international federation "Darstellende und bildende Künstler für nukleare Abrüstung" (PAND), Belafonte attends the "Manifestation der FDJ für den Frieden der Welt - Weg mit dem NATO-Raketenbeschluß" (BArch, Bild 183-1983-1025-025 / Bernd Settnik).

African American singer Harry Belafonte performs at East Berlin’s Palast der Republik on October 25, 1983. The concert concludes the song tour for peace (FDJ-Liedertournee für den Frieden), which was organized by the Free German Youth (BArch, Bild 18

African American singer Harry Belafonte performs at East Berlin’s Palast der Republik on October 25, 1983. The concert concludes the song tour for peace (FDJ-Liedertournee für den Frieden), which was organized by the Free German Youth (BArch, Bild 183-1983-1025-052 / Heinz Hirndorf.)