"Reb" Spikes (center) conducting 10 members of his Majors and Minors Orchestra on a stage with an architectural backdrop. Benjamin Franklin "Reb" Spikes was an African American jazz saxophonist, band leader, and entrepreneur. His composition with his brother John, "Someday Sweetheart", has become a jazz standard. In 1919 he worked at Spikes' music shop, one of the few places on the West Coast that sold jazz records, and many local musicians used to hang out at the store. He and his brothers published music and had their own record company (Sunshine). In the 1930s, Spikes worked as a promoter and worked with Les Hite and Lionel Hampton. He also took part in Jelly Roll Morton's comeback in 1940–1941. Written on back of photo: "Reb" Spikes (Benjamin F. Spikes) with his Majors & Minors Orchestra" 1928. Columbia Recording Orchestra.
Type
image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b22_f15_002a.tif ark:/21198/z1v712sk
Subject
African American composers Jazz musicians African American jazz musicians African American businesspeople Reb Spikes Majors and Minors (Musical group) Spikes, B. F. (Benjamin F.), 1888-1982
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