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/ Singer Pha Terrell and an unidentified woman, Los Angeles, 1940s

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Title
Singer Pha Terrell and an unidentified woman, Los Angeles, 1940s
Date Created and/or Issued
1940/1949
[1940s?]
Contributing Institution
UCLA, Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library
Collection
Walter L. Gordon, Jr./William C. Beverly, Jr. Collection
Rights Information
Please contact the contributing institution for more information regarding the copyright status of this object.
Description
Walter L. Gordon, Jr.: "Pha Terrell. That's the one I told you about the other day that could sing so well. 'Until the Real Thing Comes Along,' that was his song. It used to close down places to hear Pha Terrell. His name became so synonymous with beauty that most people would turn their things off so they could hear him sing it. I saw them explode on the scene, because he struggled to get going. She was a white girl, and she was poor. He was hustling, and he was poor. And they're trying to get a spot, trying to get a hit, and they were both loyal to one another. Then they ended up, they got a little taste, and a guy gave them a spot on one show. But when this thing came along, it exploded over the whole country. Money just poured into them. 'Until the Real Thing Comes Along.' Last thing I knew... I don't remember their demise, but they were a fine little couple. [Do you remember her name?] No, she was a nonentity. You just knew she was loyal to him. You almost pitied them because they struggled so hard to get going, and to see them reaping success... You were just proud they were able to make it. I'm so glad you got that one." From an interview on August 3, 2010.
All information concerning the content and description of the image was provided by Walter Gordon.
Elmer "Pha" Terrell standing with an unidentified woman in a fur coat.
Type

Identifier
530
Collection 1867 Box 3 Folder 5
YRLSC_gordonphotos_0530
ark:/21198/zz0025pmg2
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
People
African American singers
Terrell, Pha, 1910-1945
Source
Walter L. Gordon, Jr./William C. Beverly, Jr. Collection

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