Tony Watkins

with Harriett Milnes

New York, New York

November 19, 1982

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tape a:                                                                                                                       p. 1

Musical background--The Lord's Prayer--Singing City Youth Choir--Mr. & Mrs. Walter Read--Audition for Duke--Come Sunday--Sacred Concert at Grace Cathedral--Billy Strayhorn and Lena Horne--joining the band--Traveling with the band--Japan--organizing the suitcases--Europe--soap operas.

Tape b:                                                                                                                       p. 21

“Rolling”--Duke composing--rehearsing at a concert--new members--auditioning the singers--playing at a bar--Russia--Barcelona--playing with sympbonies--playing for the musicians--recording studios--Sacred Concerts and Ellington's feelings--Addis Ababa--Arthur Logan's death--Ellington's death--meeting the Queen--meeting the President of Liberia--playing at the White House.

Tape c:                                                                                                                       p. 38

The band comes to Tony's house--"don't play our records"--leaving the band--working in New York--Sarah Vaughn imitation--Lena Horne--Cootie and Cat's fued--Sam Woodyard.