Digital Commons Network^™

White, Nat And Drayton, Bernard, Bronx African American History Project

Oral Histories

Nat White and Bernard Drayton were the men responsible for producing a series of jazz concerts at the Blue Morocco in the 1960’s. The Blue Morocco was located on Boston Road and 167^th, but today no longer exists. The two men worked for Del Shields who was a DJ for WLIB FM, playing all jazz for 12 hours after midnight. Del knew Sylvia and Joe Robinson who owned the Blue Morocco. They began recording these jazz concerts on Monday nights for WLIB FM radio around 1964 and continued until 1967. While these jazz concerts were successful, it was …

Mills, Kenneth, Bronx African American History Project

Oral Histories

Jazz pianist Captain Kenneth Mills grew up on Kelly Street in the Bronx. His family moved from Manhattan to the Bronx in the early 1940s. He attended P.S. 39, Junior High School 52, and Morris High School alongside several renowned artists, activists, and politicians, including Eddie Palmieri, Elombe Brath, and Colin Powell. When Mills’ family moved to Kelly Street, the neighborhood was predominantly Jewish. There was very clear ethnic division in housing. Specific strips of houses were inhabited by particular ethnic groups. Despite ethnic partitions in his neighborhood, Mills’ educational and musical spheres were integrated.

Mills’ piano talent surfaced early …

Mills, Kenneth, Bronx African American History Project

Oral Histories

Jazz pianist Captain Kenneth Mills grew up on Kelly Street in the Bronx. His family moved fromManhattanto theBronxin the early 1940s. He attended P.S. 39, Junior High School 52, andMorrisHigh Schoolalongside several renowned artists, activists, and politicians, including Eddie Palmieri, Elombe Brath, and Colin Powell. When Mills’ family moved toKelly Street, the neighborhood was predominantly Jewish. There was very clear ethnic division in housing. Specific strips of houses were inhabited by particular ethnic groups. Despite ethnic partitions in his neighborhood, Mills’ educational and musical spheres were integrated.

Mills’ piano talent surfaced early in life. At age three, he surprised friends …

Mantilla, Ray, Bronx African American History Project

Oral Histories

Ray Mantilla is a widely known Latin and jazz percussionist. He was born on 920 Prospect Avenue in 1934. He was not allowed into kindergarten because he didn’t speak English but quickly learned it from observing other children. His father was an electrical engineer and is Peruvian, while his mother is Puerto Rican. As a kid he loved to play baseball and was on a semi-professional team. He attended Clark Junior High School and School of Industrial Art for high school. While in high school, he and his mother lived in the back of a women’s clothing store they owned. …