Louisa Lara Gross oral history, 2002 April 2

File — Multiple Containers

Staff Only

[Aviary] Louisa Lara Gross oral history, 2002 April 2

Scope and Contents

From the Series:

Oral histories were conducted by archives staff and by student interviewers. Most oral histories in this series include a transcript and an audio recording on cassette. Some files may contain related information about the subject.

Dates

Creation: 2002 April 2

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for use. Contact peabodyarchives@lists.jhu.edu for more information.

Extent

From the Collection: 4.87 Cubic Feet (17 boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

Louisa Lara Gross was born in Baltimore in 1926 to Cuban parents. While a student at Douglass High School, she won a talent search contest at the Royal Theater and began touring with Lionel Hampton shortly after her sixteenth birthday. After leaving the Hampton band, she performed as a soloist throughout the mid-Atlantic states and in Miami and Jamaica. She toured as a soloist and with vocal groups including the Cats and Fiddles, and Three B's and a Honey. After returning to Baltimore in the mid-1950s she married alto saxophonist Aaron Gross. In the interview she talks with Elizabeth Schaaf about growing up in Baltimore and attending Douglass, touring with the Three B's, and her husband Aaron.