Graciela Papers
name: label: Creator
content: Graciela, 1915-2010
topic: label: Topic
content: Music -- Performance
label: Topic
content: Music -- 20th century
label: Topic
content: Singers
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated by Lisa Sokolov, 2017.
creator: label: Creator
content: Graciela, 1915-2010
setName: label: See more items in
content: Graciela Papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: Collection documents the personal life and professional career of Graciela Perez-Gutierrez, a well known Afro-Cuban singer. Born in Havana, she performed for over thirty years, first with the all-female Orquesta Anacaona and El Trio Garcia and then with her brother Machito before a solo career.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Recognized as Queen of Boleros, First Lady of the Afro Cuban-Jazz, Graciela Perez Gutierrez was born in La Habana, Cuba, on August 23, 1915 and died in New York, United States on April 7, 2010 at the age of 94 years. Daughter of Marta Gutierrez Izquierdo and Rogelio Perez, Graciela started her professional career in the early 1930's at the age of sixteen with the all-female group "El Septeto Anacaona" at the famous Cuban bar "Tropicana" without the permission of her father. She stayed in the group for ten years and traveled to Puerto Rico, México, Panamá, the United States, Venezuela, Colombia, and France. She performed with the "Trio Garcia" for a year mostly in the Vedado, Cuba. In 1943, she decided to join, with her stepbrother (Frank "Machito" Grillo) and brother in law (Mario Bauza) in the band called "Machito and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra." Graciela became the "First Lady of the Afro Cuban-Jazz" in the 1940's-1950's when mambo and Latin rhythms where at their peak and became accepted by American jazzmen. They performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Mann, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Lester Young, Polito Galindo, and many others. "Machito and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra" stayed together for almost 35 years and their biggest hits were: "! Si, si, No, no! ," "Ay Jose,"  and "Caso Perdido". At this time Graciela became a famous solo star but she preferred to stay with Machito and Mario and they made almost 70 albums with the orchestra. In 1970, Graciela left Machito's Orchestra and joined "Mario Bauza and the Afro-Cuban Orchestra" as a lead singer for 20 years. Graciela, Machito and Mario recorded many albums including: "¿Dónde estabas tú?" (Machito and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, 1952), "Esta es Graciela" (Machito and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, 1963), "Íntimo y sentimiental" (Machito and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, 1965), "Yo soy así" (1972), "Sí sí no no" (Machito and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Mike Young, 1999), "Cubop City" (Machito and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Howard McGhee, Brew Moore, Flip Phillips, 2000) and "Inolvidable" (Candido & Graciela, 2004). After Mario Bauzá died (1993), she decided to retire, but she continued recording singles in a very selective way; she recorded with Chico O'Farrill, Steve Turre, and other artist.  Graciela was honored by the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2007 for her pioneering career as a Latin and jazz rhythms fusionist.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 10 Cubic feet (33 boxes, 2 map folders)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1934-2013
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.1425
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Music
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Clippings
label: Type
content: Videocassettes
label: Type
content: 45 rpm records
label: Type
content: Concert programs
label: Type
content: Phonograph records
label: Type
content: Posters
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Compact discs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is divided into eight series: 

Series 1: Personal Papers, 1934-2010, undated

Subseries 1.1: Personal Materials, 1934-2010

Subseries 1.2: Latin American Publications, undated

Series 2: Correspondence, 1944-2010, undated 

Series 3: Business Records, 1937-2008, undated

Series 4: Photographic Materials, 1938-2009, undated 

Subseries 4.1: Albums, 1938-2004, undated
 
Subseries 4.2: Photographs, 1944-2009, undated 

Series 5: Performance Materials, 1943-2009, undated
 
Subseries 5.1: Music, 1943-2003, undated 

Subseries 5.2: Concerts and Other Events, 1962-2009, undated 

Subseries 5.3: Television and Film, 1991-2006, undated 

Series 6: Publications, 1960-2009, undated

Series 7: Materials Relating to Other Artists and Friends, 1941-2008, undated 

Series 8: Audiovisual Materials, 1974-2013, undated 

Subseries 8.1: Interviews, 1985-2007, undated

Subseries 8.2: Performances, 1987-2013, undated
 
Subseries 8.3: Documentaries, 1992-2005, undated
 
Subseries 8.4: Personal, 1985-2008, undated 

Subseries 8.5: Sound Discs, 1974-1989
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Irmarie Fraticelli-Rodríguez and Edwin Rodriguez, interns; supervised by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, supervisory archivist, 2017.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Music -- Manuscripts
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints
label: Genre/Form
content: Clippings
label: Genre/Form
content: Videocassettes
label: Genre/Form
content: 45 rpm records
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- Color photoprints
label: Genre/Form
content: Concert programs -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Phonograph records
label: Genre/Form
content: Posters -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence
label: Genre/Form
content: Compact discs
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Collection documents the music career of Graciela and the development of Afro Cuban jazz in the United States. It includes correspondence, music manuscripts, financial records, photographs, posters, flyers, newsclippings, and audiovisual materials. These materials primarily relate to Graciela's professional career but also include her personal papers. There is a substantial amount of material relating to other jazz artists including Machito, Mario Bauza, Celia Cruz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, and Chico O'Farrill. In addition, the career of  Maria R. Torres (Mappy), head of production for the Afro-Cu-Bar Company and manager of Graciela's music career, is also documented. The richest portion of the collection lies in the photographic and performance materials which include social gatherings and many of the performance spaces where Afro Cuban jazz (Danzón or Salsa) developed, including The Palladium and Lincoln Center. Music festival programs related to jazz and Latin rhythms; tribute concerts; song and lyric notes and music manuscripts composed by Bobby Manrique, Lou Perez, and Lillian Gonzalez document the creative process of the music. Finally, researchers interested in Cuban and Caribbean history, immigration, and Latin internet forums for Afro Cuban jazz will find materials of value in this collection. 

The collection is arranged into seven series.  Series one contains Graciela's personal papers. Series two consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence. Series three has business records. Series four comprises the largest portion of the collection and contains photographic materials. Series five includes materials relating to performances. Series six contains publications and Series seven includes audiovisual materials.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History


Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros Papers (NMAH.AC1430)

Charismic Productions Records of Dizzy Gillespie (NMAH.AC0979)

Chico O'Farrill (NMAH.AC0892)

Tito Puente Papers (NMAH.AC0894)

Paquito D'Rivera Papers (NMAH.0891)

Mongo Santamaria Papers (NMAH.AC0893)

Leonard Gaskin Papers (NMAH.AC.0900)

W. Royal Stokes Collection of Music Photoprints and Interviews (NMAH.AC0766)
separatedmaterial: label: Separated Materials
content: Division of Cultural and Community Life, National Museum of American History

Dress, Accession number: 2018.0078.01 

Dress, Accession number: 2018.0078.02 

Dress, Accession number: 2018.0078.03.01 

Jacket, Accession number: 2018.0078.03.02 

Dress, Accession number: 2018.0078.04

Ring, Accession number: 2018.0078.05

Ring, Accession number: 2018.0078.06

Bracelet, Accession number: 2018.0078.07

Painting of Graciela by Erich Padilla, Accession number: 2018.0078.08

Print of Ballerina, owned by Graciela, Accession number: 2018.0078.09

Print of Three Birds, owned by Graciela, Accession number: 2018.0078.10

Latin Grammy awarded to Graciela in 2006, Accession number: 2018.0078.11

50 Years of Cuban Music Plaque, Accession number: 2018.0078.12

Microphone with case, Accession number: 2018.0078.13

Bible, Accession number: 2018.0078.14 

Cigar box, Accession number: 2018.0078.15

Eyeglasses, Accession number: 2018.0078.15.01

Fan, Accession number: 2018.0078.15.02

Badges, Accession number: 2018.0078.15.03

Badge from Jazz '92, Accession number: 2018.0078.15.04

Artist Badge, Heimatklange 1992 Carnevale Caribe, Accession number: 2018.0078.15.05