J. Hunter
340 W. 59th St
New York, N.Y.

J. Huntley
340 West 59th. St.
New York N.Y.

BRONX CENT
STATES 3

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th. Street
New York 35 New York.

340 West 59th, St.
New York City N.Y.

Oct. 18th. 1948

Dear Lang:

I am sending this little note to tell you how much I appreciate your sending those songs to me. I must say thanks a lots. I will be useing them soon, in a singing group at my church. I joined last night.

Saturday afternoon past I was on Television. A program for Mable Horsey's school. I think we will be on next saturday also. The program was pretty good. Another fellow and I sang a duet and the Glee Club sang two numbers.

I told you someting ago, that if I knew when the"Two Keys" were in town, I would let you know. I learned last night at church they will be at 42 West 133rd. St. on Oct. 21st. at 8 P.M. There is no <u>Admission</u> fee. I am planning to go and I hope you will to, for they are really good and I think you will like them.

Must stop now and get ready for rehearsal . So until I see you, which I hope will be soon, I remain,

340 West 59th Street N.Y

RADIO CITY
STATION
3 CENTS 3

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th. Street
New York City N.Y.

Mr. Jobe Muntley
340 West 59th. Street
New York City 19 N.Y.

RADIO
STAT

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 east 127th. Street
New York City N.Y.

340 West 59th St.
New York City N.Y.

Hy Lang:

Called you the other night and you were out, sorry. I just wanted to tell
you about the program that Gary and I had the other Sunday at a church in the
Bronx. It was really good and the people seem to like his singing of gospel
songs quiet well. I also sold lots of copies of our song in fact I sold all I
had, And will get some more as soon as I get some money to give Frances when
I go up there. Just kidding, but I'm going to give her some soon.

Sam Gary and I are going to sing for a benefit at the childrens prison next
Thursday night. Wish you could go to. Tonight I finished a song called "My Prayer" "My Prayer. Its not a gospel song, but it can be used as a Hymnal, or a
number before and after prayer. I have played it in the Temple at 155th street
and all of the brothers that heard it likes it and wants me to dedicate it to
the my lodge. Thats why I finished it tonight, You must come down and hear it.

Thanks for the ticket to the gospel program Easter Sunday evening, I shall
try to go.

Well if I don't see you before Sunday, I wont to take time right here to
wish you and all the family a very HAPPY EASTER.

Now I must say so long for now and I hope to
see you or hear from you real soon.

October 5, 1958

Dear Daniel:

I think you might like to meet a friend of
mine who is arriving in Mexico within a
few days for a week's vacation and who has
written the music for the gospel songs included
in my new novel and play, TAMBOURINES TO GLORY.
I suppose you are familiar with Mahalia Jackson's
records and she has said she likes these songs.
The composer's name is, Jobe Huntley and I
have taken the liberty of giving him a letter
of introduction to you. If you have a piano,
he will play and sing some of the songs for you.
I will send you the book next month when it is
published.

It has been a long time since I have written
you but I hope that all goes well and I send
you all good wishes, as ever

October 4, 1958

Dear Mr. Beaver:

This will introduce to you the
visitor from Harlem and composer of
gospel music about whom I wrote you,
Mr. Jobe Huntley.

Mr. Joe Beaver, Jr.
Missouri 10
Colonia Napoles
Mexico D.F.

October 5, 1958

Dear Manuel:

I think that you might like to meet a
friend of mine who is arriving in Mexico
within a few days for a week's vacation
and who has written the music for the
gospel songs included in my new novel and
play, TAMBOURINES TO GLORY. I suppose you
are familiar with Mahalia Jackson's records
and she has said she likes these songs.
The composer's name is, Jobe Huntley and
I have taken the liberty of giving him a
note to you. If you have a piano, he will
play and sing some of the songs for you.
I will send you the book next month when
it is published.

At the moment I am packing to leave on a
long lecture tour to Kansas and California.

With warm regards to you and the family,
I am

or motion picture

Dear Mr. Hughes:

concerning

It is agreed between us that/any stage, radio, MM television, /
production of your play, TAMBOURINES TO GLORY, in which my
musical settings of your lyrics shall be used, my portion of
any royalties or fees paid for such productions shall be one-
forth of the total amounts allotted to yourself as author of the
original MM novel, the play, and the lyrics, and to myself as
composer of the music. In other words, division of royalties
shall be one-fourth to the original novel, one-fourth to the
play, one-fourth to the lyrics, and one-fourth to the music.
published

On/sheet music and records the division of royalties shall be
one-half to the lyricist, one half to the composer.

April 26, 1960

Dear Jobe:

Maybe I told you on the phone, the Theatre Guild is
now on a Dorothy Dandridge kick---and it looks feasible. They
ought to know by end of week.

Budget for summer theatres is geared to a $10,000 weekly
take, so they feel they need a "name" to be able to gross that.
Therefore, the "name" search is still on.

Anyhow, the Newport Folk Festival is set for Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday, June 24, 25, 26, and here's who some of
the folks are, in case you can't make it all:

FRIDAY: Gateway Singers, Jesse Fuller, Limelighters.

SATURDAY: Mahalia Jackson, John Lee Hooker, The Weavers.

SUNDAY: Prof. Alex Bradford and Abyssinian Gosepl Chorus, Odetta.
And of course lots of others folks. Saturday and Sunday look best.
Hope you can make it that weekend.

I'll phone you soon as there is any more show news.

Sincerely,

COOPER
STATION

GRAND CENTRAL STATION

45 West 132nd, Street
New York, N.Y. 37.

June 20th. 1963

Mr: Langston Hughes
20 East 127th. Street
New York 35, N.Y.

Dear Langston:

I hope your trip to Washington was an enjoyable one. I
am still trying to get rested up from my vacation and the
Grand Lodge Session the other week.

I talked with Mrs. Serchinger earlier in the week and she
said that they are going right along with the plans for the show,
and there are lots of good things in the contracts in my favor.
Much better than before. I had several questions to ask her since
she is my Agent, and I want to learn all about this business or
as much as I can. I asked her if she had any idea about the per-
centage of royalties, a composer would get from a Show such as
ours? She informed me that it was up to the writer and the com-
poser to decide that, but if I needed any advice on it, I could
go to the Dramdtist Guild and they could probably help or advise
me as to what is fair. As I remember, Miss L. Davis, our other
agent worked it out before. That's why I asked Mrs. Serchinger
about it.

This is what I have in mind as being a fair percentage.
Since the Book or Novel, had nothing to do with me or the show,
as you and I both know, I think it should not get 50% cerdit,
but 25%. The Play should get 30% and the Lyrics 5% Which would
give you as Author, 60%. For the Music I think it should get 35%,
and for rewriting some of the lyrics, and rearranging the other
songs used in the play 5%. Which will give me as Composer 40%.

I know your status is far greater than mine probably ever
will be, and I did not get any credits last time to help mine, So
I thought I would start early (as you informed me), To look out
for myself in Showbusiness. (smile).

I was thinking also that maybe we should not have the same
Agent. Let me know how you feel about this. It should all be
taken care of before the contracts are ready to be signed.

I am going down to the Guild next week to see what they say, so
contact me soon as possible.

P.S. Miss. Wilson said she is waiting for the books and want to get
the money to you as soon as possible. So call her at the Hospital
she is working days and you can get her anytime untill 3:30 P.M.

June 22, 1963

Mr. Jobe Huntley,
45 West 132nd Street,
New York 37, N. Y.

Dear Jobe:

Not being able to catch you by phone today, I am answering your
note re TANBOURINES TO GLORY herein.

The customary per centages on musicals with an original book are:

Book--------2%
Lyrics------2%
Music------2%

If the book or story of the play or musical is taken from a novel, or from another non-musical play, as the musical STREET SCENE was based on the original play, then from the overall 6% an agreed percentage is allotted to the original book or play script, this often deducted from the book-lyrics share. In the case of STREET SCENE Elmer Rice got a full 2% for the use of his original play, it being a very famous play. Kurt Weill and I both got less than Elmer, since he was paid on the dramatic play, and on the book for the musical adaption.

Now, in the case of TANBOURINES which is based on the John Day novel, our present arrangement, is it not, since your percentage was upped when we made the last contract, 1%:

Book (play script)-----2%
Lyrics----------------2%
Music-----------------2%

Which really gives me nothing for the novel.

since I believe our agreement states that you get 1/3. This, as stated above, is standard and fair on musicals. TANBOURINES is not supposed to be a musical, but you are receiving a musical percentage. SIMPLY HEAVENLY, like TANBOURINES, was classified as a play-with-music. David Martin did not get as high a percentage on that show as you get on TANBOURINES, although there were just about as many songs in it. Unless, perhaps one is a very big name composer like Irving Berlin (or as Oscar Hammerstein was---and such men are usually co-producers, too---I know of no Broadway/who gets 40% on any show. composer

Arrangements are never a part of a show's author-composer percentages. They are usually paid for by the producers or the music publishers, and do not come out of the customary royalties.

Of course, one may have whatever agent one wishes. But in the case of TANBOURINES, since our present representatives have put in a very great deal of time and effort negotiating final contracts, it would seem to me a bit ungrateful to them (and I also think unwise) were either of us to change horses now well past midstream. I understand the present contract is a very good one which will have Guild approval. If so, I am all for signing it, getting our past option money, and having an end to what has dragged on for so long. I hope to get off for Europe within a few days, so phone me if there are any more questions.

Sincerely,

45 West 132nd Street
New York City N.Y.

August, 11th. 1963

Dear Langston:

Yes it appears that they mean business this time and are going to really
get the show on, The casting director has contacted Anna English, Joe Attles,
Theresa Merritt, and the agents for Clara and Nipsey. I was told that the
show will start rehersals around the 15th. of Sept. and open on the 15th.
of October, at the Little Theatre on West 44th Street. The Theatre has
been acquired.

We had a singing audition for some backers last month and it was very
good, all the singers got $5.00 more pay than they did before. They were
quite pleased.

Joel Schenker and Arthur Waxman have called me and had me to come down town
several times, and have asked me questions which I think you should answer.
Especially about the casting and the script. Nikos is coming in town this or
next week for a meeting.

Langston I hope you will find something in this note to give you some idea
as to what you should do. As you know also about the uncertainty of show-
business, the decision is up to you. I would feel better if you were here
to talk to them like you did before.

Say hello to George, and I can hardly wait to hear all about the trip,

P.S. I just heard the show might open with a picket line. Some say the
play is un-timely.

July 27, 1965

Dear Jobe!

Since during hot weather there are
plenty of empty seats at the Mews the
first part of the week, Stella grants
me permission to send out complimentaries,
which goes for any frinnds of your, too,
in case you would like more. Please
 invite lively folks who like gospel
music and will clap their hands!

Hope you are keeping cool. Come by
someday and have a tall one.

Best ever,

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TELEGRAM RECEIVED BY TELEPHONE

$SE

JOE HUNTLEY

408

BN

LITTLE THEATRE 240 WEST 44 ST

IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL WORKING WITH YOU AND I WISH US
BOTH SUCCESS BUT ESPECIALLY YOU TONIGHT

PM

DATE 5 NOV 2 700PEST
CHECK 17 PD

TEL. NO. LEH 4 7739

DEST'N

NYC

SIGNATURE 7 LANGSTON

SUB.

BD CH OTR
LANGSTON HUGHES
20 EAST 127 ST NYC35

GHES
LANGSTON HU

WU 550 (1-52)