Clothing & Accessories

This necktie was made by “Jane,” undetermined place and date. It is a hand-made necktie made of white fabric with a cream-colored fabric lining. This necktie was previously worn by jazz musician Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham. There are numerous signatures in black ink on the front of the tie, one is dated “85.” There is an embroidered label:

FASHIONED
AND
HAND MADE BY
JANE

Adolphus Anthony “Doc” Cheatham (1905-1997), first learned to play saxophone as well as trumpet. Early in his career, Cheatham performed with the African American Vaudeville theater in Nashville. Around 1924, Cheatham moved to Chicago where he heard trumpeters King Oliver and Louis Armstrong, both would have a lifelong influence on Cheatham’s playing.

Cheatham performed with several jazz musicians including Benny Carter, Fletcher Henderson, and Benny Goodman throughout the 1930s to the 1960s. In the 1970s, Cheatham worked to improve his playing by recording and listening to himself. After the age of 70, Cheatham’s self-assessment work would result in him receiving his best acclamations and critical reviews.

Made of red-dyed woven straw. This pillbox hat is from the ensemble worn by jazz vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald, in an American Express Card advertisement, photographed by Annie Liebovitz. Label inside the hat:

MORGAN TAYLOR

Made for country music star Patsy Cline by her mother, this Western-style performance outfit features record-shaped patches stitched with the titles of Cline's records. Cline began singing with gospel and country bands as a teenager in Virginia. With her 1957 breakout hit "Walkin' after Midnight," she became the first female country vocalist to cross over to the pop charts. In 1960, Cline achieved her childhood dream of joining the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Three years later, she died in a plane crash.

Pink colored western-style shirt and pants with black piping and adorned with hot pink rhinestones and black wool 'record discs' hand-stitched with the names of Patsy Cline's hit songs including "Come On In" [left shoulder], "Poor Man's Roses" [right shoulder], "Walking After Midnight" [back], "Stop the World" [left leg]. and "Yes I Understand" [right leg].

Made for country music star Patsy Cline by her mother, this Western-style performance outfit features record-shaped patches stitched with the titles of Cline's records. Cline began singing with gospel and country bands as a teenager in Virginia. With her 1957 breakout hit "Walkin' after Midnight," she became the first female country vocalist to cross over to the pop charts. In 1960, Cline achieved her childhood dream of joining the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Three years later, she died in a plane crash.

ink colored western-style shirt with black piping and adorned with hot pink rhinestones and black wool 'record discs' hand-stitched with the names of Patsy Cline's hit songs including "Come On In" [left shoulder], "Poor Man's Roses" [right shoulder], "Walking After Midnight" [back], "Stop the Worlds" [left leg]. and "Yes I Understand" [right leg]. This shirt was part of an outfit worn by Patsy Cline and made by her mother, Hilda Hensley.

Made of red fabric, with a zip-front with six decorative buttons. This jacket is from the ensemble worn by jazz vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald, in an American Express Card advertisement, photographed by Annie Liebovitz. There is a maker’s label:

DON LOPER
OF CALIFORNIA

This sweatshirt is made of a white cotton/polyester blend. It is a long-sleeve sweatshirt with printed black letters:

IT’S TIME THE RARE BIRD CALLED A SINGER
HAD SOME TENDER LOVING CARE
SOCIETY OF SINGERS
[picture of songbird on microphone]

The Society of Singers was co-founded by Ginny Mancini and Donna (Fowler) Manners in 1984. It was a nonprofit charitable organization that was dedicated to helping professional singers. The main fundraising event was a ceremony presenting the Ella Award, named after its first recipient, Ella Fitzgerald, in 1989. Mike Love was the last recipient of the award in 2014. The organization ceased in 2017.