Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson & More 1959 Jumbo Globe Concert Poster. ...

Description

Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson & More 1959 Jumbo Globe Concert Poster. An original large cardboard window card advertising a cadre of R&B and crossover-pop stars in concert on Wednesday, June 10, 1959 at the Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, TN. This is one of Globe Posters' true classics of the 1950's, a five-color gem comprised of bright Day-Glo red, orange and blue inks, plus white and black. The eye appeal of this jumbo Globe is dazzling, with its terrific color scheme, photos of the performers and big hit song titles in many cases.

Four future members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are present here, and yet the talent runs so much deeper than that. They also made a bigger version of this poster, seven inches taller to be exact, but many prefer this "standard jumbo" size because it's easier to pop into a frame. Measures 22" x 28" and grades to Near Mint Minus condition. COA from Heritage Auctions.

More Information: Sam Cooke grabs top billing because he'd been making hits a little longer; "Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha" (shortened here by one word) was Sam's latest hit, his 8th straight Top 40 pop hit and also a #2 R&B smash. His brand new single? No less than "Only Sixteen."

Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops" had been a #1 R&B hit for seven weeks, accounting for his co-headlining status. That and "That's Why" (lengthened here by one word) were both Top 20 pop hits and both co-written by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr.

Next down the line is Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, repped by "The Kansas City Twist" and then a super-goof by the typesetter. They had a hit called "Teardrops on Your Letter," but someone must've mixed it up with Little Anthony and the Imperials' recent hit "Tears on My Pillow" and came up with the hybrid title "Teardrops on My Pillow" - a song which doesn't exist. (At least not back then.) Oh well, all part of the fun with vintage concert-poster collecting.

Under them is Marv Johnson, and this one's another biggie. "Come to Me" was not just a Top 10 R&B hit, it was Tamla 101 - the very first record ever issued by Berry Gordy's brand new and fledgling Motown Records empire. Gordy co-wrote the song, and Johnson is often credited as the co-creator of "the Motown Sound."

Another fun hidden bonus: In the Falcons' picture, look for Eddie Floyd, who would break huge a few years later with "Knock on Wood" on Stax Records.

We don't have time to run through all 14 musicians, but another highlight is the appearance of Jesse Belvin, with the Top 10 hit "Guess Who" that was written by his wife and manager Jo Ann. Sadly, the couple were killed in a car accident eight months after this show.

Johnny Watson was just starting out a long career, most of which he conducted under the name Johnny "Guitar" Watson. But his low placement is nothing compared to that little orange box in the extreme lower right-hand corner, with just seven letters in it... "The Pips." Well, that was nobody less than Gladys Knight & the Pips, the fourth and final Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members on this glorious concert poster. But look at them! Even the Master of Ceremonies got billed above them! No photo, no song title, no respect... but of course, the family unit was led by 15-year-old Gladys Knight, so they were probably brushed aside as little kids. But when all was said & done, Gladys Knight & the Pips would amass 66 R&B charting singles in Billboard, putting them at 8th place on the all-time list, ahead of legends like Prince and Michael Jackson.

The provenance for this poster is especially strong, as it came directly from the daughter of the show's promoter, Ted Bryant. Absolutely printed in the spring of 1959 before the tour started, as a "tour blank" to be used in many different cities, but this is the only city anybody has ever seen it from.

Condition details: The board has brown toning around all four edges from decades of storage. All four corner tips are a little nudged or softened.


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