Sam Cooke, Bobby "Blue" Bland 1964 Autographed Concert Poster (AOR-1.64)....

Description

R&B / Soul

Sam Cooke, Bobby "Blue" Bland 1964 Autographed Concert Poster (AOR-1.64). An original cardboard window card advertising two legends, Sam Cooke and Bobby Bland, in concert at the Richmond, California Civic Auditorium on Saturday, January 11, 1964. Mr. Bland has autographed the poster between the two pictures, done for John Goddard of Village Music in Mill Valley, CA, a legendary musicians' stop back in the day.

Either one of these gentlemen could've carried a show all by themselves; we have no idea why they were double-billed, but the audience must've loved it. Cooke probably closed the show because he had been the most prolific hitmaker up to this point. In the previous two years, Bobby had had two Top 5 R&B hits, whereas Sam had logged eight... so that, and him being on the poster's left, probably means he was the top dog. Poster measures a nicely oversized 16 x 24" and grades to Very Good Minus condition. COA from Heritage Auctions.

Literature: See Grushkin, Paul, The Art of Rock: Posters from Presley to Punk, Abbeville Press, New York, 1987, p.47 (illus.).

More Information: Interesting to note how the poster-printing company, Tilghman ("TILL-man") Press of Oakland, used their 'split-fountain' inking technique and segued blue at the top into red in the middle into black at the bottom. The red ink hit in just the right place, totally capturing the two stars' names.

Another fascinating tidbit about this window card is that Tilghman actually printed it with two different background colors... this yellow, and also in green. Both are first printings struck before the show to sell tickets, so we don't know why there are two colors other than maybe they simply ran out of one color halfway through the run. To see the green one, just check out Heritage's archives; the Art of Rock book pictured the yellow one.

We've never seen it from another city and only a couple from Richmond, so this is a rare opportunity.

Condition details: Poster was once folded vertically down the middle, but has been flat forever so it's very subtle now, and certainly no color was broken. The board has uneven toning to it, such as the dark stripe down the left side which is narrow at the top but widens on its way down. Three spots of light discoloration at the top and other surface markings as well. Surface scuffing to the red, and foreign material as well, to the artists' red lettering, mostly the "C" in "Cooke," the word "Bobby" and the "B" in "Bland." The top two corners are only rounded from age, but the bottom two are dinged and creased. Edge push to the left of "Al Braggs." Verso has tape lifts and a few remnants of what appear to be bird droppings.


Heritage Auctions provides as much information as possible but strongly encourages in-person inspection. Condition statements are offered as general guidance only, not as complete representations of fact, and do not constitute a warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted but may be visible in the photos, which are considered part of the condition report. Lots estimated at $1,000 or less are not de-framed for inspection, and we may be unable to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and is not liable for damage to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or artwork that has shifted in the frame. All lots are sold "AS IS" under our Terms & Conditions of Auction.