Abstract
Oral history interview with Marlena Shaw conducted by Claytee D. White on December 12, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Shaw discusses her early life in New Rochelle, New York and growing up in a musical family. She talks about her initial interest in singing, her career as a jazz singer, and performing with Count Basie in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shaw recalls recording her first studio album, and the discrimination she faced as an African American musician. Shaw describes performing at the Sands Hotel and Casino, touring around the world, and working with multiple recording labels. Later, Shaw remembers performing with Sammy Davis Jr. Lastly, Shaw discusses the significance of spirituality in her life, and her first time performing with a symphony orchestra.
Finding Aid PDF
Date
Extent
Related People/Corporations
Scope and Contents Note
Oral history interview with Marlena Shaw conducted by Claytee D. White on December 12, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Shaw discusses her early life in New Rochelle, New York and growing up in a musical family. She talks about her initial interest in singing, her career as a jazz singer, and performing with Count Basie in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shaw recalls recording her first studio album, and the discrimination she faced as an African American musician. Shaw describes performing at the Sands Hotel and Casino, touring around the world, and working with multiple recording labels. Later, Shaw remembers performing with Sammy Davis Jr. Lastly, Shaw discusses the significance of spirituality in her life, and her first time performing with a symphony orchestra. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Where use copies do not exist, production of use copies is required before access will be granted; this may delay research requests. Advanced notice is required.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish. Some transcripts do not exist in final form, therefore any editing marks in a transcript (deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked.
Preferred Citation
Marlena Shaw oral history interview, 2017 December 12. OH-03367. [Cite format consulted: Audio recording or Transcript.] Oral History Research Center, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Permalink
Acquisition Note
This interview was conducted by the Oral History Research Center (OHRC) which is part of the UNLV University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Division.
Processing Note
Interview materials were processed by UNLV Libraries Special Collections and Archives in 2017. Miguel Dominguez wrote the collection description. Access copies were created for born-digital audio and/or transcript files. The audio has been minimally reviewed and all readily available information has been included in the description.