It Runs in the Family: Heartwarming Photos from the Music Division

It’s that time of the year when many Americans gather with their families to cut the turkey, gobble up pumpkin pie, and feel grateful for one another. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s look at heartwarming photos our favorite artistic families from the Music Division’s Digital Collections:

Sylvia Fine and Danny Kaye

 

Sylvia Fine and Danny Kaye’s romance blossomed while they were both working on the theater show, “Sunday Night Varieties,” for which Fine was a writer and Kaye was an actor. They went on to work as a creative and professional duo, with Fine writing and producing many of Kaye’s shows. Here they are pictured with their only daughter, Dena.

The Library of Congress is home to the Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Collection, part of which is available online. Watch Dena Kaye commemorate the launch of the collection at the Library in 2013.

Katherine Dunham and John Pratt

 

 

In 1949, Katherine Dunham married costume designer John Pratt, who continued to design costumes for the famed dancer and choreographer until his death. The couple adopted one daughter, Marie-Christine, pictured above.

Learn about Katherine Dunham’s life and career through her online collection.

Samuel Barber and Gian-Carlo Menotti

 

According to a previous post by Music Division Archivist Morgen Stevens-Garmon,

“One of the best known composer pairs of the twentieth century was Gian Carlo Menotti and Samuel Barber. The two met as students at the Curtis Institute of Music in 1928 and remained together as partners for more than forty years…In a charming letter during one such period, Menotti reminded Barber that ‘We are the luckiest people in the world because we love each other and we know we always will.’”

Here they are pictured with fellow composer Aaron Copland.

Selections from the Aaron Copland Collection and Samuel Barber Collection are available through the Library’s website.

Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre

 

Conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein met his future wife, actor Felicia Montealegre, at a party. Though not as well-known as the famed musical director of the New York Philharmonic, Montealegre had a successful artistic career in her own right, performing on Broadway and television. They had three children. Their oldest, Jamie (pictured here), grew up to become an author, filmmaker, and narrator.

Check out the Leonard Bernstein digital collection to find photos, letters, and music manuscripts relating to his life and family.

Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball

 

One of the most famous artistic duos of all time, Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball had two children: Lucie Désirée Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. Daughter Lucie inherited some of her mother’s talent, going on to become an actress herself. Alongside roles in films and television, Lucie enjoyed a long and illustrious musical theater career, both on and off Broadway.

Learn more about Desi, Lucy, and family through the Library’s online exhibit, “I love Lucy: An American Legend.”

Gloria and Emily Estefan

 

In this photo from the 2019, singer and multi-instrumentalist Emily Estefan shares a tender moment onstage with her mother, honoring both of her parents as they were awarded the Library of Congress George Gershwin Prize for American Song. The daughter of Cuban-American hit song-writing duo Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Emily frequently performs with her mother.

Watch Emily sing and accompany herself on timbales at the Gershwin Prize concert.

Have a happy and warm Thanksgiving, everyone!