Archive of material relating to the Richmond, Virginia-based musical group The Fantastic Waller Family

N.p. N.p., Late 1970s-1980s. Archive of professional and vernacular photographs, flyers, newspapers, letters, and various ephemera relating to the Richmond-based African American musical group The Fantastic Waller Family, circa late 1970s-1980s.

Formed in Richmond, Virginia in the mid-1970s, the show and dance band consisted of three brothers (Harry, Bruce, and Chris), two sisters (Karen and Sandra), and a five-piece horn backing band. The ensemble performed variously as The Waller Family, The Fantastic Waller Family, The Fabulous Waller Family, and The Wallers, playing a blend of R&B, soul, disco, funk, and pop. The group toured extensively throughout the east coast and southern US between the late 1970s and 1990s, but was still active as recently as the early 2000s.

The archive contains over 75 unique photographs of the band performing and recording, a mix of promotional shots and professional and vernacular shots. The photographs also include two copies of a contact sheet (10 images), six strips of negatives (14 images), and two photographs of the band’s 1981 performance on the WNVT television show The Connection.

The archive also features a number of promotional materials, including a poster for a performance at the Rochester People's Club of New York, material advertising the the Kozy Kat Club and Alpha Audio recording studios of Richmond, Virginia, magazines and newspaper clippings concerning the band, over 25 flyers, five "club" calendars, and a press release about the band.

Of particular note are ten letters, variously dated between January 1982 and July 1984, commending the band on their performances, with many written following performances at historically Black colleges and universities in the US.

Photographs, negatives, and contact sheets: 4 x 5 inches to 13 x 10 inches. Near Fine overall. Several photographs housed in a Near Fine blue binder measuring 9.5 x 11.75 inches.

Flyers, newspapers, letters, and other ephemera: Very Good plus to Near Fine overall.

Poster: 11 x 17 inches, folded horizontally. Very Good, with a six inch horizontal closed tear just below center.

Total archive is approximately one linear foot of material.

[Book #156953]