While the long-running Austin City Limits is known by many people as the premiere live performance showcase on PBS, I was always much more fascinated with Soundstage, which aired on PBS from 1974-1985, with a reboot of the concert series airing from 2003-2018.

Produced by Chicago’s PBS Station WTTW, the show premiered in 1972 as Made In Chicago. The focus was on live performances by performers of nearly every genre and level in the business. In 1974, the show’s name was changed to Soundstage and was distributed across the PBS member stations.

The line-up of performers is staggering and I wish they were available for streaming (although some pop up on YouTube). Bob Dylan, a “Blues Summit in Chicago” concert with Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, Pinetop Perkins, Mike Bloomfield, Buddy Miles, Johnny Winter, and Dr. John. Nearly every important rock, pop, folk & R&B and country act of the times was filmed, including Harry Chapin, Jim Croce, Donovan, Randy Newman, Barry Manilow, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night, Judy Collins with Leonard Cohen, The Spinners, Jackson Browne, Kenny Loggins with Michael Murphy, Graham Parker And The Rumour with Rick Danko, The Doobie Brothers, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman, Al Green, Leo Sayer...and that's just part of the lineup in the first four seasons.

And in season six came this performance, featuring Ella Fitzgerald, with Count Basie, Joe Pass, Roy Eldridge, Zoot Sims, Paul Smith, Keter Betts, and Mickey Roker.

I obtained a press kit of images from the performance, and while there are plenty of shots of Fitzgerald, fewer of them highlight the rest of the band.

Still, the images below provide a look at just one of the many wonderful nights of music recorded for Soundstage.