Kenneth Elliott’s Musical, Hand Me Down the Silver Trumpet

Camden, NJ…January 9, 2026....Rutgers–Camden Theater…Rutgers–Camden Theater kicks off 2026 with Kenneth Elliott’s, Hand Me Down the Silver Trumpet, which celebrates the legacy of great African American musical artists of the 1920s and 30s who recorded “race records” for the Victor Talking Machine Company, and features performances of classic blues, jazz, and spirituals performed by special guest artists, students, alumni, and a truly swinging band.

This production is a part of Rutgers–Camden Chancellor Dr. Antonio Tillis’s Year of the Arts celebration.

Conceived and directed by Kenneth Elliott, the show will run from Friday, February 6 through Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the Walter K. Gordon Theater located on the Rutgers University–Camden Campus. Tickets are $15 for General Admission, $5 for Camden Residents Senior Citizens, Faculty/Staff, and Alumni, and Free for Rutgers Students with a valid ID. Click here for ticket information.

Race records were 78 rpm phonograph records marketed to African American audiences during the 1920s and 30’s. The recordings were primarily what was known as “race music,” comprised of a variety of African American musical genres including blues, jazz, and spiritual music, at the time considered unsuitable for the general population. Artists included Bessie Smith, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong.