From the time of their marriage in 1967—just months after the Supreme Court ruled laws banning interracial marriage unconstitutional—until she died in 2019, Earl Arnett and Ethel Ennis were personally and professionally inseparable, devoting their lives to each other and to showcasing Ennis’s exceptional talent in forums from West Baltimore to China, Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. Along the way, they encountered—and in many cases befriended—fascinating figures from the realms of politics, show business, business, and the streets of their beloved Baltimore. Now, in A Jazz Romance, Arnett recounts episodes from that life with wit, incisive clarity, and the wounded wisdom of a widower still besotted with his late wife and the quietly epic life they lived.
Advance praise for A Jazz Romance:
“Earl Arnett’s book about his wife Ethel Ennis is much more than a wonderful portrait of the couple’s devotion to each other. It provides insights into the devotion they both had for the city of Baltimore, the struggles they faced as an interracial couple, and the challenges Ethel faced balancing her commitment to the music she loved and the demands of the music industry.”
— FRED LAZARUS, president emeritus of the Maryland Institute College of Art“A Jazz Romance is a powerful story of how a couple overcame this country’s racial divide to inspire us with their love of music and their love of each other. Read it with joy in your heart.”
— KURT SCHMOKE, president of the University of Baltimore and former Mayor of Baltimore“Earl Arnett hits the high notes and blues with his storied life with jazz singer Ethel Ennis—a great multicultural history as well as a compelling personal story about Baltimore and beyond.”
— BARBARA MIKULSKI, former U.S. Senator from Maryland“This gem of a memoir offers precious, personal insights into all of its subjects: Ethel, Earl, Baltimore, music, and race in America over several profoundly significant decades in our collective history. Researchers interested in learning more can consult the Ethel Ennis and Earl Arnett Collection at the Sheridan Libraries, thanks to the foresight and generosity of its namesake creators.”
— GABRIELLE DEAN, curator of special collections at Johns Hopkins University“A Jazz Romance is the beautiful story of Earl Arnett and Ethel Ennis as they navigate a society and systems that challenged their relationship, their work as creatives, and their efforts as business owners. This book offers a treasure trove of reflections on the potential and pitfalls of the music business, the historical entertainment and cultural industry in Baltimore, and the value of community. With good humor, wisdom, and a few raw insights, Earl shares the evolution of his and Ethel’s love, hope, setbacks, and journey to create lives of happiness and personal success.”
— RAYNETTA WIGGINS-JACKSON, curatorial fellow for Africana archives at Johns Hopkins University