The death of Baby Dodds
Baby Dodds, who many jazzbos reckon was the greatest drummer in the history of New Orleans, passed away on this day in 1959. He was 61 years old.
Here’s an article I wrote on the career of this remarkable man.
Russell Reeves Sr has died
Mr Junior of Little People’s Place in Treme
We’ll have a thorough eulogy of Mr Junior of Little People’s Place in the near future.
Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Here’s the obit from the Times Picayune Continue Reading
Publicity photo of Gert Town Native Tami Lynn aka Gloria Brown
“Do you remember your first love affair?”
Tami Lynn née Gloria Brown whispers on Introduction To A Love Affair, the first cut off her debut LP Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone.
It’s heart-wrenching.
Tami Lynn grew up in the hard-scrabble Gert Town section of New Orleans 16th Ward. To this day there are parts of the neighborhood that have dirt streets and houses without indoor plumbing. more
Rest In Peace: Uganda Roberts
Uganda Roberts didn’t become friends with Professor Longhair til 1972. By that time the not-yet 30 year old drummer had already carved out a nice niche for himself in the New Orleans jazz community. You could see him around town at places like Lu & Charlie’s on Rampart Street where a pitcher of cold draft beer would run you $3 or Holly’s a few blocks away on Basin Street. Continue Reading
The Death of Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club King Larry Hammond
I’m writing an article about the massive backlog of second lines that is stacking up due to the city of New Orleans isolation mandate, and I’ll publish it soon.
Schwegmann’s Grocery has burned to the ground
Originally opened in 1869, it served as a launching pad for the birth of the modern supermarket in USA. John Gerald Schwegmann was born on Aug. 14, 1911 in the apartments above the old store that his grandfather, a German émigré had founded nearly a half century prior. Continue Reading
Rest In Peace Ronald Lewis of Big 9 Social Aid and Pleasure Club
Mr Lewis along with Artie Anderson, Edgar Jacobs Jr, Peter Alexander, Robert Starks and Ricky Gettridge created the Big Nine Social Aid and Pleasure Club in 1995.
Lewis was also founder, owner and operator of House of Dance and Feathers, one of the finest museums in a New Orleans that has hundreds of them.
WWOZ has a full eulogy here.
Big Chief Leonard William Brooks of the Golden Spears Tribe Memorial Celebration
Wisdom Reception Center, March 7th, 2020, 1356 St. Bernard Ave. New Orleans, Louisiana. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Hope y’all can make it out.