[Bubba Ho-Tep]

I always loved the story about how Louis' wife bought them a house while he was on the road in the 1943, a pretty modest place in Queens. When Louis returned from off the road, all he had was an address that he had to give to the cabbie. Later, when he could afford something much nicer, he refused to move. It was the only house he'd ever lived in, after years in orphanages and hotel rooms, and he was staying put. And when he was home (which wasn't much--he played 300 nights a year), he'd sit on his front steps and play for the kids in the neighborhood.

His importance to American music can hardly be overstated. And as much as his reputation was for his trumpet playing, it's probably his singing that has been more influential.

[bcsco]

His importance to American music can hardly be overstated. And as much as his reputation was for his trumpet playing, it's probably his singing that has been more influential.

Among the public perhaps. But it was his playing that influenced many a jazz musician.

It was he and his "All Stars" who played yearly in Lake Geneva, WI at the Riviera Ballroom. That's where I met him. I got to know all those guys, the same ones in "High Society" with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. In fact, that bus at the beginning of the movie, or one like it, was parked outside the Riviera at each concert. The only switch in band members I recall over the years was Barney Bigard sitting in for Ed Hall on clarinet once or twice. Velma Middleton was the band's singer at the time.

[metesky]

Great pic of a great musician.

[ichabod1]

I would suggest that his trumpet was what was influential to the music, his singing was what propelled him to worldwide fame and crossover fortune. Good for him. Such a lovable figure.