Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage Collection
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- 1990 Jesse Thomas
- Jesse Thomas - Eleonor Ellis interviewer., 00:00 Allison Miner introduces Eleanor Ellis and Jesse Thomas; Jesse was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. Playing at the age of seven; blues on the guitar; electric piano; started to play. He played other people’s pianos around town as he didn’t have one of his own. 04:00 Age of 15 and went to Shreveport, then Texas; Lonnie Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson; stopped playing blues for a while; He moved to Fort Worth; took music lessons; Joined Big bands; inspired by skills of their saxophone player and wanted his guitar playing to sound like that. He wanted to play the complex solos that he heard in the saxophone. He met a clarinetist who helped him and gave him a book to learn. 08:59 Electric guitar; the sound he was looking for. He could now adjust the volume, hold the note but still could not go up and down the scales like a saxophone; read a jazz book; need to learn the blues in order to learn jazz. 10:22 He plays a short example of saxophone and piano on his guitar. 12:09 songwriting experience and recording history; RCA Victor in 1929 when he was 18 years old; Modern Records and Specialty Records; with Little Richard, The Platters and John Lee Hooker. 14:30 Demonstration – Jesse plays “Turn Your Lights Down Low”. 16:42 He talks about the necessity for an ‘attractive’ title for a blues track. Blues ...is a conversation telling a story, set to music, to be played and sung 19:04 Jesse talks about how he never knew how to write records. He talks about how they would be paid an advance to write and then the records would not be great and not sell. He describes how they did not know how to write properly and gives an example of a naively written song. 20:15 How Blues has changed over the years. 27:28 Jesse performs demonstrations of different styles of music. He plays a short; popular music’ love song. A Latin-beat song (Besame-Mucho tune). A Country and Western song. 32:04 Demonstration. Jesse plays a blues track on guitar with a drum track. 35:57 Interview ends
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- 1990 Little Freddie King and Percy Randolph
- Unknown male introducing. Little Freddie King and Percy Randolph., 00:00 Demonstration. Lyrics: “when I’m down and out my baby pick me up.” 05:32 They introduce themselves. Little Freddie King and Brother Percy Randolph; Randolph is from New Orleans King is from McComb, Mississippi 06:45 Demonstration. Lyrics: “I believe my time ain’t long.” 10:45 Demonstration 14:08 Demonstration 17:53 Demonstration. Lyrics: “No, I don’t know what to do…when my baby doesn’t come back to me, leave my poor heart in misery.” 22:16 Demonstration. Lyrics: “Old folks boogie and the young folks too.” 26:00 Demonstration, their rendition of “What’d I Say.” 31:48 Interview ends.
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- 1990 Lula Landry, Marce LaCouture and Inez Catalon
- Allison Miner introducing. Lula Landry, Marce LaCouture, and Inez Catalon., 00:00 Allison Miner welcomes the audience and then introduces Lula Landry, Marce LaCouture and Inez Catalon. The ladies will be singing Cajun house songs. Allison allows Marce to run the interview. 02:29 Lula talks about growing up a Cajun. Inez says that people were happy despite having little; singing with the family as a child. Inez sings a song in French about young love. 12:00 Lula discusses who sang in her family when growing up. She sings a song taught to her by an aunt – “The Wedding Song” – her aunt sang this song on her wedding day. This song was in French. 18:40 Lula discusses the meaning of the song and marriage traditions of the time. Inez too talks about wedding traditions in her time. Inez prepares to sing another song by first telling a quick story regarding marriage. 30:24 Lula sings another song about marriage and having a very short husband. 32:40 Lula finishes the song and Marce explains the song in English. Lula sings another song – she sings the song in French and English. 38:10 Lula’s song ends. Marce asks Lula and Inez to sing a similar song, but it is clearly two different versions. This is an example of the oral tradition and how lyrics are learned and how lyrics change. 46:40 Audio cuts out briefly. Lula is now discussing learning a song from listening to men at a table sing. She then sings it. 53:30 Lula’s song ends and Marce is going to sing a song that she learned from Inez. Inez critizes Marce’s version and then sings it “right”. 58:30 Lula wants to sing one more song. Inez sings “I’ll be Glad When You’re Dead”. 01:05:57 Interview ends
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- 1990 Milford Dolliole
- Allison Miner interviewer. Milford Dolliole (b. 1903). This item is part of the “Crescent City Living Legends Collection” that was admitted to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2002., 00:00 – Introduces drummer Milford Dolliole; born in New Orleans in 1903 on Pauger Street which used to be Bourbon Street; professional musician but a mason by trade, more specifically a plasterer; began playing drums when he was a boy; drummers including his friend, Louis Barbarin; Brother, uncles, and father were also a musicians, Milford and his brother, who played trumpet, were in a jazz band together, The Original Clover Leaf Jazz Band 06:55 – Demonstration of drums, what he would play for a jazz funeral, which is a march or dirge rhythm. 08:45 – Demonstrates a second line rhythm 10:00 – Drum teacher, Louis Cottrell Sr.; first time he played professionally; tradition of dance halls in New Orleans; Perseverance Hall, a union lodge near where the WWOZ studios are now; San Gosento Hall, Economy Hall, Hopes Hall, New Hall, Artesian Hall 12:28 – the neighborhood where he was raised, used to be Bourbon Street, but now it becomes Pauger at Kerlerec, a research project Miner did about a house built in 1805 in Milford Dolliole’s neighborhood, original owner was a woman named Catherine Doussant who married a man named Dolliole, who is an ancestor of Dolliole and also a mason. 14:10 started playing in brass bands in the streets during the 1960’s; Now he plays with Young Tuxedo Brass Band, the Onward Brass Band.; musicians he’s admired and worked with: Placide Adams of the Onward Brass Band, Alfred Williams, Stanley Stevens (Williams’ grandson and pupil) 15:50 – Also played a lot at camps in Milnenburg near Lake Pontchartrain: Mama Lou’s, the Happyland; Miner and Dolliole met in 1968 with Dick Allen at Dolliole’s house party. She mentions the beautiful plasterwork in his den that his son, Maurice, made. 20:40 – Dolliole attended the Marigny School, between Urquhart and Villere. His mother and grandmother spoke creole style of French, which was the major language in his house growing up. His neighborhood is a very strong creole neighborhood; Chief Tootie Montana of the Yellow Pocahontas 23:33 – Dolliole demonstrates. New Orleans style of drumming taught by Cottrell 26:45 – Interview ends
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- 1990 Rev. Leon Pinson and Elder Roma Wilson
- Reverend Leon Pinson and Elder Roma Wilson. Worth Long moderator. This item is part of the “Crescent City Living Legends Collection” that was admitted to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2002., 00:00 Allison Miner explains how she met Rev. Pinson and her experience with his music. Mentions Lynn Abbott. Introduces the participants. 01:40 Wirth Long explains the type of music to be performed, traditional African American Music, not Mississippi Delta music. Reintroduces Rev. Leon Pinson and Elder Roma Wilson 04:22 Demonstration: “Since I Laid My Burden Down” 08:20 Demonstration: “Make More Room” 11:57 Demonstration: “Give Me My Flower While I live” 14:58 Demonstration: “Jesus is on the Main Line” 18:54 Demonstration: “I’ve Been Buked and I’ve Been Scorned” 22:11 Demonstration: “Hand Writing on the Wall” 26:14 Demonstration: “I’m so Glad that Trouble Won’t Last Always” 30:02 Demonstration: “Playing for Gods Service” with introduction 31:35 Demonstration: “This Train is a Clean Train” with introduction 36:50 Demonstration: “Motherless Child” 40:10 Demonstration: “I’m just packing up getting ready to go” 45:17 Wirth Long gives some history about Delta Blues. 47:19 Demonstration: “Hold to Gods Unchanging Hand” 51:42 Demonstration: “When the Saints Go Marching In” 57:05 Interview ends.
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- 1990 Ruth Brown
- Allison Miner interviewer. Ruth Brown. This item is part of the “Crescent City Living Legends Collection” that was admitted to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2002., 00:00 Welcoming Ruth Brown after great set on stage 1; recent Rolling Stone magazine article on Ruth Brown; currently at a career peak at her 62nd birthday 04:27 Ruth Brown born in Virginia; raised in a musical, southern, church-going family; father was an assistant choir director; Ruth sang in choir since age 4 06:14 1948 first recording Ruth did; first female artist to record for Atlantic Records after just beginning under the leadership of Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson; the song “Lucky Lips”; the Dick Clark show; early career as a bandstand song singer; learning from Bing Crosby and Billie Holiday 08:40 Ruth is considered a rhythm and blues singer; worked with Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Buddy Johnson, Billy Eckstine, Count Basie, George Shearing 10:50 Being a mother and continuing her career; being on Broadway, received a Tony and a Grammy; Allan Toussaint and Vernel Bagneris wrote a script of a play for an old folk tune called Stack of Lee; Ruth worked on a workshop for Stagger Lee in New Orleans about this at La Petite Theater; the play went to New York; Ruth Brown cast in Hairspray by John Waters as Motor-mouth Maybelle 14:26 The musical Black and Blue; won a Tony; no script; set in the 1920s 16:04 The Rhythm and Blues foundation; Getting royalties for her music; Ahmet Urtegun contributed 1.5 million dollars to start the Foundation to give money to those musicians; based at the Smithsonian Institute in D.C. 22:00 Motor-mouth Maybelle: Brown acknowledged a new set of fans from that project; Ruth does have plans to record soon; “Blues Stage” a radio show Ruth hosts; originally called Harlem Hit Parade 25:49 Laverne Baker is back; Brown talks about her contemporaries still being around; Cocoa Taylor, Etta James, Nell Carter, Faye Adams 30:16 Allison Miner thanks Ruth sincerely for coming; beautiful conclusion; Ruth Brown requests the audience hold B.B. King in their prayers.
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- 1990 Samuel Berfect
- Allison Miner interviewer. This item is part of the “Crescent City Living Legends Collection” that was admitted to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2002., 00:00 Allison introduces Samuel Berfect making peaceful gospel music for the past 21 years; leader of the group “The Dimensions of Faith”; Sam was born and raised in New Orleans in the Carrollton area; uptown New Orleans; involved in Church music all his life; started playing piano at 3 years old; his mother died 6 months after Sam was born 03:17 His father and grandmother sent Sam to a private tutor named Jessie Wagner Chris; he studied with her for 21 years; he played in the junior high school Alfred C. Priestly band; in the senior high school concert and marching and choir bands. 04:47 Sam taught himself how to play the organ at 6 years old and played regularly in church; went to a National Baptist Convention of America where he found an organ; Pastor in New Orleans put him on for an instrumental solo and he was a backup for the regular musicians 06:24 At 7 and a half years old Sam started playing for the little junior choir at the Progressive Baptist Church 1214 South Robinson Street; learned to direct choirs; primarily plays piano and organ; Good gospel musicians are hard to find for Sam in New Orleans; Bessie Griffin and Mahalia Jackson and Sam traveled through Europe and played music together; traveled everywhere and played Negro Spirituals 09:45 Demonstration “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”; Negro Spiritual Medley 16:02 Talks about his group Dimensions of Faith; formed 10 years ago; meet at Second Progressive Baptist Church in New Orleans; 45 members ranging from ages 15-60 years old; talks about the choir touring and practicing around the country; talk about Reverend Cleveland’s Gospel Choir Convention; 1200-1500 voices singing together by the end of the convention; songwriters, etc. 21:17 Talks about his involvement with Jazz Festival since the beginning; rented out his B3 Hammond organ for the Gospel Stage at the Jazz Festival; Allen B Choral Ensemble was the choir he sang with then 22:45 Talks about his recently completed album; produced locally in New Orleans on Sam’s Label “Truth Records” 23:26 Demonstration: “I’m Changed” 27:30 Talk about his singing ability 28:30 Demonstration: “Oh Happy Day” (with audience participation) 32:22 Demonstration: “That’s the Way God Planned It” 35:38 Interview ends
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- 1990 Thomas Edison 'Brownie' Ford
- Allison Miner introducing. This item is part of the “Crescent City Living Legends Collection” that was admitted to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2002., 00:00 Introduction by Allison Miner; she met Brownie at the World’s Fair in 1984; he performed at the Louisiana Folk Life Area; knows hundreds of ballad song; Brownie’s an old cowboy; used to rodeo, talks about how he found out he was too old to fight bulls and how he was married 3 times; Brownie tells several stories about riding horses in the rodeo and getting hurt 06:40 Demonstration 09:20 Brownies releasing a record in several weeks from the interview; talks about recording and making a record sound good 10:42 Demonstration 14:13 talks about when he was young how people were traveling West because of poverty or loss 16:12 Demonstration 19:27 Introduces next song written by Bob Will’s father 20:05 Demonstration “Faded Love” 22:02 Demonstration 24:35 Demonstration; old cowboy song 27:07 Demonstration “I Never Had the One That I Wanted” 29:11 Brownie looks around the audience and gets ideas for songs; next song has been around for a long time 30:20 Demonstration 32:23 “In the Pines” was a convict song; Brownie tells about what the convict laborers in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North Louisiana did with turpentine 33:20 Demonstration “In the Pines” 36:26 Brownie imagines it’s not fun to run away anymore; Demonstration “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Waters” 39:30 Demonstration; original by Brownie Thomas “The Next Heart You Break May Be Your Own” 41:51 Demonstration 44:22 Demonstration “Streets of Laredo” 48:10 Demonstration 51:13 Interview ends.
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- 1990 Toots Hibbert
- Gene Scaramuzzo interviewer. Toots Hibbert., 00:00 Allison Miner introduces Toots Hibbert, leader of Toots and the Maytals/ innovator of Jamaican music, and the interviewer, Gene Scaramuzzo. 01:00 New album called “Toots in Memphis,” by Highland Records (?), includes covers by Otis Redding and Al Green; always liked the blues, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Louis Armstrong. 05:00 He’s from Kiefer (?), in the Parish of Clarendon. He wrote the letter song, then traveled to Kingston where he met Jerry [Matthais] and Raleigh [Gordon], singing ska, rock steady, recorded a song called, “Do the Reggae.” 06:16 Prince Buster was a great sound system person in Jamaica who was also popular in England; song competition that happens every year at the festivals that he and other artists such as Bob Marley had done at the start of their careers. Toots won three times for “Bam Bam,” “Pomps and Pride,” and “Sweet and Dandy.” 09:09 this movement that was happening didn’t have a name yet. So one day I composed a name, in the song “Let’s do the Reggae.” …that’s the first reggae song. I was the one that put the “R” in the beat; from the ghetto; our song is more about the lyrics and less about gimmick 12:33 still lives in Kingston, Jamaica; Reggae Sunsplash; Bunny Wailer, Jimmy Cliff 15:02 Interview ends
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- 1990 William 'Champion Jack' Dupree
- Allison Miner introducing. William 'Champion Jack' Dupree (80 years old). Allen Toussaint interviewer. Video tape of interview 001.1990.025 This item is part of the “Crescent City Living Legends Collection” that was admitted to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2002., 00:00 Intro of “Champion Jack Dupree” by Allison Miner and Allen Toussaint 7:05: Demonstration “I want a woman from the country” 13:28: Discusses early influences and playing in Germany 15:25: Demonstration “Drinkin’ Wine Spoo-dee-oo-dee” 20:00: Dupree announces next song…it’s in Italian and Japanese 24:50: Dupree beings singing, “Bring me flowers while I’m living” 34:20: Demonstration “Lord I feel just like a millionaire.” 44:30: Demonstration “I love you, indeed I do, from the bottom of my heart…” Toussaint introduces guitarist—Ken Lindon (?) 45:22: Interview ends
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- 1991 Battiste Brothers
- Battiste Brothers. Rick Coleman interviewer.
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- 1991 Bruce Sunpie Barnes
- Allison Miner introduction. Bruce Sunpie Barnes.