Buddy Bolden

Buddy Bolden (September 6, 1877-November 4, 1930) trumpeter, first New Orleans jazz musician ever to come to prominence.

His band was a top draw and he was King Bolden in New Orleans from 1895 to 1907, when he was incapacitated by mental illness. He never recorded, but he was known for his open tone and loud sound. Joe "King" Oliver and Louis Armstrong were directly inspired by his playing.

Some of the songs first associated with his band, such as "Careless Love" and "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" are still American standards, and echoes can still be heard coming from "Buddy Bolden's Blues":

I thought I heard Buddy Bolden say,

Funky-butt, funky-butt, take it away.

Sadly, Bolden suffered a breakdown in 1907 and was diagnosed with dementia praecox. He was admitted to a mental institution where he spent the rest of his life.

External Link

• Wide-ranging Buddy Bolden pages, includes song list