Jazz may be the most influential current popular music.

However, many of its performers suffered

extreme poverty, drug addictions, racial segregation… This suffering gave them an aura of cultural
heroism and turned them into icons of artistic and social authenticity. Now we are going to talk to
you about one of them, considered “the pioneer of jazz”, “father of jazz”, Buddy Bolden. A man
who, during the period from 1898 to 1906, reigned as the undisputed king of black music in New
Orleans.

Charles Buddy Bolden was born on September 9, 1877 in New Orleans. He came from a religious
family and went to church almost every day, where gospel (religious music) was in all ceremonies.
That was his first contact with music.

When he was young he was a member of a band directed by Charles Galloway, in which he was a
cornetist.

During the day he was a barber, and at night, he was a musician who played at ceremonies, picnics
and private parties. Those situations made him known as the best cornetist in New Orleans and
the one who played blues most magically.

In 1900 he formed a band, the first one with him in the front. King Bolden took the scent of blues,
mixed it with the spirit of the black Baptist church and applied a “jagged” rhythmic feel to his
songs. The result was a completely new sound that was perfect for dancing and quickly caught the
attention of young African-American in New Orleans.

In 1906, Bolden had already suffered several psychotic episodes, in which one of them he was
arrested for attacking his mother-in-law. this mental problem in addition to the performance
pressures and the effects of alcohol, ended up destroying Bolden’s career. In 1907 he was
diagnosed with schizophrenia, and was eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Jackson,
Louisiana. Finally, he died on November 4th, in that same mental hospital.

Many aspects of Buddy’s life continue on being a mystery, any biographical notes about him are a
mixture of reality and fiction. He was an improviser so he didn’t leave written music. As he started
playing at the beginning of the recorded music era there isn’t even a single audio or video of his
performances, despite that he is recognized all over the world as the most important performer of
the beginnings of jazz.

Curious fact:

Some of the first featured jazz musicians in New Orleans played or were associated with Bolden,
even his principal competitor. Among them are the clarinetists George Baquet, Alphonse Picou,
and the young Sidney Bechet; the bass guitarist Alcide “Slow Drag” Pavageau; the multi-
instrumentist Peter Bocage; the cornetist and high saxophonist Isidore Barbarin; and the drummer
Louis Cottrell.