[Alien:] Oh/ yes; we're going up and see him, too. Exactly what day

Transcription

1 BELLA CORNSH 1 Reel --reyped > [Alien:1 [Uninelligible] [You have?] [Cornish:] Well,'ha's he gang he was wih when he married [Alien:1 Oh-when he married you he was wib-- Cornish:1 When we married, ha's he gang he was wi-h when he married me. [Russell:1 When were you married? You remember he year? [ Cornish:1 Huh, do.' married--he married me in nineeen and. weny-wo. \ [Russell:] me. [ Cornish:] Uh-huh» [Russell.-l And he was playing wih he Eureka hen? Cornish:1 He was playing hen wih hem; ha's he band ha he was playing wih, he Eureka.Brass Band. Oh i was a good band, '. oo, 'm" elling you. [Alien:] And-you mus- [ Cornish:1 John Casimir could ell you a pleny abou him, oo [Russell:1 Yes, we'll ask him someime. > [Alien:] Yeah. go o see John soon, anyway; be's a good riend o mine. [Cornish:1 John Casimir.played wih him. lyidn ' John, didn' he ell you? [Alien:] Oh yes; we're going up and see him, oo. Exacly wha day were you married? Do you remember he day o he monh? [Cornish:] Heh? [Alien:] The day o he monh you were married? [Cornish: ] wa s married in nineeen and--yeah, have he license. [Alien: 1 OT-i, yeah. [Cornish:1 Uh-huh. You wan o see he license? Allen:] Oh, we'd like o.

2 BELLA CORNSH 2 Reel --recyped 4 [Russell:1 [Could do ha?] ; hen we can ge his ull name and all rom i, oo--ha doesn' give his birh dae, hough, does i? [Cornish:1 have his birhday; here ic is.. s [Alien.:] FRusselU Oh, yes. i Oh, yes. Well, we'd like o see he license, you knew, andrrussell:] You'd wan o look hrough ha. [Alien;1 He was such a grea man, you know, and- (machine o) \ Cornish'.} Bu now, when you have a baby hey have birh ceriicaes; everyhing is new'syle. [Russell:] Yeah, pu i righ down as soon as you're born now. [Cornish: 1 "eah. Tha's my license. [Aliens] orgo o ell you jus le Kid Punch. Remember Kid Punch, he rumpe player? rcornish:1 Oh, yeah. FAllen:! He said o ell you "hello. He saidn [Cornish:] He know Willie good..r [Russell:] Uh-huh. He knew him, he alked a lile bi abou him. [ Cornish:1 And Sam Morgan-- [Alien:] Oh, yeah. rcornish;] Sam Morgan died, hough. Russell:] Yes. His brohers are sill living, hough. FCornish:] Yeah. Russell:1 saiah» [Cornish:1 don' see none o hem; none o hem don' come around me no more. [Russell:] We saw saiah jus a couple o days ago, on he sree, and hen he was down a my place. [Cornish:] Wha yall going o do? Have--make a book, [Alien:] No, we're saving his or Tulane Universiy. We migh eh?

3 criijim X-U.KM j. on J Reel --reyped make a book laer. 1 [ Cornish:! Oh. [Alien:] Bu we-well, a he universiy-hinks i's worhwhile o..\ save he voices,.and his ape is supposed o las a hundred.years, And-- Cornish:1 Oh, ha's wha y'all going o do. Oh» yeah, undersand. [Alien:] And-anyway i's such a wonderul hing, hey wan o keep \. i in he library up liere. FCornish:1 They-go pleny-mos all hem good musicianers is dead, hough. [Alien;] 's errible. [Cornish:1 They all-he ones hey go now, here ain' nohing o hem. Russell:1 No, don' hink so, [no] as good as he old ones. rcornish:] Oooh--a man old me his morning, he said, "Lord," he said, "hem old ones was he bes < [Alien:] Oh, yes. Well, we wan o alk o all he people we can ind who knew hem. [Russell:! Tha nan you were alking o-did he know he old musicians, oo? was he a musician? 1 Cornish:1 Wha, he man was alking abou? [Russell;] s he an old-ime?- [Cornish: ] No, he Jus-no, he ain' no musician a all And-i's a lo o hem wha Willie played wih-[alber] Warner, he's in he Eureka Brass Band; John Casimir and hem used o play, wih all o hem used o play in he Eureka Brass Band, you know. Bu some o hem died.. [Russell:] We alked o Mr. Warner jus las week.

4 BELLA CORNSH 4 Reel --reyped. [Cornish:] Tha he one go he sliding rombone? [Alien:] Uh-huh. rcornish:1 Didn' he ell you wha kinda man my husband was? [Alien:] mi-huh. + [Russell;1 Did Mr. Cornish play a slide rombone when you irs me him or did he play he valve? [Cornishs1 No, he played sliding rombone and hen he used o play a horn someimes he'd play'a horn pu over his head. Russellil Oh, ha's a uba, maybe. [Cornish:1 dcm ' know Wha i was, bu- \) [Alien:] Sqnsaphone. [ Russell:] Yeah. [Cornish:1 Yeah. Bu he was crazy or he slide. And warner can ell you he was a good, he could play, oo. Didn' he ell you? [Russell:1 Yes. \ [Alien:] Tha's righ. FCornish:1 And he Eurea Brass Band was he bes hey had. Was he bes hey had going bu aer he ook sick and drug sick so long and all, look like i wen down. John used'o play wih him, John Casimir. FRussell:1 Yes. i [Cornish:] Yeah. [Russell:] When did Mr. Cornish ake sick? Do you know how long he played? [Cornish:] o. [Russell:1 How long he could play. [Cornish:] No couldn' ell you ha par 'cause had orgo i. Bu had him all on my hands. Nobody o help me wih him, you know, and my hands was ull. 'Cause he urn para--he was paralyzed, you

5 BELLA CORNSH Reel -reyped 3 - see.. FRussell:] Yes. F FAllen:] When did 1-ie die? You say how many -ears ago? rcornish:] He died in 19, 19 and 42 ralien:] 1942? And he dae is almos oday, huh? FCornish:] Yeserday. ralien:1 Yeserday? Russell:] Jus yeserday [Cornish:] He died in Jmuary on he 12h. Tha's when hey geh me he elegram'rom Alexandria; ha's where he died [uninelligible]. [Alien.:] Was ha a Veerans' hospial? y [Cornish:] Yes; 's a big place ou here. used o go a long way o see him [Alien:]. Well he mus have been in he, in which war? One o he wars. rcornish;] He was a Spanish-American soldier, you see. -~J ralien:] Oh, see» rcornish:] Yeah. They mix hem all up ogeher in dieren wards» They'do, you kno-hey mixes hem all up [Alien:] jus wondered i he played music during ha war, i he was a-- rcornish:] Wha war? Allen: ] The Spanisli-American war. FCornish:] Uh-uh; believe--! don' hink he did. never knowed him w'hen he was in he war, 'cause he was young, you know, hen? never knew nohing o him hen. + [Alien:! You say you're seveny now?.\ Cornish:] 'm seveny Oh, see. [Alien:] Le me check his wih you: i says, "William Cornish"? \

6 BELLA CORNSH Reel -reyped January 13, X959 b Cornish:1 Uh-huh. [Alien.-] And you're Mrs. sabella Davenpor, now Cornisl'i-you were Miss sabella Davenpor? '. [Cornish,:] Was. Uh-huh. J [Alien:1 You were married on he -30h day o November, 1922, "same being duly recorded in Book Number 48, Folio"-looks like [Cornish:] Yeah; and he preacher [is] dead. [Alien:] Oh see- k Cornish:] The docor's dead-[named?] Rev. Robinson, up on Firs and Dryades--he died; been dead. [Alien:] T. F. Robinson. [Cornish:] Yeah, he dead,. [Aliens] And ha's in ie parish o Orleans i's recorded [ Cornishs] Yeah, i's recorded and everyhing bu he died. [Alien:! We'll look i up i we wan o ge,any more,.', cause his Henry Lanauze, guess his name is, or Lanauze-- [Russell:] oh, we won' need ha anymore, don'.hink. Bu we wondered now abou his birh dae; didn' you say you have his?-- Cornishi] go ha, go T-ia pa; don' worry keeps in [Alien:] Thank you very much, Mrs. Cornish. [Cornish: Uh-huh. Bu here ain' nohing o his. Allen:] Well» i's nice o know-- Cornish:] Bu keeps i. FRusselli] 0, yes; hanks or ha. rcornish:] Yeah, keep i. Now when you ge married,' hey have a. grea, big, long ringamarole and all kind o su [uninelligible] ; his was a lile, biccy old piepe o paper hey give me. Yeah, - [AlJm:] 's a nice hing o have. Cornish;] Yeah, go his~-

7 >r<jjijn uu?j.on. Reel --reyped s [Alien:1 Wish had one. [Cornish:1 You ain' go none? [Alien:] don' have a piece o paper. Wish had. [Cornish:] You never married?.4 [Alien:] No,'.no ye. [Cornish:] Well, you may, someday. [Alien:1 've come close, bu no-le's see: you say he as born?-- [ Cornish:1 Uh-huh, he was born in Augus he 1s, in 18 [and] 75,. and his age, as i sands now, is eighy-hree- Well, [i he had lived unil Augus 1-- mean» i live [unil] Augus 1?], when lie come in again, ha make him eighy-our [Russell:1 He'd be eighy-our in?-- [Cornish:} Uh-huh.. He had a good age on him, ain' he? [Alien:] Yeah. Cornish:1 You see when he wen o'war didn' know nohing abou ha; he was wih his moher. His moher was one hundred and ive when she died. [Alien:1 Gee. rcornisl'i: ] She used o live wih me? she died wih me,. [Alien:] Did his moher play music, or?- [Cornish:] No, she didn' [Alien:] She, suppose? [ Cornish:] No, sir, no o my knowing because when married 'him she was old old, you know? [Alien;] Uh-huh [Cornish:] She was, and ook her wih me o say wih me, and done or her. [Alien:1 wonder wha religion he was raised in. Did his moher go he church?

8 BELLA CORNSH 8 Reel --reyped r January 13, rcornish;] Well, his moher was Bapis; she belonged o church up on T Adams and he riverron, somewlieres upown and he was blessed Bapis. And when be go, when he joined [he] church, he joined, joined he Y Perdido Sree-Perdido and Howard [now LaSalle Sree-], under he pasor's named Rev. Delques [spelling?]. [Allen:1 Yes. l,now-- was wondering, Bill; ha's Mahalia Jackson's > church, isn' i? [Russell:] Tha migh be he churc'h; Moun Moriah is on Adams up \ here-or, i's no on Adams, i's near Adams- [Cornish:] The dhurch his moher belonged o was [on] Adams owards he river; i was up on Adams Sree. [Russell:] [There are] wo or hree lile churc'hes up in here. [ Cornish:1 Yeah. Well, her s is a large church, righ in near, going. L.-. owards he river ;.),.. i \ -, '. '.< 1 r )..M [Alien;] Yes. [Cornish:] 'Cause used o carry her up here in a cab all he ime? ha's how come know i...' Russell:] Did Mr. Cornisli say i 'his aher ever played any insrumen, or any o his [ohe relaives?]?-». [Cornish:] No his aher was in he war. [Russell:] Did he have any brohers ha played music? FCornish:] No, uh-uh, jus him. [Alien: ] His aher.was in he war? [Corn'ish:] His aher was in he'war beore him. [AUemJ Was he killed in he war or did he live aer. FCornish:] doh' know; he died; his mama old me he died 1-iere. never did see him in my lie; don' know nohing abou him. [Russell:] You mean he Civil War or he Spanish-Aherican War? [Cornish:] No, my husband was in he Spanish-American War, so his.

9 BELLA CORNSH Reel -re yped h. 9. aher mu s have been in he war beore; mus have been in he "Silver war", because he drawed a pension and i mus have been o o he war he was in. [Thereore was wih he union 7] [RusseU_s] Yes, ha's righ... [.Cornish:1 Yeah. She lived 'ill she was one hundred and ive, he way she had i couned. Migh have been older han ha; well, you. see, pe ople liem days didn' know heir age. -Ain' ha piiul? They go people now don' know heir age FAllen:] Oh, sure. rcornish:] Yeah, mees pleny people hey don' know lidw old hey is; ask how old hey is; hey say, " don' know, Miss Bella." Ain' ha piiul? [Alien:] Uh -huh. Did you ever know o a ellow named Buddy Bolden [wtio] was a come player? Cornish;] [No, be was] wi,h my husband, bu never did know him [Alien;] Uh-huh. Did you know any o he oher ellows? rcornish:1 No, didn' know hem; hey played wih him,.you see All o liem mosly los heir minds, 'cause head my husband s alking abou i, you know. Tha's he picure wha ou seeri [Russell;] Oh, yes, ha's [Comishi] ' And ha's he picure hey opk and didn' give o me, wen all in ha neighborl-iood huning or ha man; never could ind him. [Alien:] Well, we may be able o ind a book ha has i, or her. FRusspll:] Yeah. His wie is Dr. [Leonard] Beclqe's wie is sill living oo, here. [Cornish:] know hey ook he picure--you remember. rrussell:! know he had i- [Cornish:] He sho had i; give i o him and he promised o bring \.

10 BELLA CORNSH Reel -reyped 1U i back o me. FAllen:] Well, we, we ough o could make a copy, somehow, huh? ' [Russell:1 Yeah.» ralien:] Cause 'm sure ha picure's in a book, you know. rcornishi1 Well, ha's a piy; he, hey should have giveh i back o me. [Alien:] They should have given you he book, oo, i hey used i or'ha. rcornish:] don' know wha hey done-bu he remember. 'Cause remember his ace-x remember your ace [Russell: 1 hink Dr. Beclqe showed me he picure-once; he "had i. JCornish:] Yes, yes. rrussell:] X know he wasn' rying o seal i; he was going o reurn i o you, bu guess he died beore he go back here. rcornish:] He died. wen down here in ha neighborhood, bu never did, you know, ge no deails abou i or nohing. Kusse, T.a o«.epicu.e i " was i, ha he was eaching music? Qv\ behi P 7<T r Cornish:] Yes, wii hem wliie boys, some lile Jew boys, ou ron o own. don' know wlia done wih i; 'm go o hun or i or you» [Russell:] Did he each many pupils; did he each music someimes? rcornish:] Oh, he used o show he childred around in he neig'hboriood, you know, beore he was wih me, 'cause he old me ha. Bu aer he was married co me, well, he Jus played all he ime; oh he always played played or pleny people. [Alien:] Did you ever know "Dad," "Lile Dad" [Clarence Vincen], who played banjo? Jus wondered; he's supposed o [have] played wih your husband.

11 BELLA CORNSH Reel -reyped 11 r rcornish:] didn' know him lien. [AHeiu] heard a unny sory abou how hey go in a igh one nigh; Dad was so small he could rum beween your husband's legs. - r Cornish: 1 My husband was a big man,- ', [Alien.:] He was a all man, hen, huh? rcornish:] He was six ee and hree inches and weighed wo-hundred and niney-seven pounds. [Russell:] Oh, ha big? J..[Alien:] uh, uh. FCornish:] And'he could blow he,horn, oo-don' you hink he couldn'; Oooh [he] had he record on ha. r Alien:] OT-i, yes. T. [ Cornish:] Uh-huh. [Alien:] He mus have been one o he very irs ear musicians o really develop a syle. rcornish;] He Used:o,play-be used o play ou here on Perdido Sree in a place him and Buddy Bolden and all o hem, you know 'cause he had cold me abou i. Bu- [Alien;] Uh-huh. [Cornish:] He used o play all ou on he basins and everywheres. Yeah» ha was abou, guess rom he way Hey alk, i mus have been abou he irs lile band sared o. or somehing- don' know; you see, don' know nohing abou ha par. [Russell.:] Do you remember any o hose dance hails down on Perdido, like he Masonic Hall? Did you ever go here? rcornish:] No; no, never did go o dances. [Russell:] Never wen. rcornish:] No, never worried wih dances. Bu know he used o play all around, in'hem halls around.

12 12 BELLA CORNSH» Reel -reyped. ralien:] Well--no o ge oo personal or anyhing--did your religion keep you rom going o he dances? jcornish:] never did care or i. [Alien:] You didn'. [Cornish:] You know, when was a c?hild [being] raised up, my papa was very religious-we [are] Mehodiss-and papa never did allow uss o go o no dances 'ill aer we come o be grown. Well, we didn' [o go]. My papa raised us very religious ha's why sh [Alien:] Where were you born? Cornish:] was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in Creoleown. [Alien.:] Oh, see rcornish:'] My papa was a Frenchman. + Russell:] When did you move over here? r Cornish:] Ol-i, come over here wih whie people when was young, o and on; come over here and work or em; h6n 'd go backwards and orh you know» Russell:] How did you happen o mee Mr. Cornish? Did you hear "him in a band Someplace? r Cornish;] hlnk"[ha was?] in he sree, and everyhing; ha's how come go acquained wih him. 1 used o wach or he music, you know, wih he children-'d have lile children wih me and we used co wacli he musi6 and everyhing. [Alien:] Would he be playing in a brass band? [Cornish:1 Yeahhe was playing in he band, brass band he was-- yeah. Oh, 've seen him pleny imes in bands, playing, [be]ore ever knowed who he was» [Alien;] Did he play wih he Eureka long [did he say?]? [ Cornish: T. Long ime yes; JoZm [Casimir] can ell you how long he played hcre-yeah, 'cause Jol-in Joined i. 1

13 BELLA CORNSH Reel -reyped JLJ [Alien.:] He was wih lie?- [Cornish:] He was playing in, he was playing in he Eureka Brass Band when he married me and he had been playing, guess, a long ime hen. \ Bu don know how long, you see, 'cause never did keep, you know, rail o anyhing like ha [Alien:] jus wondered i he was one o he ounders o ha band, or somehing you know. You know old man Willie Parker's sill alive. You remember him-he bass drum player? rcornish:] Yeah, remember him. [Alien:] We'll Ask him abou i, 'cause Tne old us he was one o.he ounders and believe Cornish may T-iave been bu-- Cornish:] Cornis'h made he Eureka Brass Band; ha's he band Willie» made; he was he one made ha. rallen;] He was One o he ounders? [Founders o ha, him and his ellow you alking abou. He's sill living? ralien:] Willie Parker + rcornish:] Yeah. [Alien: 1 He's up in 'his eighies no'w; be may be in his nineies. Cornish;] Now, he knows me good. [Alien:] He's down a- \ Cornish:] never sees him. FAllen:] He's on S. Philip Sree, hink in believe i is. FCornish:] Yeah. You been o his house. [Alien:] Oh, yeah; we alked o him, oo; he's a nice ellow. rcornish:] He can ell you abou Willie. He ever old you anyhing? [Alien:] Oh, yea'h. FCornish;] Oh, yeah, he's good; he knows. He-hey all used o come see him when he was sic

14 BELLA CORNiHH Reel -reyped» JL [Alien:] Uh-huh. rcornish:! Bu hough he was dead. [Alien:1 He's one o he old-imers. \ \ Cornish:1 Yeah didn' know he was living. [Alien:1 Glenny died-do you remember old man Glenny» Alber Glenny? - [ Cornish:1 don' know. r [Alien.:] He was eighy-eigl-i years old don' know i he ever played + wih your husband. rcornish:1 don' believe he played wih Willie. Russell: 1.He -migrh Tnave ; he played wih Bolden, so he migh 1-iave played wi'h Mr. [Cornish]. [Cornish:] Yeah migla Tave been. \ FRussell:1 How long was Mr. Cornish sick, abou en years beore he died, or would you say ive years? How long? FCornish:1 He was dead welve years. Russell: 1 And beore ia, 1-iow long was he sick, do you [remember]? [ Cornish: ] Oh, "he wasn' sick; w'hen married him--he was Tiealhy 1 as a pig. [Russell:} know, bu mean was he sick maybe ive years beore he died or en years? How long was he? [ Cornish:] No, i was, he was, he was [sick] all ogeher [a once]; i he had srokes. [Russell:] Kep havihg srokes? rcornish:] Uh-huh, kep having srokes was he srokes he hado Then 1 aer he kep a-having hem, you see, he go so he couldn' walk. He used o couldn' alk once--yeah. And he irs sroke when 16 had i, he ell up here on he corner o Rampar and Juli& and he was playing in he band hen. [Russell:] Oh, is ha so?

15 BELLA CORNSH 15 Reel ~-reyped. [Cornish:] Yeah, hey was playing in he band; hey come run[ning an4l go me. And old hem, "Bring him on home." And he sayed up in he bed ive days; he couldn' alk, so o he docor, so [ha's i come o ind i was a sroke e had. Bu, see, "hey repeaed. Russell:] & Uh-huh. [Alien:1 \ Cornish:] Yeah. [Alien:] guess ha was he las ime he ever played,'1 huh, was i? [ Cornish:] He didn' play much aer ha; lie couldn' because 1-ie < couldn' use his arm--you see, his arm wen paralysed and urned. OooT'i, 'he sho' did hae ha. God he loved music; he'd raher play music > han ea. Yes, he did. [Alien:1 Do you remember any o his avorie unes ha he played? \ Cornish:] He used o play so man-. He used o play "When he Sains Come MarcUing On." know he was crazy or ha. And "Wha a Friend We Have in Jesus""-hey used o play ha or he dead, mosly-. 1 he was crazy br ha. Yeah. The band urned ou wih him when he died. [He?] waned-a whole lo o bands waned o come; said, no. Ae whole was rom all around in he ciy hey waned o come play or him--"bella, why didn' you send or us?" said "no, indeed, lia r<a -.-<, makes oo much o a-ooh, makes oo mucti o a [bicjamarbo?]. " He didn' wan i, "he said when he died. 'd done like he old me o do-he say i he died in he morning, "bury h -\ in he evening" He didn' lil;e all ha, you see. He suered a long ime beore he died. [Russell:] Did he ever pracice a home? Did he ever ake his rombone ou and play music here? [Cornish:] Oh, he band used o come up o my house when we sayed ou ron o own and pracice in he kichen. T

16 . BELLA CORNSH 16 Reel -reyped [Russell:1 Oh, hey did? rcol-nish:1 Yeah» every Thursday nigh hey used o come; every Thursday nigh hey praciced in here. And hen wl-ien hey'd ge done here, hey'd go somewheres else and pracice; hey praciced a one anoher's house, you know. They all.used o come here and pracice in he kichen. [Russell:1 jus wondered i he ever go ou his music, or somehing-- did "he ever prjaclce rom his music ou here, jus by liimsel, someime?» > [ Cornish i1 Oh, yeah, 'hed [uninelligible] ake his music ou and play, play» ydu kn'ow--he played by noe; he never played by ear. [Compare Jazz men Alber Warner, Sunny Henry, ec] [Russell;] He didn' play by ear, hen? [Cornish:1 No» indeed, "cause Tie had a lile bag lie, ma-he had made, and he used o hang ha over his shoulder you see, and he'd pu all his music in here wha he had o play-yeah. Mos all o hem in ha band would have o play by noe you know. \ \ [Russell:]. Yes FCornisl-i: 1 Yeah, hey have o play by noe, Man, hey used o iome here and pracice '.ill welve o' clock, you know, a nigh, wih him. [Russell] Where did you live in hose days? Was ha down on Perdido or ou his way on Perdido? r [Cornish:] No used o live on, on, on on--o'h, hey done ore he house all down-- used o live on on Rampar, back in he yard beween, beween Gravier and Perdido~"bu i was back [where '?] used o come on Rampar Sree, [uninelligible]. Bu hey done ore all hem houses down. [Russell:] Everyhing [Cornish:] Everyhing is ore down-- ges los when go ou here-- every hing is los. 1 '

17 BELLA CORNSH 17 Reel -reyped \ \ [Alien:] s ha where he Marins live, righ around here? [Russell:1 Remember Mrs. Marin ha ook care o he school? [ Cornish:1 Yeah, know ha she lived on, she lived on Perdido; r she lived on Perdido righ by he school. Russelll Oh, yes [ Cornish:1 Yeah. She died, oo. [Alien:] X guess some o hose children played music, didn' hey? rcornish:] ain' never seen nohing;. don' know. [Alien:1 don' remember. Louis Armsrong alks-abou him in his book, you know." [Cornish:] Maybe hey did play; don' know hem- never knowed hem ha good, nohow, [Aliens] like his picure he 'sen him [uninelligible], rcornish:1 Yeah, he sen ha abou wo weeks aer he Was dead. [Alien:] sayi: "To my boy"- 1 rcornish:] Yeah, crazy or Willie he was. [Alien:1 "Wm Cornish"-has he abbreviaion or William, guess» F Cornish:] Yeah, ha-yea'h, "W" or William. [Alien;] "Wm Cornish, rom Louis Armsrong rcornish:] Uh-huh. Two weeks aer he was dead go ha. Everyime he come o own, Willie and hem would ge he band and go mee him a he depo, and parade "him all around. Oh, hey was all good riends ogeher you. know-yeah. [Compare Alber Warner, Reel. p. 19] [Alien:] Do you remember by any chance, when Buddy Pei died? 'm rying o remember. Cornish:] don' know, don' know. [Alien:! Buddy Pei was a come player? [ Cornish:] Uh-huh.. ll

18 BELLA CORNSH Reel -reyped January 13, 1969 Jiy i [Alien: ] hink 'he died around ha ime, you knew. Russeils1 Did you know Louis Armsrong when ie was a boy down in ha neighborhood? [Cornish:! Yeah, used o see him, bu 1 didn', you know, know him like hear husband alk abou him so my husband was crazy or him. He was raised ou in he [Wais] Home. [RusseU_:] Yes. [ Cornish :1 Yeah. The lady wlia raised him, sie' s my presiden over me now. [Russell:] Oh, is ha righ? Cornishi1 Uh-huh. And her husband, he died. [ Alieni] Well, wha was her name? r J FCornish:1 Her name, her name [is] Mrs. Jones, She raised him in he Home.. len. Oh yeah. Cornish:] Yeah. And her Tiusband died. [Russell:] Oh, yes, ha was abou a year go, or wo years ago- [ Cornish;] He died- [Russell:1 remember. CCornish:] Yeah" They buried him rom down Uiere on Duraaine and. Dumaine and Claiborne, 'cause we had o urn ou wi him, and carried way back here where hey used o live and hen come all he back. They had he policemens 6n he ricycles. They had so much, much limousine and so many people and all hey had o have he raic cle&n. [Russell:] remember; walked by here ha day. [Cornish:] We were all day long; was so ired when come home couldn' si sraigh-all day. Carried money and brough all he boys ou, you know, and all he maids and everyhing. was sad, hough

19 BELLA. CORNSH 19 Reel --reyped FRussell] He's he one hey called Capain Jones?-- rcornish:] Capain Jones-yeah he died [Alien:} Wha organizaion are you a member'o? i rcornish:] Who? -». \ [Alien:1 You, you collec money or some organizaion, don' you. rcornish] No,,, belong o he Veerans' Sociey. J. [Alien.:] Oh, see FCornisi:] Yeah, belong o he Spanish-American War; belong o he branch wha he was rom, you see-'m in Number 9 Auxiliary, and we urn ou wih he dead. And hen belong o anoher one upown hey call he Relie Corps Number 4; well, we urn ou wih he women hen we urn ou wih soldiers,.oo, i hey wan us-you know, i hey.die-i he amily wan us. We urn ou wih hem. :] And lie women dress a cerain way a unerals? Cornish;] We dress all in whie- yeat-i. [Alien:] And do you?-» rcornish:1 We carry lags [Alien:] Do you carry--do you ever have a parade? [Do] hese organizaions ever?- [Cornish:] No we urn ou jus wih he dead, you know. FAllen:] Jus wih he dead-no parades. \ Cornish:] [ hey have any dead?], yeah, we urn ou wih hem when hey die. [?] FAl'len: 1 Go ahead. rrussell:1 was wondering abou Mr. Cornish--when he, aer he was married did he play any dance jobs?- rcornis'h: ] Oh, yes ha's wha "he ook care o me wih; he played all around. Oh, my God-- iac a big calender on he wall, and everyime you'd see he whie and he colored was coming and he'd pu hem daes

20 BELLA CORNSH Reel --reyped u on here, all hem days-he was always playing., Oh, ha's wha he ook care o me wih. [Russell:1 Jus a small band? No he whol6» big Eureka Band? Jus \. a lile- [Cornish:] No, jus a-no, someime i'd be a. lile small band hey would have-him and John and hem ogeher. Oh, he was always playing. He [was] musical, child; he was crazy or he music [Russell:] Did Tie work a any ocl'ier job?- T [Cornish;] don' know. [Russell:! n ±.he dayime? [Cornish:!.No, no while he was wih me; don' know. [Russell:1 Jus music is all he worked? [Cornish:] Music 'he played. Beore 'he was wih me, he old me he used o play ou, used o wor3< ou here o h?, o le Grain and Elevaor place ou here o l-ie, oh he rlver-you know, ou here on Jackson and somehing, ou ha away Tie used o work, bu-- Willie made good money playing music, you know-- [Russell:] Oh, yes. [Cornish;1 Tha's wha he made money wih? 'm elling you, hey made heir money hen. beleve hem men niade beer money hen han < hey make now, because hey didn' have-now hey go music box; vy i.c_<t1 people give a dance now, hey go ge a music box,4 pu i up in he hall. And he used o down--tie used o play down in Viole [La.] a whole s] lo around aer he was wih me. Ooh, loads o imes lie used o go down here and play--yea'h. Then he used o go around and adverise in. a big rucjc, hey did. Oh, yeah, hey used o play, all righ; ha's wha he suppored me wih, so you know he mus "have made good, eh? [AUemJ Uh-huh.

21 BELLA CORNSH 21 Reel -reyped.. \ [RusseU_:] Yes Cornis1n:1 [uninelligible] (Can' T-iear anyhing here) Allen;1 jus wondered icornish:1 Bu new, uh-uh? hey ain' like ha nonore. [ Alien:1 'm rying o hink o some o he musicians rom his neighborhood-like-did you know "Black Benny" [Williams], by any chance, a bass drum player? Cornish:1 Yeah, -no, didn' knowed, didn' know him all ha good. know "him hrough my husband. He say down on Perdido Sree, r oo; he used o live on Perdido beween Howard [now LaSalle] and Libery, on ha side o he banquee--'cause wen here and looked a him when hey laid him ou. He used o play drum. [Alien:1 Wonder i his amily was aound? guess hey sill [are? around]-- [ Cornish:1 don' know-- [Alien;] We could go ask in he neighborhood. Cornish:1 Yeah. don' know nohing abou where his people say or nohing-no Black Benny, couldn' ell you [AllenjJ Uh-liuh. And "Shos" [Louis Madison] was rom back around here < wasn' he, Bill? [Russell:] Yeah,"Shos"lived a lile bi arher back- [Cornish.;] Well, "Shos" did. know he "has a siser live back on Perdido Sree, bu she done move 'way downo'wn He died; yealn, "Shos" died. [Alien;] Where did Yiis siser live on Perdido and?-- rcornist-l:] She used o live on Perdido back here and, and-somewtneres back o Perdido, way back--bu she moved rom here years ago; moved downown somewheres» [Alien:] Well, we'll ind her, oo.

22 BELLA CORNSH 22 Reel -reyped [Cornish:] Yeah. [Alien:1 We wan o alk o as many amilies-- [Cornish:1 Families as you can. undersand you. Sure, ha's '. he onlies way you can ge i sraigh you see. \.. FAlleml Tha's righ. - [ Cornish:1 Like ha. Dieren ones you go o. rrussell:1 Do you remember Bob Lyons,, who had a lile shoe shine place down on?-- [Cornish:] Oh, Yes know him-a lile shor man, bu'had he grea big bass. [Russell:1 Uh-huh. J [Cornish:] Used o pu i up over here a my house. He died. Old Bob--yeah, he wen down; he sho' could play a bass. Used o play wih Willie. Had ha grea big old hing he [used] o play. Now you don' see ha no more. [Russell:] Yeah. [ Cornish1 Tha old music was he bes. [Alien:] Uh-huh. [Cornish:1 'Cause he' music wha hey playing now ain' nohing bu-- don' know-i's dieren. Don' you ind i dieren? Russell;] hink so. FAlien:1 Oh, yes. [Cornish:] Yeah, everybody say ha. J [Russell!1 Tha's righ. -\ [Cornish:] Oooh, so many people comes and asks me abou my husband; hey had a man come Tere abou hree weeks ago and he say--somebody showed him where live--and he crime and he say "you Cornish' wie? Say, "yeah." He say "well, where is your husband?" He say, "oh, we y miss him so much." [The man] play in a whie join. say my

23 BELLA CORNSH 23 Reel ~~reyped husband is dead." He didn' know wha o say. wlien old him ha. You see, he was well-known amongs whie people, ha's wha i was-- ; he was well-known--he used o play or grea big dances or whie '1 \ people; he used o play or big weddings and everyhing. They'd» come ge him, all righ. Well, he knowed how o play, ha's why; i 1-ie didn' know, hey wouldn' have hired him. FRussell:1 No. \ [ Cornish] Uh-uh. Yeah, he used o make hem men dress so nice; now he men don' dress like ha. And he used o play'a whole lo or, che Zulae bu hey go so liey didn' wan o pay him he price; lie qui playing or l-iem. And when he played or hem, hey had o. dress proper. \ \ FRussell:1 Did hey.wear uniorms? [Cornish:] Yes, indeed; my husband, my husband used o make hem wear a coa, a nice, blace ie, black shoes and [hen?] [a] nice pair o pans and a whie shir, and hey used o be good. Warner can ell you how hey used o dress. Bu now.hey dress any old kind. o way. And in he summerime hey wore a nice whie shir wih a ie, and all go nice. Then my husband used o ell hem, "Now, don' y'all drink when you playing" [and] hey didn' drink, neiher-hey didn' drink. They used o play good. Bu 'cain' like i used o be no more; everyhing is changed. [Alien;1 Did he lead a dance band, hen, [ Cornish:] Huh? [ Alieni] He led his own band? huh? [Cornish:] Yeah, a band he called he Jazz Hounds-somehing- don' know wha i was. And he used o have cha, some kind o sring band; hey used o ge pleny music, oo--used o ge pleny places o play. Maybe 'John could ell you abou ha; you kno.

24 BELlA CORNSH 24 Reel -reyped + [Russell:] Yes, we'll ask him. FCornish:1 Ask John 'cause John remember ha-'cause John played i wih him so mucl-i. Oh yeah, when lived ou [o nine?] he used o send me way here when John lived on Perdido Sree, a nigh and. \ John would ell-willie Tell, he say go back here and ell John [o] be such-and-uch a place omorrow or omorrow nigh. 'd come back here or him. He always had pleny music [jobs], always wih music [Alien;] Tha John is hard o cach, oo; he's a busy man. r Cornish :1 Oh Tohn is a-john's always.gone; he never home And believe he' s working, oo, you know. Alien;1 Oh, yeah, he works unny hours. [Cornishi] Yeah he works ou.oo, you see? my husband always sayed home and hey could cach him. And i hey 'didn', all had o do was jus go-i any wiie people or anybody come aer Willie, all had o do was jus go righ around he corner by Roshack's [spelling?] here on he corner; he'd be righ up in here wih he gang. 'd always ; ind him» all righ. FRussell] Well, ha Roshack'srCornish:1 Yeah, i's, all ha's ore down. FRussell:1 Tha was down on-- rcornish:] Tha was on Perdido. [Russell:] And Franklin, Abou? [Cornish:] Yeah, righ a he corner. All ha ore [down]. FRussell:] Do you how ha name was spelled? never did know ha ha name is--roshack- [Cornis'hs ] Jve called i Roshack's Barroom, hey called i. Russell!] Roshack's Bar. [ Cornish:] Yeah. [Alien:] Who was in ron o ha: "Cook Shop's Son?"

25 BELLA CORNSH 25 Reel -reyped {Russell;1 Oh, yeah, here's a lile cook slnop- [Cornish:] Yeah, yeah, h e cook shop here. [Alien:1 He was a drummer "Cook Shop's Son." \ Russell:1 Yes, he was a drummer-- [Cornish:] He was a drummer. J v [Russell:1 The lady ha ran, her son was a drummer. Wha ever happened o Mr. Cornish's old rombone? Did you save ha or?-» [Cornish:] No, sold i. [RusseU_:] Sold ha [Cornish:] Yeai. He old i. me o sell i; wasn' no.use o me keeping \ [Russell:1 Oh no, here's no need or you-- jus wondered he ever save he old one he used~-oneime ~h.q had one [ha played like a come]. did [Cornish:] No. You know wha he would do when he--know how my husband do? Like i he go a old sliding rombone and he'd keep i abou wo years or somehing like ha, and he'd ge rid o i; he'd send o New York aer anoher one, and he would ake and e-~ FRussell] Trade i in.» [Cornish.;] Yeah, he'd rade i in. And when he died, he one wha he had, he hadn' had i no more ha abou wo years Russellsl [uninelligible]. F Cornish: ] And when "he ell wih he sroke, he broke i, bu we had i ixed, you know--we did. And hen he had him a srap made you know, or--[uninelligible] he go a man o make liim a srap and h'd pu: ha horn, pu ha srap on his shoulder and on his neck, he'd play righ along wih ha good hand. was in him [music?]; i jus was in him, nd he docors old you see--ic was agains him and me he couldn' play no more, r

26 BELLA.CORNSH Reel -reyped 26 r s FRussell:! Yes- \ Cornish:] 'Cause he walked so much-oooh, hey used o walk. seen he ime he used o go in parades and hey'd walk rom round by Roshack's around here, and walk way up here o Louisiana Avenue, hen urn around and come -way down and come ou Dryades and come down Rampar. You know, ha's some walk. Allen:] Uh-huh. rcornish:] And he say i didn' do him nohing and he never did suer wih his ee. He had good'ee, eh? rrussells]» S Uh-huh. [Alien:] [Cornish:] Bu when he was in clne war he done a lo o walking, you see, and guess i come naural o him. Yeah, he done all ha. waking in he war, [he was?] in he war, oo. 'Cause he never was sick; jus all o a sudden ha sroke ook him. Allen;] Well he "had a good age on him when he sroke hi him rcornish:] Yea he [had a?] he was sixy-seven when he died. He had a good age on him. And hen, someimes Tie played so much; r believe he never did ake enough res-no [Alien:] was wondering wlno was lnere wih him ac Julia and Rampar-you said "he was playing here? rcornish:] He was playing in he band wih hem; hey h&d some kind o parade, i was. dis-remembers- FAllen:] Oh, he was playing in a parade? rcornish:] He was playing in a parade when a happened. [Russell:] He was in he Eureka. rcornish:] He was in he Eureka Brass Band hen. [Russell:] Do you know his avorie come player was? Did he ever say who he hough were he bes come players, or who he.r %

27 BELLA. CORNSH 27 Reel -reyped liked? Any close riends o "his lia?- Cornish1 Hs never did say. [AlJ-en: ] He never did say who he hough he bee crombone [player was]? [Cornish;] No,. all o hem-no, he, no [uninelligible] everybody used o give him he praise, you know-he go he praise o everyhing. [Alien:] Yeah. [ Corhish } Warner can ell you ha, Yieh? know Warner old you. FRulsell] Yes-he did- [Cornish:1 Ooh, Warner sho' did cry when ie died; Warner say he'd never ge a parner like him. Well, he Jus naurally knowed Tiow o play, ha's wha. Allen:] Did you know?-- Cornishi] Arid he could lead he band so nice; oaoh, you see him lead he band i was someliing o Look a; he really could lead.. [Aliens] How was ha; did he Sep a special way? [Cornish;) Yeah, he had-~you know, made hem seps-you know hcw hey do in'hem [bands 7]. Oh, Tie really could lead a band-hey give him ha; 'he was good on cha. He had ha down pa--he "had ha down "T ; pa. He used o ickle me; say Lord, you love he horn. " He say, "yeah, love he liorn beer han love you or anybody; my horn comes irs; makes my living wih his horn." a Tnorn, Ooo"h, he 3ho' did love My God--and he minue T'ia horh go so i didn' wna o play-he had wo mouchpieces~-ic didn'c play o sui him, you'd see him, ag&in, well here come anoher one coming. say 1 "wha you doing?" He say, "'m going send and ge Oh, he always kep good--you know. me anoher horn, ha's wha."' And he had all kinds o music; oooii yo2 see he music had. Had his sand where he puc all his music on i, and all. Righ aer he died, everybody was unning aer mei

28 BEYiLA CORNSH 28 Reel --reyped "Mrs. Bella, give me some o i, Mrs. Bella, give me someo i" They waned i, you see. He'd buy everyhing he waned; he was good 4. like ha. s [AjLen.:] And you gave ha?-- [Gprnish:1 give he music and all o dieren ones [who] would come, you know, so many dieren ones [who] would aome. [Alien:1 Who were some o [hem]?. F Cornish:] And 1-ie could ix [arrange] music, oo--you know, he'd ake hem chords and he could, he could ix he noes, you. know, all + on hem chords and all-he could do ha. Where you- guess he learned all ha when he was learninc. [Alien:] Uh- r BELLA CORNSH END OF REEL JANUARY 13, 1959»

29 BELLA CORNSH J. Reel -Smnmary Presens William Russell Richard B. Alien Bella is looking or a phoograph which she had only a ew days ago. is a picure o Willie Cornish and wo lile. \\. boys; Willie had i when she married him. Dieren ones-some o hem are dead now-came and go Willie's music aer he died. People begged her or i; and stie had o move rom where whe was living on Perdido Sree because he house commenced o leak. When she had o move she le a lo o music ge away. Willie never old Bella who his eacher had been, bu she believes he mus have had a eacher o learn he music he knew. He couls read he noes and could make arrangemens. He ixed he cards up 1'iimsel. She describes how paricular he was a- bou he bag lie carried music in: "You ough o see him wih ha hing up on his shoulder...jus as paricular like ha as i he was ixing o go si down and ea a meal. And had o wash ha bag...and keep i clean...and he'd sick all ha down here, and he had a lile hing on he side where he sick he oil or o pu on his liorn. Then T-ie had wo mouhpieces... n he winer - ime had o hea hem on he iri...he would sick hem where hey' d say warm; he'd change he mouhpiece." She made lile bags or he mouhpieces. She couldn' sell he mouhpieces aer he died had o hrow hem away. Even hough he paid exra or hem; hey were good mouhpieces, "He paid our and a hal or hem, someimes more...and he horn cos pleny o money oo; don' you hink he didn' pay pleny or his horn." Willie Cornish used o go over o Biloxi Mississippi o play in big parades or he Odd Fellows, he Pariarchs, ec. This was beore he knew Bella. Aer Willie and Bella were married Bella's siser go acquained wih Wiiiie he siser used o

30 BELLA CORNSH 2 Reel X-Summary ix dinner or all o he men who wen over or he parades. [All he Pariarchs or Odd Fellows, or jus he bandsmen?] Dr. Leonard Beche had a picure o Wilie and his band- 1 Willie sanding up here wih his slide. Buddy Bolden, all o hem-i was her picure [she had len o Dr. Beche?] bu she didn' ge i back. She wen down o Dr. Beche's and huned and huned bu hey couldn' ind i. Dr. Beche's was in he 1400 block o S. Bernard [Avenue] bu when she wen down he wasn' here any longer. She did no know he had died unil WR old her.