bunkjohnson

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunk_Johnson After first recording in New Orleans, Bunk and his New Orleans band got positive attention and made some more fine recordings in New York City. However Bunk was unreliable, sometimes showing up drunk or not at all. After returning to New Orleans, his sidemen George Lewis and Jim Robinson blamed Bunk's lack of professionalism for spoiling their chance to make it into the "big time" up north. After Bunk's death they got another chance, and the band under leadership of clarinetist George Lewis became a very successful jazz group in the 1950s. Bunk is shown with Maude Balque, generally known as Maude Johnson, although they were not actually legally married until 1949, less than 6 months before Bunk's death.

Trumpeter Bunk Johnson at left; guitarist/composer/blues singer Leadbelly at right. Clarinetist George Lewis seen sitting at bottom left; string bass player Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau in background behind Leadbelly's microphone. This is the band of New Orleans musicians assembled by Bunk and Bill Russell in New Orleans when Bunk came out of retirement and which he later took up to New York City, with Leadbelly added.

Thanks, Infrogmation! It's helpful to know who's who in the photo, so I added notes to this. Feel free to help us add notes to other photos in the set!