I was born and raised in the 6th Ward, which is called Trem�� these days but these days I live near the Fairgrounds. My father was in the Eureka Brass Band and was very good friends with bot the Humphrey brothers—Willie and Percy. They had all played in different bands together as well as at Preservation Hall; he got around as he was playing the bass drum behind a lot of people. As a member of the union too, he, literally, knew everyone. My mother, though, she was just a housewife, taking care of us kids—12 of us altogether—and was not really involved with the music end of things going on. Of course, she heard the music when it was around the house and did not mind it all. Looking at us all from the outside, looking in, she had absolutely no problem with me following in my daddy's footsteps to be a musician. She appreciated the culture of the Mardi Gras Indians, the social and pleasure clubs with all the parades and the music culture of New Orleans in general. We were good kids, all of us going to school, and respecting our elders and she had no problem with us going out to play music. Of course, all sorts of musicians were always passing through our house and with all us kids, it must have been real work to keep it together. But she managed and we got along well.

I always watched my father and all the band members he played with going out on the street to watch the parades too, so I never needed to take real lessons. I watched how they played and listened hard, and would go home, take out some pots and pans and start beating on them with sticks, trying to copy what I thought I had seen and heard.

Lots of good drummers came out of the Craig Elementary School, including Smokey Johnson and Lionel Batiste among others. Of course, at that time too, Mr. James Black and other good drummers lived in the same neighborhood, playing all the time. I'd go around to hear them; I paid close attention to everything. James Black was one of the very best jazz drummers to ever come out of New Orleans. Everyone knew him; he was a real professional drummer and could play with any band. He was a great, great drummer. He had some problems on the side, but always returned to the music. In those days, he played other instruments too, including piano and trumpet.

There's been some ups and downs with music venues in Trem�� over the years. When the pandemic hit, a lot of places had to shut down and some never reopened. But The Trem�� Brass Band continues to play at the Candlelight. It has had its problems too when the woman who was running it passed away but it's now open again though business is not as good as it once was. I guess times have changed?

The musician's union is still functioning though, and I'm still active in it. It is good to be a part of the union, as, sometimes, big celebrities book gigs in town and want local musicians to come and back them up. Normally, they would get in touch with the union for help with that. Afterwards, members go and play with them, assured of being paid well enough too. So it is good to be in the union. The dues are only $32 for a year, so it is not like it is a burden or hardship for anyone to remain a member. I have a gold card though, so my dues are only $112 for a full year! I'm not sure of how many musicians are members now, but