King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Richmond, IN and the KKK
My recent post on Louis Armstrong’s first recorded solo included a side note. It mentioned the recording occurred April 5, 1923, in Richmond, IN, where the 20th century version of the KKK had essentially taken control of state and local governments. Not the most prudent trip for an all black Chicago jazz band.
But there’s more to this story. Exactly 6 months later the band returned to Richmond on October 5 for their second recording session. Like before, they arrived by train and weren’t allowed to stay in Richmond which was a Klan stronghold. The found rooms in Goose Town, the black enclave just a few miles from the Gennett recording studio.
Thru a bad coincidence that day, Richmond was holding a gigantic KKK parade October 5, attended by over 35,000 people. Worse, it occurred just a few blocks from the Gennett Record studio. King Oliver and his Creole Jazz Band, waxing groundbreaking American art form music, faced a life threatening dilemma…record or bail out before the nearby Klan parade. King hustled his crew into the studio, laid down 8 tunes still revered a century on, then skedaddled his musicians to the train depot for a hasty exit ahead of the Klan parade started.
Great art is a challenge under perfect conditions. But upon hearing ‘Workingman’s Blues’ or Krooked Blues’, one can ponder the fear that motivated the King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band to get it right on the first take.
posted by Walt Zlotow at 8:34 AM
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