Louis 'Lou' Black
Encyclopedia
Louis Thomas 'Lou' Black (June 8, 1901 – November 18, 1965) was one of the foremost banjo
players of the Jazz Era.
Born in Rock Island
, Illinois
, he began playing banjo
during early childhood and became professional in 1917.
In 1921, he joined the famous New Orleans Rhythm Kings
at Friar's Inn
in Chicago. With this band, he participated to the first-ever interracial recording session with pianist Jelly Roll Morton
.
He left the band in 1923 to play with other bands. From 1925 until 1931, he was a staff musician for radio station WHO in Des Moines, Iowa
.
He left music in early 1930s, but began playing again in 1961. He sat in with several bands during a brief stay in New York
, then played gigs in Moline, Illinois
from the fall of 1963.
While recovering in a Rock Island hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident
, he suffered a fatal heart attack
.
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
players of the Jazz Era.
Born in Rock Island
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, he began playing banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
during early childhood and became professional in 1917.
In 1921, he joined the famous New Orleans Rhythm Kings
New Orleans Rhythm Kings
The New Orleans Rhythm Kings were one of the most influential jazz bands of the early-to-mid 1920s. The band was a combination of New Orleans and Chicago musicians who helped shape Chicago Jazz and influenced many younger jazz musicians....
at Friar's Inn
Friar's Inn
Friar's Inn was a nightclub and speakeasy in Chicago, Illinois, a famed jazz music venue in the 1920s.Though some sources refer to it casually as "Friar's Club", it was not related to the Friars Club of New York....
in Chicago. With this band, he participated to the first-ever interracial recording session with pianist Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
.
He left the band in 1923 to play with other bands. From 1925 until 1931, he was a staff musician for radio station WHO in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
.
He left music in early 1930s, but began playing again in 1961. He sat in with several bands during a brief stay in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, then played gigs in Moline, Illinois
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
from the fall of 1963.
While recovering in a Rock Island hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
, he suffered a fatal heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
Further reading
- Eugene ChadbourneEugene ChadbourneEugene Chadbourne is an American improvisor, guitarist and banjoist. Highly eclectic and unconventional, Chadbourne's most formative influence is free jazz. He has also been a reviewer for Allmusic and a contributor to Maximum RocknRoll.Chadbourne started out playing rock and roll guitar, but...
, [ Lou Black] at Allmusic