Topic: Jaybird Coleman life - as told by brother Joe

[Bunker Hill]

I have now located my copy of Cather's 1999, self published pamphlet Tracking Down a Legend: The "Jaybird" Coleman Story. Much of it is essentially what he wrote in 1962 but how he ends this new piece of writing I found interesting:

"Early in 1950, Jaybird became ill. His brother took him to the Negro ward of a local hospital, but the singer died before he was even admitted. I inferred at the time that Joe did not particularly want to talk about his brother's death. He did tell me that Jaybird was buried in Bessemer's Lincoln Memorial Gardens with a veteran's tombstone. Sometime after my visit with Joe, I was able to find the grave and photograph it. Joe's delightful wife, Lizzie, owned the only known photograph of "Jaybird" taken at Ft. McClellan during the First World War. I purchased the rights to the photograph from her and printed it as part of a copyrighted story in the September 1962 issue of Music Memories. When I reread the article to prepare this booklet, I was privately embarrassed at how bad the writing was (and, in one or two places, how the article bordered on the patronization which passed for racial "moderation" in 1962 Birmingham). But I was just a fresh-faced kid.

That was twenty-eight years ago. There was no archives department at the local library; there was no Birmingham or Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame; there was no Alabama Music Hall of Fame Museum in the Tri-Cities. Just a kid, tracking down a legend. And trying to build a bridge between black and white."

[Bunker Hill]

Given that it's Jaybird's birthday today thought I'd give this a bump for all those who may not have been members back in 2006. Well done Pat Cather for locating the brother.

[iantonionni]

Thanks, well worth the bump!

[frailer24]

^ I second that!

[thickpete]

I found that fascinating - thanks very much. I'm also very interested in additional info on the white power structure/KKK and Southern organized crime as it intersected with the Black entertainment/vice worlds from the 1890s-1960s. Reading of the wayward soldier at Fort McClellan had me wondering if that base had its own accompanying sin city like Fort Benning farther North had the legendary Phenix City. Always interested in anything on this subject - thanks!

[Bunker Hill]

Thanks, well worth the bump!

Pleased it was of interest.

In my formative years here (2005-2009) I posted a goodly number of arcane items such as this, having been originally scanned for folk researching articles, books etc. With more and more items finding their way on to the web, such postings became increasingly redundant.

Once in a while there's been a need of such -  the three part Little Hat Jones back in March.

[jostber]

Thanks, a great article! Anyone has a link to this photo, it seems like it has disappeared?

[jostber]

Vintage harmonica:

http://vintage-harmonica.blogspot.no/2010/06/jaybird-coleman.html

Swampland:Billy C Farlow Talks about Jaybird Coleman and the Blues Harp

http://swampland.com/articles/view/title:billy_c_farlow_talks_about_jaybird_coleman_and_the_blues_harp

[btasoundsradio]

Repost from many moons ago, stolen from 78 Quarterly.

[jostber]

Thanks for reposting the photo. This place is named in tribute of Jaybird:

Collaborators behind The Jaybird seek to ?bring people together? - ironcity.ink

http://ironcity.ink/neck-of-the-woods/crestwood/collaborators-behind-the-jaybird-seek-to-?bring-people-toget/

[mtzionmemorialfund]

Coleman was a very popular musician around Birmingham and Bessemer, Alabama. His recording career, by comparison, was perhaps a modest success. In 1950, the military veteran passed and his grave received a marker from the federal government. Some years back it became dislodged from the burial site and forgotten in an abandoned section of Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Bessemer, Alabama. We plan to remedy the situation this summer. To support our effort, please visit: www.mtzionmemorialfund.org

Produced by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund
www.mtzionmemorialfund.org


Photos and Film: Brett Bonner