4
LIBRETTO cont'd
Then came Shreveport, and another hotel job with Peck Kelly....That's where I met Snoozer...."
Snoozer Quinn. Johnny told me about Snoozer and his guitar, and it is another entire story. Thinking of his dead friend, Johnny grew more quiet. Talking stopped. The room seemed
colder -- I lit a cigarette and suddenly the door flew open and a young, round faced boy stood there, bursting with
information! I could hear the sounds of traffic, and Armstrong's horn, and the cash register, and many voices. Johnny's voice....
"...played with various bands...Tony Parenti, Ellis Stratigus... Jung Roof,
dances...I recorded for Victor back in '25; under my real name. "John Hyman's Bayou Stompers". Also recorded, with Tony Parenti, for Columbia...with Stratigus for
Vocalion...I taught music privately and also for Music Department of the School Board.... fifteen years. I've been teaching mechanical Drawing at a local high school for the past five
years -- that's why I play music under my adopted name, Wiggs....married in
1927...we have two daughters..."
More people drifted in. It was getting darker outside, and I had to leave. I wanted to hear about his vaudeville days, about
Bix...Johnny is a walking encyclopedia on Bix Beiderbecke! Somebody has said that
"...Wiggs loves these three: God, his country, and Bix. Mainly
Bix..." I know that he hates prejudice, red-tape, and Bop! I've seen his
eyes flash with scorn, his usual mildness melt before his wrathful indignation but these are rare moments.
Driving home, I remembered that nothing had been said about the Jazz Club. Two years ago he started the ball rolling, had resigned
after serving as President for a short time only because his doctor
insisted. Typically, not once did he step forward with advice, but never has he failed us when we turn to him. It was, and is,
comforting to know that Johnny is there, backing us up...sitting in at the Jam
Sessions, cutting records once in a while under the NEW ORLEANS label...still
teaching...still remembering Snoozer and Bix ...still bursting with ideas...and still dreaming....
I decided that one of these days I was going to pin Johnny Wiggs down and get him to
tell me about himself, about the musicians he knew, the places he's been.
The man might become a legend, and his story is important. Someday I'm going to write
it. Someday.
Penny Whistle.
Confidentially, we're babes in the woods when it comes to editing or publishing ANY, kind of Bulletin, much less one without a
name! That problem will be solved after the next Meeting when the Active Members submit names and the Board of Directors selects one. We would like to know your reaction to the current
issue. By all means, be frank! Don't pull any punches. We welcome all sincere suggestions and criticisms.
And if YOU have an article tucked away that you think would be, of national interest dig it up...send it in...The Treasurer keeps muttering hoarsely:
"We can't pay a dime! TELL 'em we CAN'T pay for a single
line!" Well, now you know.