[Dixielandjazz] Arvell Shaw Obit

[Stephen Barbone]

I think what Arvell was really saying was that Louis did not correct people
who called him Looie. But that it was mostly white people who used Looie.
E.G. Ed Sullivan and others. I was introduced to Armstrong and Shaw by Alec
Templeton (blind classical piano player) in the 50s.

I said "Im glad to meet you Looie, er, Mr Armstrong." Armstrong smiled and
said hello. Arvell Shaw drew me aside later and said something like "Don't
call him Looie or Mr. Armstrong. Call him Satch, Pops or Louis (Lewis) but
never Looie. I guess perhaps Shaw felt a young wannabe jazz player, trying
hard to be hip, should be taught to use the name's Louis (Lewis)
preferred.  In later years (1963?) on "Hello Dolly", Satch made it pretty
clear to the world that he pronounced his first name as Louis (Lewis).
"Hello Dolly, this is Louis (Lewis) Dolly".

It's funny how guys in a band might use a wrong name, or spelling for years
and never get corrected. For 3 years I misspelled Mac McClaeb's name on
checks and emails as McCleab.  He never corrected my. Finally, another band
member did, but only after 3 years. And for 8 years, one of our band
members mispronounced and misspelled our bass player's name. Never a word
from anybody, just a lot of laughter. That also happened to Bechet whose
name was, at various times and places, pronounced as BeSHAY, BASH shay, and
then when he got to France as BeSHET. (hard "T" on end like in Chet)

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

Rebecca Thompson wrote:

> That is funny he would say that... Not doubting what Arvell said.  BUT
> when I talked with Peanuts Hucko and his wife Louise, they both said
> Looie was one of the many names they used.    Most often, however was
> Pops or Satch.  You would think that since Peanuts played in the All
> Star group, he would have been told what name not to use.
>
> Sorry to hear about Arvell's passing.  We met him in New Orleans in 2001
> and he was such a gracious person.
>
> Rebecca
>
> Original Message from Steve Barbone

> Sad news. Arvell Shaw was the guy who when I met Armstrong in the mid
> 1950s, gently told me not to call him Looie. (after I had just done so)
> He said something like, you can all him Pops, or Satch, or Louis (Lewis)
> but don't call him Looie. Only those who don't know him call him that.