[Dixielandjazz] Lester Bouchon

[Don Ingle]

Les Bouchon also was a good bass sax player as well. He and Santo Percora
and several other white N.O. players came to work in Chicago and worked in a
band at the Merry Gardens Ballroom in 1929 which my dad fronted for the
booker.
Met Les several times. He later ended in Houston where he owned a motel. I
believe he passed there as well...at least that's what we heard.
Incidentally, at the Merry Gardens they played Marathon dances, and a young
man would come up to ask if he could sing with the band during the ten
minute break the contestants got. The band said sure, and the kid showed up
every week on contest night just to get a chance to sing with the band. His
name, later professionally -- Frankie Laine.
Ah, the memories flow..for now. Oldtimer's has not set in quite yet.
Don Ingle

----- Original Message -----
From: <JimDBB@aol.com>
To: <dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Overlooked or out of mind clarinetist


> In a message dated 7/23/02 9:28:29 PM Central Daylight Time,
> barbonestreet@earthlink.net writes:
>
>
> > Don & List Mates:
> >
> > Two come to my mind. First Sal Pace, a fixture at Nick's in NYC in the
> > 50s. Wonderful man, solid player. The other is Hank D'Amico, a neighbor
> > and early influence on me. He was with Red Norvo and Mildred Bailey in
> > the 30s. In the 50s, he was a studio muso in NYC and did some free lance
> > jazz work around the NY Metropolitan area. Wonderful tone, and a
> > non-Goodman mind of his own on solos.
>
>    Here are some great clarinetists that should not be overlooked or
> forgotten.
>
>    Phil OIivella...active in New York, most notably with Phil Napoleon.
One
> of the
>    best solo and ensemble clarinetists ever.
>
>    Tony Costa...active in New Orleans with Tony Almerico and others.
> wonderful.
>
>    Lester Bouchon...active in New Orleans, most notably with sharkey
Bonano
> and
>    is on many of his capitol recordings.  A wonderful and unique style.
>
>    Boojie Centobie...active in New Orleans with Sharkey, George Girard and
> others
>    great clarinetist.
>
>    Bill Napier...active many years in frisco and on many of Bob Scobey's
> great
>    great recordings.  Bill is still active there.
>
>    Jim Beebe
>