[Dixielandjazz] Doc Souchon

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SOUCHON, Edmund "Doc"                    Banjo; guitar
1897; Oct 25: New Orleans                    1968, Aug 24
A New Orleans obstetrician and musician. In his teens he helped to organise 
the Six and 7/8 String Band, a band that enjoyed considerable popularity 
between 1910 and the early 20s. He was a founder of the New Orleans Jazz Museum and 
was editor of its associated magazine The Second Line, from 1951. Also 
involved in running the New Orleans Jazz Club. Co-author with Al Rose of New Orleans 
Jazz - A Family Album. Much recorded, and has been on record with many New 
Orleans jazzmen (including Paul Barbarin in the early 50s, and Ken Colyer in 
1953). Provided free medical care for those too poor to afford the services of a 
doctor. A Marie Souchon is listed on piano and vocals among the collective 
personnel for the Six and 7/8 String Band: his wife or daughter perhaps? John 
Parker, a banjo and guitar player, is Doc's grandson, and plays with bassist Tom 
Saunders' Southern Syncopators and in 2003 was with Clive Wilson. A picture of 
Ken Colyer with Johnny Wiggs and "Dr. Strange" in When Dreams Are In The Dust, 
was thought to be really Doc Souchon until Mina Lea Crais pointed out in the 
KCT Newsletter, June 1999, that there really was a Dr. Jack Strange, a 
prominent member of the New Orleans Jazz Club in the 1950s.   Doc Souchon and his 
brother, Harry Souchon, used the pen names respectively of "R.A.Tuig" and 
"O.J.Nab". He died suddenly of an aneurysm at a family party whilst playing his 
guitar and singing his favourite song "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home" - 
naturally. His death ended publication of The Second Line for a time.

Brian Wood