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14.) Walter "Fats" Pichon's Band on the S.S. Capitol
(circa 1939):
The last New Orleans band to offer regular excursion services for
the Streckfus Line was led by pianist, singer, and arranger Walter
"Fats" Pichon, a musician who studied at the New England Conservatory
and worked aboard the S.S. Island Queen with Sidney Desvigne.
After time in New York with Luis Russell and Henry "Red" Allen, he
returned to his hometown of New Orleans and concentrated on
developing a band of his own. By the late 1930's his S.S. Capitol
orchestra was attracting some of the hottest young talents in the
city. Pictured (in ties), from left to right, are Pichon, trombonist
Irving Douroux, banjoist Sam Casimir, unidentified, trumpeters
Clarence "Perch" Thornton and Jack Lamont, saxophonists Harry Lang,
Manuel Crusto, and Willie Casimir, and trombonist Ray Brown, along
with other members of the ship's staff. Joining the band later was
trumpeter Dave Bartholomew, who took over its leadership after Pichon
retired from active Streckfus service in 1946. Bartholomew did not
stay on the riverboats for long--within a year he left the
Capitol and began a residency at the Dew Drop Inn. In 1950 he
became musical director for Fats Domino and went on to a stellar
career in rhythm and blues and rock and roll.
Photograph from the Hogan Jazz Archive, Tulane University
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