TRANSCRIPT:
Hi, I am Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Charles Buddy Bolden or “King” Bolden was born in 1877 and left an indelible mark on the world of Jazz before passing in 1931. This incredible African-American musician played a pivotal role in shaping the New Orleans style of ragtime music, affectionately referred to as "jass," which later evolved into jazz.
At the height of his fame from around 1900 to 1907, Bolden’s band captivated audiences with its powerful sound and remarkable improvisational talents. He pioneered a more liberated interpretation of ragtime infused with blues and was one of the first to feature brass instruments playing the blues.
Widely regarded as the father of jazz, it’s unfortunate there are no recordings of his recordings of King Bolden and his legendary band. Nevertheless, his contributions resonate within the music today.
This has been Rapp On Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible in part by Layman Poupard Publishers, producers of the Literary Criticism Series and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.