[78-L] Gennett Records

[Geoffrey Wheeler]

I can empathize with Al Simmons: It’s frustrating to misplace a tape 
you know you have. That particular one has made the collector rounds on 
five continents and god knows what generation it’s in now. I hear two 
original copies were made. One went to Jean Goldkette’s housekeeper, 
Madeline; the second was buried as part of the foundation of the new 
Greystone Bus Building in 1933. Greystone buses were the first in the 
nation to be completely audioized, with personal headsets for every 
passenger. As for Buddy Bolden, the best evidence of what he may have 
sounded like is the recording by Jack Purvis on American Odeon, 
“Copyin’ Buddy.” My belief is that Bolden did not record himself 
playing trumpet but reciting the Lord’s Prayer. I also believe this 
inspired Jelly Roll Morton to write the tune “I Thought I heard Buddy 
Bolden Say.” The fact Jelly Roll used “I thought” is indicative that he 
was hard of hearing.
Geoffrey Wheeler