Doc Souchon
Encyclopedia
Edmond "Doc" Souchon was an American jazz
guitarist and writer on music. He was a pivotal figure in the historical preservation of New Orleans jazz
in the middle of the twentieth century.
Souchon received schooling to become a physician
in Chicago
, though he was playing regularly in groups such as the Six and Seven Eighths Band in the 1910s. He helped oversee a reconstitution of this band in 1945 as a four-piece, and made many recordings of early string band tunes through the early 1960s. Alongside this, Souchon recorded with many noted New Orleans jazz
mainstays, such as Johnny Wiggs
, Sherwood Mangiapane, Papa Jack Laine
, Raymond Burke
, and Paul Barbarin
.
Souchon was involved early on in the management of the New Orleans Jazz Club, and served as president of the organization early in its existence. He had his own radio program on WWL, and edited the journal Second Line from 1951 until his death in 1968. Aside from his contributions to jazz journals such as Jazz and Jazz Report, Souchon compiled a photo book with Al Rose entitled New Orleans Jazz: A Family Album, first published in 1967 and subsequently revised in 1978 and 1984. He helped establish the National Jazz Foundation in 1942, as well as the New Orleans Jazz Museum
about a decade later. His record collection, which included some 2,000 recordings of New Orleans jazz, was bequeathed to the New Orleans Public Library
, and many other music-related materials he collected are now in the possession of the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive, located at Tulane University
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
guitarist and writer on music. He was a pivotal figure in the historical preservation of New Orleans jazz
New Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
in the middle of the twentieth century.
Souchon received schooling to become a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, though he was playing regularly in groups such as the Six and Seven Eighths Band in the 1910s. He helped oversee a reconstitution of this band in 1945 as a four-piece, and made many recordings of early string band tunes through the early 1960s. Alongside this, Souchon recorded with many noted New Orleans jazz
New Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
mainstays, such as Johnny Wiggs
Johnny Wiggs
Johnny Wiggs was a jazz musician and band leader.Born John Wigginton Hyman on in New Orleans, Louisiana, he started his music career on the violin. He soon adopted the cornet and moved to New York for some time before returning to New Orleans...
, Sherwood Mangiapane, Papa Jack Laine
Papa Jack Laine
George Vital "Papa Jack" Laine was a pioneering band leader in New Orleans in the years from the Spanish-American War to World War I....
, Raymond Burke
Raymond Burke (clarinetist)
Raymond Burke was a U.S. jazz clarinetist.Burke was born as Raymond Barrios in New Orleans, Louisiana. He seldom left the city limits, as he disliked traveling...
, and Paul Barbarin
Paul Barbarin
Adolphe Paul Barbarin was a New Orleans jazz drummer, usually regarded as one of the very best of the pre-Big Band era jazz drummers...
.
Souchon was involved early on in the management of the New Orleans Jazz Club, and served as president of the organization early in its existence. He had his own radio program on WWL, and edited the journal Second Line from 1951 until his death in 1968. Aside from his contributions to jazz journals such as Jazz and Jazz Report, Souchon compiled a photo book with Al Rose entitled New Orleans Jazz: A Family Album, first published in 1967 and subsequently revised in 1978 and 1984. He helped establish the National Jazz Foundation in 1942, as well as the New Orleans Jazz Museum
New Orleans Jazz Museum
The New Orleans Jazz Museum was a museum related to the history of New Orleans jazz. Originally a separate museum, the collection is now in the Louisiana State Museum Jazz Collection....
about a decade later. His record collection, which included some 2,000 recordings of New Orleans jazz, was bequeathed to the New Orleans Public Library
New Orleans Public Library
The New Orleans Public Library is the public library service of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-History:The system began in 1896 as the Fisk Free and Public Library in a building on Lafayette Square...
, and many other music-related materials he collected are now in the possession of the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive, located at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
.