A figure whose historical importance far outweighs his actual musical worth, Johnson to this day remains a rallying point for all that is backward-looking in the traditional jazz music scene. Johnson was a New Orleans jazz trumpet player in the early years of the 20th century who enjoyed a revived career in the 1940s. He was regarded as one of the top trumpeters in New Orleans in the years 1905 -1915, in between repeatedly leaving the city to tour with Minstrel shows and Circus bands. In 1931 he lost his trumpet and front teeth during a fight at a dance in Rayne, Louisiana, which put an end to his playing. In 1938 and 1939 the researchers of the first book of jazz history, Jazzmen, interviewed several musicians of the time, among them Louis Armstrong and Clarence Williams, who spoke very highly of Bunk in the old days in New Orleans. The writers tracked down Bunk's address, a collection was taken up by writers and musicians, and Bunk was fitted with a set of dentures and given a new trumpet, and in 1942 made his first recordings. His work in the 1940s show why he was well regarded by his fellow musicians. Jazz fans and historians still debate his legacy, and the extent to which his reminiscences of his early career are accurate or exaggerated. Vintage glossy 4.75 x 7 full-length photo, signed and inscribed in black ink “To Lorraine from Bunk Johnson.” Autograph material by Johnson is extremely uncommon, and this penetrating candid portrait, which in all likelihood is unpublished, is all the more exceptional. In very good condition, with scattered creasing, largely in the borders due to mounting residue on the reverse, scattered faint surface impressions, image a bit faded. R&R COA.
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