Oral History and Research Materials:  Leon Smith

        This is the table of contents for the interview of Leon Smith.  It is part of the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive which is located in

        Lovejoy Library at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

        For a complete contents list of all musician interviews for the oral history project, please click on this link:  Oral History and Research Materials.

        If interested in reviewing these materials from the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive, please contact Therese Dickman, Fine Arts Librarian.

                        Tape #   Side                   Running Time on Tape                   Subject

                                  1  a                                       005-085                             Parents, early musical background, parents' music

                                  1  a                                       086-119                             Father's death, sister and brother

                                  1  a                                       120-176                             Change from fiddle to trumpet, lessons, St. Louis and San

                                                                                                                         Francisco

                                  1  a                                       177-187                             Influence of other musicians

                                  1  a                                       188-210                             Tony and His Six Sharps, first real band job

                                  1  a                                       211-230                             Golden Gate Theater, CIO Union Hall ham sessions

                                  1  a                                       231-260                             Revival of Bunk Johnson

                                  1  a                                       261-295                             Influence of CIO Union Hall on his music

                                  1  a                                       296-3316                            Job at Clear Lake, daytime jobs

                                  1  a                                       317-394                             Leaves Clear Lake, returns to San Francisco, welding job

                                  1  a                                       395-430                             Goes east - St. Louis, Paducah, Kentucky

                                  1  a                                       431-449                             Odd jobs, washing dishes, waiting table, welding

                                  1  a                                       450-496                             Job at Johnny's Seven Mile House

                                  1  a                                       497-593                             Wedge Night Club job, hours, pay, meets future wife

                                  1  a                                       594-615                             Amateur show at wedge, leaves to go to Florida

                                  1  a                                       616-644                             Fight and trouble at the Wedge

                                  1  a                                       645-655                             Study of music

                                  1  a                                       656-704                             Florida, Fort Meyers, Naples

                                  1  a                                       705-724                             Return to St. Louis, purchase taxi cab

                                  1  a                                       725-731                             St. Louis University, jobs around St. Louis

                                  1  b                                       004-197                             Pictures of bands and musicians

                                  1  b                                       198-216                             Return to St. Louis

                                  1  b                                       217-326                             Lack of jobs through union, odd jobs

                                  1  b                                       327-346                             Best playing, Al Davis Silver Log Cabin, most fun, no

                                                                                                                         responsibilities; Best money, Wedge Night Club

                                  1  b                                       347-368                             Sell cab, moves to Grafton

                                  1  b                                       369-392                             East - side musicians unions

                                  1  b                                       393-444                             Current music activities, other jobs

                                  1  b                                       445-459                             Interviewer explains oral history project

E-mail comments and inquiries about the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive to Therese Dickman at tdickma@siue.edu or call 618-650-2695.

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Library and Information Services
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Updated by Kristin Walker
May 2005