The Pickwick Brass Band performed from the late 1873 until the 1890s and then restarted from about 1898 until 1901. The band was formed in Algiers4,p159
After 1901 there was again a Pickwick Brass Band, because Abby Foster speaks about Henry Allen and Henry "Red" Allen were playing in the Pickwick.

There was an other Pickwick Brass Band that came from La Place, St. John Parish, up river from New Orleans.
"Kid" Thomas Valentine (1910 - ) and his father Peter Ferdinand Valentine played in this band. James B Humphrey was the teacher of the band and Ferdinand "Pete" Valentine the bandmaster.i1,2
According to Harrison Barnes one of the success numbers was called Hiawatha (also known as Lizard on a rail).2

From this musicians it's known that they played in the Brass Band:

James Love, father of Charlie Love, played in the band but on which instrument?

1873:
First appearance in Algiers

1879, September 29:
The band paraded when the officers elected for the 3rd Ward Central Republican Club were formally installed.4,p159

1881, May 10:
The Louisianian (a weekly newspaper) described plans for the 1881 Odd Fellows Parade and talked about the Pickwick Brass Band, being one of the city's "two champion brass bands". The other brass band was the Excelsior.
The event took place on the 10th of May.2 / 4,p167/5,p16

1881, May 30:
The band played on the grand picnic given by the "Jeunes Amis Association" at Magnolia Gardens. This society De Bienfaisence et d'Assistance Mutuelle was composed almost exclusively of downtown Bon Tons, and was said to be one of the finest organizations in the city. This contains that the Pickwick Brass Band had to be at the moment one of New Orleans leading brass bands.4,p167

1881, August 27: (Louisianian)
The Louisianian reports that the band celebrated their eighth anniversary by a complimentary concert and dance in the Pavilion over the Rhineat at Spanish Fort from 4 o'clock p.m. until 11p.m.4,p169

1881, September 26 Monday: (Louisianian)
The band played on the occasion of the funeral ceremonies in honor of James Abram Garfield, late president of the United States. This took place in New Orleans. http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofproceed00newo2/historyofproceed00newo2_djvu.txt 

1881, October 1: (Louisianian)
On this Saturday a promenade concert and ball was given by the band, for the benefit of their relief fond

1882, February 7:
The band was engaged to the second anniversary of the Young and True Friends B.A. (of the Third Ward). This sterling organisation paraded their principle thoroughfaresduring the day.4,p174

1887, May 14:
The Weekly Pelican described a playing at a picnic at the Fairgrounds in the Great Hall.2

Kid Thomas' career began in 1910 at the age of 14 when he played professionally with the Pickwick Brass Band.i2

Published in the Jazzgazette of January 2003.  

"My name is Peter Ferdinand Valentine and I was born in Reserve, Louisiana. I don't know my birth day. I joined the Pickwick brass band of Reserve, after Jim Humphrey had taught the members. They were all from around Reserve. Edward Hall was our clarinet player. Dejan Alexander taught the band most of what they knew, after the professor had organised it. Dejan was the best trumpet player around the area then. He was good by ear and by music. I played violin. In some parades I played trumpet. In fact I could play some on all instruments, except sax. In the old days, the brass band played for some church affairs and also in the halls. We were hired by various societies, such as the Friends of Hope, the Isrealite, and the Veterans. We were paid very little, sometimes as little as nothing, for playing. The brass bands were used for brass band music, and the string bands played for dancing, quadrilles, mazurkas, waltzes, etc. In the string bands you had bass violin, violin, clarinet, guitar, trumpet and trombone. Drums were not used. A lot of New Orleans bands played in Reserve in the old days. John Robichaux was often there." (Pete Valentine).

Sources books:
2 Fallen Heroes by Richard H. Knowles
3 New Orleans Style by Bill Russell
4 New Orleans Jazz: a revised history by R. Collins
5 In search of Buddy Bolden by Donald Marquis

Sources (internet):
i1 http://web.telia.com/~u41602980/biosv-z.htm
i2 http://www.thejukejoint.com/kidthombanlp.html 
i3 http://musictech.uncg.edu/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/thacker-dissertation.pdf

If you have supplementary information about this song, please let us know.

Free Web Counter