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* Dec 24, 1879 New Orleans, La (according to Bunk himself)
* Dec 27, 1889 New Orleans, La
† Jul 7, 1949 New Iberia, La
As a brass band musician he played with:
Bunk Johnson,
Excelsior,
Henry Allen,
Indiana,
Melrose,
Olympia,
Pacific Brass Band
Bunk was born as William Geary Johnson Dec 27, 1889 and not on Dec 24, 1879 as
he told everybody. Bunk told the year 1879 to the autors of "Jazzmen" and
so it lived on, until Don Marquis and Lawrence Gushee concluded in 1980s that he
was born ten years later.
His first job was with Adam Oliver's Orchestra in 1894. From 1914 on, he played
outside of New Orleans, mainly in Mandeville and Baton Rouge. Toured with tent
shows in the early 20's. he was rediscovered mainly through the efforts of Bill
Russell.16
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