Settled 1719, Algiers Point is New Orleans’ second oldest neighborhood and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Walk the quiet streets of this 19th century village and discover the "Secret Jewel of New Orleans" Suggested Route (approx. 2 miles)  Researched and written by Judi ROBERTSON and Kevin HERRIDGE.

The "Jazz Walk of Fame" tour is downloadable to cell phones or printable in a PDF brochure from the National Park Service. The phone number is (504) 613-4062. 

THIS SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR INCLUDES former homes of Algiers’ Jazz musicians, the venues they played in, the Robert E. Nims Jazz Walk of Fame, the best view of New Orleans skyline

BACKGROUND
Jazz musicians of the 1920s referred to Algiers as "over da river" or the "Brooklyn of the South," the latter for its proximity to New Orleans as compared to New York and Brooklyn, both separated by a river. This tour concentrates on the Algiers Point neighborhood, that has a long, rich history of African American, French, Spanish, German, Irish, and Italian/Sicilian residents. 

Algiers, the second oldest neighborhood in New Orleans after the French Quarter, was the site of the slave holding areas, newly arrived from Africa, the powder magazine, and slaughterhouse of the early 18th century. John McDONOGH, the richest man, and largest landowner in New Orleans, lived here.

Algiers was famous countrywide in the African American communities for its "Voodoo" and "Hoodoo" practitioners, and is celebrated in songs on this subject.

The earliest bands containing Algiers’ musicians included the Pickwick Brass Band (1873-1900s), the Excelsior Brass Band (1880-1928), Jim DORSEY’s Band (1880s), Prof. MANETTA’s String Band (1880s), BROWN’s Brass Band of McDonoghville (1880s), and Prof. A. L. TIO’s String Band (aka the Big Four) (1880s), the Pacific Brass Band (1900-1912), and Henry ALLEN’s Brass Band (1907-1940s). These dates are approximate, as very little evidence has been found of definite dates.

Many of the Jazz venues have long since disappeared, as have many of the
musicians’ homes. Most of the saloons, and dance halls are all but forgotten now
by the modern-day Algiers’ residents. Gone are the days of Jazz funerals every
week, the sound of dancing feet in the juke joints, and dance halls, and corner
saloons.

Other Algiers’ bands included the Tom ALBERT Band, the Algiers Brass Band, the Algiers Naval Station Band, Mervin BUDGE’s Band, Peter BOCAGE’s Creole Serenaders, the Norman BROWNLEE Band, the Charles DEVERGE Band, George LEWIS’ Ragtime Jazz Band, Billy LUFT’s Band, Bert PECK’s Princeton Revellers, the Sam ROSS Orchestra, Leslie STURTEVANT’s Band, the Elton THEODORE Orchestra, Charlie LOVE’s Band, Sam MORGAN’s Band, and "Kid" Thomas VALENTINE’s Algiers Stompers, to name a few.

Jazz, Blues, Rhythm & Blues, and Rock & Roll artists were born, lived or played on the right bank of the Mississippi River from the Magnolia Plantation in Pointe a la Hatche to Westwego, and beyond. Algiers and Gretna has been the birthplace of, or home to, a long list of musicians including the ADAMS family, Tom ALBERT, Henry ALLEN, Sr., Henry "Red" ALLEN, Harrison BARNES, Ronnie BARRON, Nick BENINATE, the BOCAGE Family, the BROWNLEE family, the BRUNIES family, Mervin BUDGE, Joseph "Kid Twat" BUTLER, the DAST family, George DAVIS, Henry DEFUENTES, Charles DEVERGES, the DOUROUX family, Frank DUSON, Bill EASTWOOD, Albert "Dude" GABRIEL, Wendell GREEN, Emmett HARDY, Clarence "Frogman" HENRY, George HOOKER,  Edward "Son" HOUSE, Joe JAMES, the JOHNSON family, the LINDSAY family, Charlie LOVE, George LEWIS, Joseph "Bobo" LEWIS, Billy LUFT, the MANETTA family, the MARCOUR family, the MATTHEWS family, Elizabeth "Memphis Minnie" DOUGLAS, Bobby MITCHELL, Jackson MOLAISON, Sam MORGAN, Eddie MORRIS, the MOSLEY family, Louis NELSON, Jimmie NOONE, Jimmie "SPRIGGS" PALAO, Bert PECK, Alphonse PICOU, Eddie PIERSON, Sam ROSS, Ovide "Tete" ROUCHON, George SIMMS, Louis SINO, Leslie STURTEVANT,  Joe "Brother Cornbread" THOMAS, Bennie  TURNER, "Kid" Thomas VALENTINE, Eddie VINCENT, the YOUNG family, to name a few!

For the more adventurous and intrepid jazz history buff, this longer tour takes you across Opelousas into the less gentrified part of Algiers.

"This tour concentrates on the often-unsung heroes, the African American musicians, who played such a great part in the history of New Orleans Jazz, and in some small way salutes their contribution to Jazz, and their rich culture. Although Algiers’ musicians played a major part in the history of Jazz and Blues, these genres of music were not born in Algiers…or were they?  -- Kevin HERRIDGE

This 2-mile SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR includes both the
Algiers Point & Algiers Riverview neighborhoods.  

"We encourage you to use good judgment & common sense in
taking this tour (or any tour) in an urban area.– New Orleans Jazz Commission.

The Algiers Point and Algiers Riverview neighborhoods are
both integral parts of historic Algiers, each having a long, rich history of African American, French, Spanish, German, Irish, and Italian/Sicilian residents. This was the site of the slave holding areas, newly arrived from Africa, and the powder magazine of the early 18th century. John McDONOGH, the richest man in New Orleans, lived here, as well as the earliest account of music on the West Bank.

The Riverview area contains many African American churches,  some with over one hundred-year histories. One on the scene in days gone by was the scene of many fiery sermons of "Black Billy Sunday," and many Jazz funerals, held for musicians, and benevolent society members. Several of the local musicians are interred in the nearby St. Bartholomew, St. Mary, and McDonogh cemeteries.

Take the Canal Street ferry to Algiers (leaves quarter to, and quarter past the hour from the foot of Canal Street). Turn right from the ferry terminal, and come downhill onto Bouny St., towards the Dry Dock Café & Bar. 

The street to your left is Delaronde. Frankie DUSON (1878-1936) trombonist, and leader of the remnants of Buddy BOLDEN’s Band (under the new name of the Eagle Band), lived at number 162 (no longer standing) from 1894-1897. He also played on the "S.S Capitol," with the E.R.A. Orchestra in the Depression, and with Louis DUMAINE. He was musically active until the mid-1930s.  

Continue on Bouny St. and turn left onto Alix St. (Start the tour!)

Some of the earliest brass bands that influenced the birth of Jazz, including the Pickwick, the Excelsior, and the Pacific, employed Algiers’ musicians. Buddy BOLDEN and Louis ARMSTRONG were two of the many Jazz luminaries that paraded through these streets. Another Jazz legend, Lester YOUNG, lived in Algiers, and his father, Willis Handy YOUNG, paraded with Henry ALLEN, Sr.’s Brass Band. Blues legend, Elizabeth DOUGLAS, better known as "Memphis Minnie," was born here, and sings of Algiers in her 1940 recording, "Nothing In Rambling." 

Kevin HERRIDGE is an avid researcher of all genres of music in Algiers (New  Orleans), Louisiana, and always interested in locating articles, interviews, photographs, personal recollections, memorabilia and artifacts of Algiers music and musicians, and Algiers history from any time period. If you have something to share, please feel free to contact him by email or by writing 335 Pelican Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 USA or calling (504) 231-6498.