Unleashing the Funk: Big Sam’s Musical Journey – EP 194
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Mark Bologna
4.8 • 891 Ratings
🗓️ 1 November 2023
⏱️ 60 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Get ready to groove with Big Sam, the renowned trombonist and bandleader of Big Sam’s Funky Nation. Join him as he shares his insights on the importance of putting on a show and preserving New Orleans’ musical heritage.
Big Sam Williams, the renowned New Orleans musician, has always had a deep passion for music. From a young age, he knew he wanted to do something extraordinary with his talent. His journey began in middle school when he joined the marching band, seeking an outlet for his musical aspirations. Little did he know, this decision would shape his future.
Introduced to the trombone by a music teacher named Daryl Dickerson, Big Sam quickly fell in love with the instrument. Despite his initial struggles, he persevered, teaching himself to play by ear and immersing himself in the world of music theory. As he honed his skills, he realized that he had a natural talent for reading music and a deep understanding of musical concepts.
In high school, Big Sam and his friends formed their own band, the Stooges Brass Band, which marked the beginning of his professional music career. Through his experiences in various marching bands and collaborations with esteemed musicians, Big Sam found his calling and has since become a celebrated figure in the New Orleans music scene. His story is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and the transformative nature of music.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hmm. Street, an insider's guide to New Orleans. Beyond Bourbon Street is the podcast |
| 0:15.0 | where we explore the food, music, culture, places, and people that make New |
| 0:19.2 | Orleans unique. Whether you are planning a trip, living in New Orleans, or simply wanting a taste of the Crescent City from wherever you are, |
| 0:26.0 | you've come to the right place. |
| 0:29.0 | And now, your host, Mark Bologna. |
| 0:35.0 | Hey y'all, this is Mark. |
| 0:37.0 | Welcome to episode 194. |
| 0:39.0 | Today's show is all about a man who grew up in New Orleans music |
| 0:42.0 | and now spends his life sharing |
| 0:43.9 | it with others. The last show was exploring Louisiana and her history through the |
| 0:48.1 | lens of a camera. If you missed it, go back and give it a listen. I think you'll enjoy it. |
| 0:51.9 | Before we jump in, let me talk about the people that make this show possible. |
| 0:55.6 | Support comes from the Historic New Orleans Collection over at 520 Royal Street. |
| 0:59.8 | They are a terrific museum that's free and somehow continues to fly under the radar. |
| 1:04.8 | You can check out some of their work online at HNOC.org. |
| 1:08.8 | First Draft. They are in between temporary exhibits right now, but their permanent exhibit in their newest |
| 1:14.1 | space is really great. |
| 1:15.5 | It traces 300 years of history of the French Quarter, and it does a great job showing not only |
| 1:20.1 | the history, but the development of the neighborhood and there's some |
| 1:23.2 | interactive things where you can see it happen over time it's a really great place so |
| 1:27.6 | check it out I'll put links in the show notes but hn't oh c.org to plan your |
| 1:31.5 | visit the most frequent questions I get are about moving to New Orleans and if you're ready to make |
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