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Name the Banjo Player
13/08/22 - Norman Gibson needs your help. He says, "This picture is from a card I bought in Preservation hall, New Orleans, in 2003. The card states it is musicians in Preservation Hall, but doesn't say who the players are meant to be" He goes on to say, "I'm fairly certain the clarinetist is meant to be Pete Fountain, but can anyone put a possible name to the banjo player. 14/08/22- "Could be Emanuel 'Manny” Sayles', says Jon Critchley. 14/08/22 - I think it is Father Al Lewis on banjo and Manny Crusto on clarinet", says Pete Lay. 14/08/22 - He has a look and playing style of Emmanuel Sayles" - Mal Horne 14/08/22 - Jon and Mal I would say have got the banjo player right. ' Manny ' Sayles probably didn't come to my mind as I've just seen pics of him as bald. But then I've just found this. But the clarinetist really has the look of Pete Fountain, check these out :- https://youtu.be/xYgayyWffow. Then again, it could be the artist has me fooled, as any likeness to any musicians, dead or alive, is unintentional ! - Norman Gibson 15/08/22 - Re. Norman Gibson's query as to who the musicians were on the card he bought at Preservation Hall. I bought the self same card in 1989! I was led to believe the clarinetist was Willie Humphrey, brother to cornetist Percy. The banjo player is a mystery to me too! - Dave Ralph 15/08/22 - And I think the clarinettist is Charlie Gabriel. - Jon Critchley. 18/08/22 - "Sorry, but I’ll stand my ground ... I’ve seen the original picture of the source for the post card. It is Manny Crusto (clarinet) and Father Al Lewis (banjo) ... also in the band in the photo are Thomas Jefferson (trumpet), Chester Zardis (bass), Louis Nelson (trombone)". 19/08/22 - you didn't post the complete picture post card, but, having got my card out again, there are only four musicians on it. ( without counting Sweet Emma Barrett hanging on the wall ) Now, I realise the card isn't necessarily meant as a full copy from the photo. So the trumpet and trombone players are not on the card. On the other hand, the card has the piano player on it, who Pete does not refer to, or name, so assume there was not one in the actual band. Another mystery ? Norman Gibson 19/08/22 - That picture on the site is a full scan of what you sent Norman. - Fred 20/08/22 - Oh sugar ! I've clocked it now. I sent you a photocopy ( a one off ) I had made for me and a bit on the left side has been cropped off The tiny little white dot right on the edge is the bass player's left shoulder. At that point I was just interested in who the banjo player might have been. Sorry - Norman 20/08/22 - My final comment would be" Thanks Pete, solved at last, we can all move on". 21/08/22 - I purchased the postcard in Preservation Hall from Bill Russell who assured me the clarinettist was Willy Humphrey. Maybe he was telling what I wanted to hear? - Dave Ralph 22/08/22 - Who thinks the clari player is Willy Humphrey? Does look like him. And Charlie Gabriel.- Jon Critchley 24/08/22 - I can't help with the picture except to say that it is a brave man who argues with Pete Lay about old jazz. - Bernard Selby. 21/08/22 - During his search to find the mysterious banjo player in the picture, Norman Gibson found this little snippet of information, 'Al Capone became a banjo player when he did his spell in Alcatraz prison in the30's. He even played in an inmates' band called 'The Rock Islanders'. 24/08/22 - Re Al Capone and his banjo, here's a photograph says David Davis 26/08/22 - It ain’t Willie Humphrey – please believe me!! Willie didn’t wear glasses!!! Bill Russell should have known better. Manny Crusto was an excellent clarinettist and depped for Willie on a tour of The Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Europe (don’t know the year) - Pete Lay
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