Sweet Emma Barrett - Whenever You're Lonesome

Sweet Emma was an icon of New Orleans Jazz in 1950s and early 60s. Here she is thumping away with the "on tour" Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Percy Humphrey tpt, Willie Humphrey clt, Big Jim Robinson tbn, Slow Drag Pavageau bass fiddle, Emanuel Sayles bjo, Josiah Frazier dms. Sweet Emma was a great character, she had lovely singing voice but she didn't suffer fools gladly. I had the pleasure of meeting Manny Sayles in N.O. shortly before his death in the 1980s he was a lovely man who loved to engage the audience in Preservation Hall.

[@patrickobrien1566]

I saw Sweet Emma Barrett at the Jazz preservation hall about 1964/5,I was working on a Cunard cruise ship that had to get repairs at the Todd ship yard so had a few weeks in New Orleans a dream come true for me.I have been a Jazz fan since I was about 14 yrs old in 1952 in England,I used to follow the local British jazz bands of the day like Humphrey Littleton,Chris Barber & Ken Colier et al.there were lots of small cellars in the Soho area of London which were still gas lit and had candles stuck in wine bottle placed on barrels on the stage for the stage lighting.We used to skip jive which was different from the jive of the Rock & Rollers, it was geared to the syncopated rhythm traditional jazz.If I remember correctly Sweet Emma had lost the use of her left hand and she had a lady sitting at her left side playing the left hand for her.I was fascinated by her, she had such presence, I saw a lot of musicians on that trip in various venues and was very conscious of the fact that I was listening to & watching the great musicians of the early part of the 20th century.Thank goodness for you tube and the people who post all the wonderful music etc & take the trouble to film the present artists.

[@jasminequinones5359]

Patrick O'Brien hi👍😀

[@arcirio1]

Gostei de ler sua história. Abraços desde o Brasil.

[@arcirio1]

Que maravilha!!!!!!!!

[@SeeburgMusic]

"Whenever You're Lonesome (Just Telephone Me)" 1922. One of my favorite songs.

[@grahamereynolds5497]

SeeburgMusic uuytrreewwqq

[@norbertschlink2876]

1969 gesehen in New Orleans......unvergesslich 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@wolfiejazz]

Wonderful reminiscences Patrick, thnks for that

[@Sebb88888]

goood Emma.. beatifull. saludos desde Chile a PERESERVATION HALL

[@lesterwyoung]

Actual title is Whenever You're Lonesome (Just Telephone Me) written in 1922 by Pete Wendling and Max Kortlander.

[@DickWhittington1000]

Bet she was a pretty gal when she was young. Just as pretty as she was greatly talented. Someone find a pic her in her 20's.

[@mrjimmienoone2130]

She was an absolute beauty when she was young! Sic transit gloria mundi - especially under the influence of whiskey (that's why I sip my red wine only). There are old pics of her, even on YT. - But listen to her music. On this take, she is about the only one who gets the chords right.

[@chrissyarlena286]

she was drop dead gorgeous