Charles “Buddy” Bolden was a New Orleans cornetist who was active for a brief moment just before and after the turn of the 20th century.
Though Bolden is far from a household name, many people cite him as the first musician who, at the time, was able to fuse together a variety of styles — ragtime, blues and spirituals — to form the style of music we know today as jazz.
Though Bolden’s band saw some popularity during his time in New Orleans, he never made it big despite his long-lasting impact as a musician.
Bolden’s life was plagued with hardships, culminating in a mental breakdown that overtook him in the early part of the 20th century. Bolden spent the last 25 years of his life at the Jackson State Insane Asylum.
Atlanta saxophonist Jeff Crompton has composed an original opera all about Bolden’s life and music, called simply “The Buddy Bolden Opera.”
