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.
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