My family is a musical family. They are the ones who first introduced me to music. They guided me through the world of music. You can basically say my whole famHello, my name is Fredrick Henry. Today I am interviewing a very interesting figure in jazz history, George Murphy "pops" Foster. Thank you for joining me today Mr. Foster.
What role did mentors play in helping you develop the interest and talents you have as an artist?
ily is my mentors.
Pops: Thank you for having me .
Fredrick: First question. Tell me about the place and time that you lived.
Pops:I was born and raised in Louisiana. In 1902, my family moved to New Orleans. At the time the city was booming! New Orleans had a population of 300,000 people.Lucky for me, jazz was everywhere. In clubs, in the streets, anywhere you would go.
What events in your early life got you interested in the arts?
Pops:When I first started playing the bass when I was 7, I joined my family string band. We played at pl antations and surrounding towns. We would play whereever we were called.
And the we moved to New Orleans. I played my bass all the time there. I played at fish fries, clubs, parties, heck, even funerals. This event kick started my carear beginning And that was only the beginning.What events in your early life got you interested in the arts?
Pops:When I first started playing the bass when I was 7, I joined my family string band. We played at pl antations and surrounding towns. We would play whereever we were called.
What role did mentors play in helping you develop the interest and talents you have as an artist?
Performing with my family helped me experience what was to come in the future. Playing with them prepared me to play with the biggest jazz icons who ever lived. Playing at plantations prepared me to play on the biggest stages. Playing with my family prepared me for everything.
What was the world like when you first enter your art field when you entered it?
Pops:The art of jazz was rapidly growing in the 1900's. You had guys like Louis Armstrong, "King" Oliver, and Charlie Parker.Some of the greatest jazz artist were born in this era.It was very hard to compare with these guys.
How did the major cultural, economical, and political situations of the time impact your work?
Because of the situations, I had to get other jobs. This cut out some time of my bass playing. But because I was working a lot, I had gained enough money to buy me a proper bass.
After I got my new bass, I got my first steady job with fate Marble riverboat groups in 1917, aboard the SS bell of the bend and the SS capital. I met a lot of people there including a 18 year old Louis Armstrong.
What were your major accomplishments and the methods you used in your art?
Pops: I wasn't familiar with the traditional approach to playing the bass, so I created my own methods. I discovered that if I held the string down harder with my left hand, the sound would be stronger and better.I developed different playing techniques and many different hand positions.
One of my major accomplishments was when I got to play with the Russel orchestra in 1929. Also, I recorded with Louis Armstrong on his version of "Mahogany Hall Stomp". That was my personal favorite recording.
What were the key opportunities you had leading up to turning points in your life and art?
Pops:When I finally got my new bass, I could play it all over! I didn't have to use a knock off I created when I was young. I loved doing gigs all over the world. It allowed me to me new friends in my life. I got to see places I've never seen before. I will be forever grateful for that.
What hardships and roadblocks did you have to overcome in order to be an artist?
Pops:Bass playing was always used in New Orleans, but when I went to New York, it was a whole different ballgame. Man, I couldn't walk a block without people laughing at me. I was so embarrassed carrying my bass. Besides, all bass players were playing tuba back then.But I was ready to change all of that.
What personal stories best illustrate how you became a successful artist?
Pops: When I was very young, I made a bass out of a flour barrel, a 2 by 4, and 2 pieces of twine.I taught myself to play on this thing. This is how it all started. I didn't need a regular bass to get started. All I needed was a little inspiration.
How did your work impact the world of art?
Pops:My work has deeply impacted the world of music because I changed the game. I revolutionized jazz bass playing. I made new ways to play the bass. The bass became the backbone for all music.
My worked changed the way people see bass players. People doesn't laugh at bass players anymore.I was no longer just a bass player. I was a bass legend. Most importantly, a jazz icon.
Thank you for your time Mr. Foster
Pops:No problem Fredrick
Cite list:
http://riverwalkjazz. stanford.edu/program/swinging-band'pops-foster-story
http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/foster-pops-george-murphy
The autobiography of Pops Foster: New Orleans Jazzman, as told to Tom Stoddard by Pops Foster, Ross Russell,2005.
http://www. redhotjazz.com/foster.html
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