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The Life And Legacy of San Antonio Jazzman Jim Cullum Jr.

Courtesy James Cullum

Jim Cullum Jr.’s musical talent, positive demeanor and love of jazz has been a definitive part of San Antonio since the early 1960s. On Aug. 11, the 77-year-old Cullum passed away at his home of an apparent heart attack. TPR’s David Martin Davies spoke with Cullum in 2009.

 

Cullum, a cornetist, played “hot jazz” – a genre comprised of blues, brass band and ragtime, with roots in New Orleans. 

His radio show “Riverwalk Jazz” was broadcast to over 200 stations. The program made Cullum a mainstay on public radio, playing hot jazz and promoting San Antonio.

At home, Cullum became a giant in San Antonio’s arts and culture scene. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band performed regularly including the week before his passing.

Guest: Jim Cullum Jr., band leader of The Jim Cullum Jazz Band

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David Martin Davies can be reached at dmdavies@tpr.org and on Twitter at @DavidMartinDavi
Kim Johnson is the producer for Texas Public Radio’s live, call-in show The Source. She is a Trinity University alum with bachelor’s degrees in Communication and Spanish, and a Master of Arts Degree from the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.
Dallas Williams is a Producer for The Source at Texas Public Radio. With a degree in Mass Communication — Broadcast Media, Dallas brings a unique perspective and a passion to producing a live, call-talk show.