(orchestral music) - Well, music means different things to different people.

Music, to me, is pleasing the people.

I am happiest when I'm playing, if I'm playing somebody's special request.

I don't care if it's "Sippin' Cider Through a Straw."

If it's making them happy, I'm happy.

(upbeat jazz music) (audience applauding) (upbeat jazz music) (audience applauding) (upbeat jazz music) (audience applauding) (upbeat jazz music) (audience applauding) I felt "See Jim Blues" would be a good opener, sort of introduce everybody and give everybody a chance to play.

And it's a fun type number.

Features one of my favorite trumpeters, here, Murphy Campo.

I've traveled many times to New Orleans to hear Murphy purposely.

And then my good buddy, Woody Coates.

We've had a lot of fun playing around Jackson together.

Dick Goodwin from Greenville, by way of England.

Reid Baker, an old friend from Chicago who came all the way down to cut this show.

And last but not least, my old crony, Eddie Burt.

We've weathered a lot of storms together.

(upbeat Latin music) (audience applauding) - My early interest in guitar, I'd say, began when I was about seven years old.

I recall pulling a straight chair up to an old crank up style Victrola and digging through some of my daddy's old recordings.

And he happened to be a fan of Django Reinhardt, the famous French jazz gypsy guitarist.

I remember playing these with an old steel needle 'till the record would become gray.

This music just rubbed off on me.

He could hardly quiet me down, you know.

Finally, he introduced me, and took me to this very well-known teacher there in Chicago named Pascoe Roberts.

Pascoe, I guess, is in his 90s now, and has retired in St. Petersburg, Florida.

And very proud to have met him and to have studied under Pascoe Roberts.

The style of playing I like best, I think, is performing in small combos.

You're more free to express yourself in a small combo, I feel, with a guitar.

However, I have played in a number of large bands.

Speaking of large bands, one of my happiest memories is right here in Jackson, Mississippi, working with the great Jerry Lang at the Heidelberg Roof.

He and I had many, many happy moments together.

While in Chicago, I worked with many small combos with my friend Reid Baker who is on the show.

I worked in Reid's band for several years in Chicago.

Jerry Shelton.

We played numerous spots around Chicago such as Brass Rail, Randolph Square which was known as the world's busiest nightlife corner at that time.

Preview Lounge, The Blue Note, The High Note, Chicago Casino, and I can't forget Helsing's Vaudeville Lounge.

This was an unusual type place.

I don't know if these places are still existing in Chicago or not.

While I'm playing, I think of lyrics along with the melody, naturally.

I love beautiful lyrics, and I think of somewhat trying to set poetry to music.

Possibly, in my own way, I try to paint a picture using different shadings and colors.

(gentle jazz music) (audience applauding) (gentle jazz music) (audience applauding) (lively jazz music) (energetic trumpet music) (audience applauding) (lively jazz music) (audience applauding) I was working at a Chicago casino.

Les Paul, at that time, was doing a show at The Blue Note with Mary Ford.

And Les Paul had always been a great idol of mine.

While I was playing, I happened to look up and there was Les Paul sitting at the bar and a big grin on his face and I said, oh my gosh, here's my idol, I can't play, you know.

And after we finished the number, he broke out with a big grin and started clapping.

We spent the evening touring the local night spots after I had gotten off work.

Got pretty well-acquainted.

(lively jazz music) (audience applauding) "The Lullaby" is a Jewish lullaby taken from the Al Jolson story I saw many years ago.

Larry Parks playing the part of Al Jolson with Al Jolson's voice dubbed in.

I always felt it to be a very haunting, sentimental memory-type tune and enjoyed trying to perform it.

(soft jazz music) (audience applauding) During World War II, I feel I was very fortunate to have been connected with Captain Eddie Peabody who was known as the Banjo King and I'm sure many people watching would remember the great Eddie Peabody.

We did the Meet Your Navy Show originating from Great Lakes, Illinois.

Had 300 entertainers up there, not only musicians.

There were actors, comedians.

Later, Captain Eddie Peabody took The Ray Anthony Band, which I was with, and we toured the South Pacific, playing in advanced bases out there such as Kwajalein and Okinawa, Midway, Guam, et cetera.

Perhaps, there's someone looking in today that may have seen us out there.

(gentle jazz music) (audience applauding) (lively jazz music) (audience applauding) (gentle jazz music) (audience applauding) (lively jazz music) (audience applauding) I did television on WBKB, again, in Chicago with The Lou Payne Show.

Lou is a very fine entertainer and singer.

Before that, I worked radio in Chicago on WGN on a daytime radio serial, right.

Filled in with background music on guitar.

That was before the days of television.

(gentle jazz music) (audience applauding) (gentle jazz music) (lively jazz music) (audience applauding) But one of the happiest times and I would say the highlight of my year is performing for the dear sisters at the Carmelite Monastery where I enjoyed playing for the different holy days, especially Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass.

It brings an inner peace to me that I try to hold onto through the year until the next time I go there.

I play things such as "Ave Maria" and "Adoro Te."

(gentle guitar music)