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Little Brother Montgomery
Source: Wikipedia |
Eurreal Wilford "Little Brother" Montgomery was born on April 18, 1906, in Kentwood, Louisiana, into a family where music was a significant part of life. His parents were Harper Montgomery and Edna Burton Montgomery. he was affectionately known as Little Brother Harper. A self-taught blues pianist, he developed a unique style without formal training, learning music entirely by ear. By the age of four, he began playing the piano, and at eleven, he left home for four years to perform in barrelhouses across Louisiana. His early exposure to music was shaped by influences like Jelly Roll Morton, who visited the Montgomery household. Later, he expanded his career by performing in African American lumber and turpentine camps throughout Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
During a review of my archival collection, I discovered a scanned copy of a letter dated April 11, 1976This letter was written on the letterhead of Amos Kent. The letter, addressed to the Kentwood Ledger newspaper, included a program for the Jazz Festival at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans, Louisiana. Amos Kent mentioned that Little Brother Montgomery, a native of Kentwood, was born at Kents Mill. According to Kent, Montgomery began playing the piano at five, ran away at a young age, and performed worldwide. Montgomery later informed Kent that he had returned from Japan and would attend the festival in New Orleans.
Kent noted that Karl Gert zur Heide had written a book on Little Brother Montgomery's life. Montgomery sent albums to Kent to be placed at LSU, Tulane, and Foundation Hall. Several Black men living in Kents Mill knew him: Richard Smith, James Dancer, Irvin Fluker. and Varnado Anderson could attest to Montgomery's character.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Brother_Montgomery
https://msbluestrail.org/blues-trail-markers/little-brother-montgomery
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