Left to right: Jim Cullum Sr., Don Albert, Louis Armstrong, Jim Cullum Jr.

These photos were taken in 1968 in San Antonio in Louis' dressing room at the HemisFair World's Fair. This was the last time I saw Louis, he died three years later.

Don Albert (1908-1980) was a New Orleans trumpet player who came to San Antonio while still in his teens. He played with a number of black territory bands (e.g. Alphonse Trent) and made some recordings in 1929 in Dallas. A few years later he started his own band in San Antonio and claimed to have been the first to have used the phrase "swing band." In fact, I have seen a photo of Don Albert posing in front of the band bus complete with a banner reading "Don Albert and His Swing Band." This was in the early 30's.

The band included a number of players who later became well-known, including Louis Cottrell, Alvin Alcorn, Herb Hall, etc. This band toured extensively, but often they were featured at a local San Antonio roadhouse, "Shadowland." They were broadcast on WOAI, a 50,000 watt clear-channel radio station which was heard clearly across the western U.S. and into Mexico.

Later, Don Albert owned his own club in San Antonio called the "Keyhole Club ." During the early 1960's, Albert made a very good recording with my father (the late clarinetist Jim Cullum Sr.), trombonist Chuck Reilly, and a group of sidemen. Thus began my relationship with Albert. We were friends until the end of his life. Often, he would call me to play 2nd cornet on local gigs.

Left to right: Don Albert; Louis Armstrong; Jim Cullum, Sr.

In 1968, at the time of the World's Fair, Don Albert brought in a group of New Orleanians including his old pals, Alvin Alcorn, Louis Cottrell, and the great drummer Freddie Kohlman. A "Battle of the Bands" was scheduled for four nights at the new and glittering Theater for the Performing Arts between Albert's and our group, The Jim Cullum Jazz Band. Needless to say, we had a great time.

Shortly before this battle, Louis had been scheduled to appear at the HemisFair. Naturally, we all went down to visit. Dad was a natural PR man and came up with the boxing gloves idea to promote the "Battle of the Bands. " At first, Louis reacted saying, "No fighting! I don't want no part of no violence!" But Dad and Don Albert quickly convinced him that it was all in good fun and this picture was taken.