Jeff Barnhart

Jeff Barnhart: Welcome back, dear readers! Hal, last month we covered the early years of composer Fred Rose’s life and career. There is still so much to share about this (today) little-known musician, starting with some HOT tunes from the mid-1920s; one was such a mega-hit it’d be easier listing jazz artists who didn’t cover this tune).

Having mentioned in last month’s column that Tex Wyndham would sometimes travel from Wilmington, DE to Mystic CT to sub for me while I was traveling, it now seems time to share the music and stories of the place he’d come play in my stead. Playing at the Seamen’s Inne was one of my very favorite periods of my early career as a ragtime/early jazz pianist, vocalist, and entertainer.

Dear faithful readers, each month I share anecdotes, observations, remembrances, or adventures that try to live up to the title of my column. While I’ve only scratched the surface of the possibilities, this month I have an extra special inspiration to share.