Dave Bartholomew was a giant in the New Orleans R&B scene of the 1950s and
claimed to have invented the 'big beat' sound. He played mainly the trumpet and
tuba and wrote, arranged and produced songs for such figures as Fats Domino,
Shirley & Lee, Smiley Lewis, Earl King, Robert Parker, Chris Kenner, Frankie
Ford and Lloyd Price.
He fronted several bands in New Orleans before serving in the forces in World
War II where he gained valuable experience scoring and arranging. After the war
he returned to New Orleans and in 1949 had his first solo hit with the song
'Country Boy'. H...