Tad Jones

Thaddeus "Tad" Jones (1952-2007) was an American music historian and researcher whose work significantly contributed to New Orleans music history. His most notable achievement was definitively establishing Louis Armstrong's correct birth date as August 4, 1901, through extensive documentary research. As a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, Jones served as Music Director of the university's radio station WLDC from 1971-1974, where he conducted pioneering oral history interviews with New Orleans musicians. These invaluable recordings are now preserved in the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University. Jones played a crucial role in preserving and documenting American rhythm & blues, early rock & roll, and jazz history. He was among the founding members of Tipitina's, a landmark New Orleans music club established in 1977, and contributed to the establishment of community radio station WWOZ-FM. His scholarly work included co-authoring liner notes for Professor Longhair's final album "Crawfish Fiesta" and conducting extensive research into New Orleans musical heritage. The oral histories he collected during his career continue to serve as important historical documents of American music.

Limited reader reviews exist online for Tad Jones's scholarly work and research contributions. The focus of available feedback centers on his liner notes and historical documentation. What readers appreciated: - Detailed research methods in establishing Armstrong's birthdate - First-hand accounts captured in oral histories with New Orleans musicians - Clear writing style in album liner notes - Documentation of previously unknown musical connections What readers noted as limitations: - Most work exists in archives rather than published books - Research materials can be difficult for general public to access - Some oral histories remain undigitized Due to the academic and archival nature of Jones's work, traditional reader review platforms like Goodreads and Amazon have minimal content. His contributions are primarily cited in academic papers and music history references rather than reviewed by general readers. The Hogan Jazz Archive visitor logs and research request records provide the main source of user feedback on his collected materials.

Up from the Cradle of Jazz (1986) A detailed historical examination of New Orleans rhythm and blues from 1945-1960, co-authored with Jason Berry and Jonathan Foose, documenting the evolution of the musical style through research and firsthand accounts.

Samuel Charters focused on blues research and documentation, producing foundational works on early blues history and culture. His field recordings and extensive interviews with blues musicians in the 1950s and 1960s created an essential archive of American music history.

John Broven specialized in Louisiana music history with detailed documentation of the New Orleans and South Louisiana music scenes. His books combine archival research with first-hand interviews of musicians and industry figures from the 1950s and 1960s.

Jeff Todd Titon conducted extensive fieldwork and interviews documenting blues musicians and their communities. His research methods combined ethnomusicology with oral history to create comprehensive studies of American roots music.

Michael Ondaatje wrote "Coming Through Slaughter," a novel based on the life of New Orleans jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden, incorporating historical research and oral accounts. His work combines documentary evidence with narrative storytelling to illuminate early jazz history.

William Ferris documented Southern music through recordings, photographs, and interviews throughout the Mississippi Delta and surrounding regions. His archive of field recordings and oral histories provides primary source material about blues and folk music development.