Black History Month Honoree: BUDDY COLLETTE

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Buddy Collette

—pictured below

with a tenor saxophone—

was a multi-reed musician,

an educator,

 a groundbreaker,

and a friend of mine.

 

In 1949,

Buddy Collette

became the first

black musician

on a nationally broadcast

television show:

"You Bet Your Life"

with Groucho Marx.

 

In 1953,

Buddy was primarily responsible

for eliminating segregation

in the Los Angeles musicians' unions,

resulting in racially unified

representation

and these are his words:

"Musicians should be judged

on how they play,

not the color of their skin."

 

In 1988,

Buddy Collette performed

for a most appreciative audience

of students and teachers

at Jefferson High School

where I had the honor 

of being 

the emcee.

 

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