There have been few more important, or more successful advocates of Dixieland jazz in the last half-century than cornetist Jim Cullum, Jr. who died on August 11th, 2019 at 77 years old. The cause is believed to be a heart attack at his home, or possibly a fall. His son James announced the news describing him as "the greatest jazz musician to ever come from Texas."
Cullum was active until the end. His band has appeared several times this summer, most recently at their weekly residency at the Cookhouse on Friday. He had many events scheduled in the coming months.
Cullum's father, Jim Cullum Sr. had played reeds and trombone for Jack Teagarden. It was Jim Sr.'s records, particularly those of Bix Beiderbecke that first inspired his son's love of early jazz. In 1962 father and son founded the seven-piece Happy Jazz Band while Jim, Jr. was attending Trinity University.
The band soon became the house band at The Landing, a club on the San Antonio Riverwalk that the Cullums opened in 1963 with the help of local investors. It quickly became a haven for Dix
