The Legacy of Louis Armstrong’s Music Teacher Peter Davis

The music teaching career of Peter Davis began when he was hired as the warden at the Colored Waif’s Boys Home in New Orleans and later became the Director of Music there. The facility was used to house African American boys who had been incarcerated by court order. Prior to the establishment of the boys’ home, these teenagers were housed in the New Orleans parish prison along with men. The exact birth date of Peter Davis is uncertain, depending on which source you accept. During an interview conducted on October 28, 1965, Davis stated his date of birth as October 25, 1887 and his place of birth as Conti and Robertson near the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the date of his death, the New Orleans States-Items reported in an article: “Peter Davis, Jazz Teacher, is Dead at 90.” Further, in an article by George Kay, his interviewer, Davis’ life span is noted as 1880-1971. According to interviews given by Peter Davis, he was first introduced to music training with lessons from the celebrated music teacher, William J. Nickerson. Davis stated that, “well, I played the piano, and then I went to the cornet.” Having learned to play several instruments, Davis became a very popular music teacher in New Orleans. The New Orleans States-Item wrote of Davis’ life-long involvement in music: “Through the years, Mr. Davis was one of New Orleans’ better known musicians