Topic starter
27/07/2015 4:23 pm
To continue the thread about musicians on the old boats, in his Packet Directory Capt. Way published a letter written in 1875 by Capt. Wm Miller on the large sidewheel THOMPSON DEAN to his children, in the letter he states; "our brass band plays at the principal landings during the day and in the evening our very excellent string band amuses the passengers in the cabin and our old French darky quartette sings "Silver Threads Among The Gold" in a way that always brings down the house". "The darkies come running from the fields in droves to see 'de big DEAN' and our brass band has an appreciative audience".
So the THOMPSON DEAN not only had a string band, it had a brass band and a colored quartette. I doubt the DEAN was unique in the music department.
29/07/2015 12:13 am
Sounds like a good gig.
I'd like to think I could ride around on a riverboat because I play in the band.
I might just run away if given an opportunity 😉