The Jazz Connection to Trains
Jazz aficionados around the globe are well aware of the deep-rooted connection that legendary musicians like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong had with trains, particularly the luxurious Pullman cars that transported them to performances across the nation. Inside these velvet-upholstered sleeping cars, African American porters provided a range of services for the musicians, including shining their shoes, nursing them through hangovers, trimming their hair, and serving refreshing mint juleps alongside delectable Welsh rarebit. This level of service was often a stark contrast to the treatment received by wealthy white passengers.
In return for their comfort, these jazz icons penned timeless tributes to the allure of trains. Notable compositions include Duke’s pulsating “Happy Go Lucky Local,” Count Basie’s homage to the famed “Super Chief,” and Satchmo’s soulful interpretation of “Mail Train Blues.” However, what many fans may not realize is the underlying reason these jazz legends held such reverence for the railroad and specifically for George Pullman’s sleeper cars: they provided a sanctuary from the looming threat of racial violence.
During the Jim Crow era, characterized by rigid racial segregation, Black individuals found themselves confined to separate and inferior accommodations across all facets of life, from schools and parks to public restrooms and dining options. Simply stepping out of a car or bus in unfamiliar southern towns in search of a meal or lodging could invite perilous consequences. Poor decisions often led to humiliations, beatings, or worse; racial violence surged during the early 20th century. Even the fame and recognition of these music legends did not offer them complete protection from such dangers. Only within the confines of Pullman cars, where they were attended to by fellow African Americans, could they truly find peace and relaxation while on the road.
- Duke Ellington reflected on this necessity in his 1973 memoir, “Music Is My Mistress,” stating, “To avoid problems, we used to charter two Pullman sleeping cars and a 70-foot baggage car. Everywhere we went in the South, we lived in them.”
- Count Basie also cherished this mode of travel, noting in his 1985 autobiography, “Good Morning Blues,” that traveling in elegant Pullman cars was “my piece of cake.” He reminisced, “Lots of times, instead of me getting into my bed, I used to sit and look out the window most of the night as we rambled from one place to another. That was music to me.”