Jim Cullum Jr.’s musical talent, positive demeanor and love of jazz has been a definitive part of San Antonio since the early 1960s. On Aug. 11, the 77-year-old Cullum passed away at his home of an apparent heart attack. TPR’s David Martin Davies spoke with Cullum in 2009.
Cullum, a cornetist, played “hot jazz” – a genre comprised of blues, brass band and ragtime, with roots in New Orleans.
His radio show “Riverwalk Jazz” was broadcast to over 200 stations. The program made Cullum a mainstay on public radio, playing hot jazz and promoting San Antonio.
At home, Cullum became a giant in San Antonio’s arts and culture scene. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band performed regularly including the week before his passing.
Guest: Jim Cullum Jr., band leader of The Jim Cullum Jazz Band