Herb Ellis discusses the importance of music during the depression

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Herb Ellis remembers the first jazz bands he saw

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Herb Ellis discusses his time with Oscar Peterson

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Q: “Do you remember the first professional band you ever saw; whether it was a country band or dance band – where people actually got paid?”

A: “Well, I played with my brother. I played the banjo also. I played the harmonica. When I was three, I played the harmonica. When I played the banjo, he played the guitar and we played for some dances, country dances. I played the banjo and he played the guitar. But then when I went to ... The first thing I knew about professional organized bands was when I went to North Texas University. Then I was part of a band and other band's work, you know, college bands. We played dances to make money, so that's the first I knew about professionalism in that aspect.”