Jay McShann

It was my first time in Kansas City. In about two or three days I had a gig at a place called The Monroe Inn.

I had listened to Joe Turner. When they’d book Joe there, I’d play the blues behind him.

They had the music being piped right out on the street. I’d be three or four blocks from there and I couldn’t get there fast enough because I’d hear old Joe holler them words.

We used to play the Savoy Ballroom, and we always had a boogie tune in the set. Bands like Tommy Dorsey used to do a little boogie woogie. The big bands.

My family was a Christian family. But I had to get to Kansas to play the blues.

I was listening to all those lyrics and trying to take in everything that was happening. I was completely excited. It was one of the greatest times that I had listening to music.

We didn’t let a night go by that we didn’t play.

We had an old Victrola with the old bulldog they used to have there. The horn would come out.

As long as Pete and Joe are there, it’s gonna be jumping.