Oral history interview with Red, 1980

Biographical Note

Red was born on March 24, 1916 in Newark, New Jersey. He was the oldest of six children. He graduated high school in Newark, and then attended a military college in the South, but dropped out after one year when he received an offer to play the saxophone with a popular jazz band led by Tiny Bradshaw. During World War II, Red played in the United Service Organizations. In 1950, he played briefly in a jazz band led by Cootie Williams. After that band broke up, Red worked as a freelance saxophone player until 1954 when he began playing in Louis Jordan's band, Tympany Five. In 1955 he was introduced to heroin through showbusiness. In 1956, he got married. In the early 1960s, Red retired from music and became a cab driver. In 1964 he visited the Bernstein Institute at Manhattan General Hospital to apply for the methadone program, but was not admitted. In 1968, he joined the methadone program at Bronx State Hospital

Scope and Contents

In this interview, Red discusses his life in New York City, with respect to his drug use. He describes at length his career as a jazz musician, both as a freelancer, and as a member of various bands. Bands included: Tiny Bradshaw's band, Cootie WIlliams' band, and Louis Jordan's band called Tympany Five. He describes playing with the United Service Organizations during World War II. He discusses being introduced to heroin in 1955 through his friends from show business. He describes how the heroin he bought was packaged and sold, its quality, and its price relative to his salary. He describes the feeling of being high on heroin, and explains how it relieved his stage fright. He compares the quality and price of heroin across U.S. cities. He describes his retirement from the music industry, and his subsequent employment as a cab driver. He describes purchasing methadone from street dealers, and being inspired to quit heroin and join a methadone program. He discusses his unsuccessful attempt to join the methadone program at the Bernstein Institute at Manhattan General Hospital in 1964 due to a long waitlist. He describes joining the methadone program at Bronx State Hospital in 1968, detoxing from heroin, and being stabilized on methadone

Subjects

• Big bands.
• Courtwright, David T., 1952- interviewer.
• Drug abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Drug addicts--Rehabilitation--United States.
• Drug addicts--United States.
• Drug traffic--United States--History--20th century.
• Heroin abuse--United States--History--20th century.
• Interviews.
• Jazz musicians.
• Joseph, Herman, 1931- interviewer.
• Methadone maintenance--United States--History--20th century.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Red--Interviews.

Access Conditions

Copyright by David Courtwright