Birmingham Bertha - Walter Barnes & His Royal Creolians-1929 video free download


11,377
Duration: 03:17
Uploaded: 2009/06/08

In April 1940, Walter Barnes and his band played a gig at the Rhythm Nightclub in Natchez, Mississippi. 557 patrons and the band members and crew were in the building when a fire broke out quickly burning the inside of the building. There was only one door out and 212 people died, were crushed, or suffocated as the frantic crowd tried to push through the door. Barnes and his men kept playing Marie to try and calm the frantic crowd. Barnes and 10 of his band members died in the disaster. This video commemorates that event to the music of Barnes' Birmingham Bertha from the 1929 movie On With the Show. The film master was destroyed but a 4 minute clip of Ethel Waters singing "Am I Blue" from that film can be seen on this channel.

Brunswick A8535, July 25, 1929. Chicago, Illinois.

Comments

9 years ago

preservationhall01

The audio has disappeared but it has been re`posted on this channel.  Search "Birmingham Bertha~1929~Walter Barnes & His Royal Creolians~Natchez Burning".

10 years ago

Robert Duis

We all wish them to play for all these people who died in ........ HEAVEN!

10 years ago

genia106

My Darling Somerset,Love the song and the name of these great musicians...The Royal Creoleans....They sure sounded Royal....Thank you for remembering them and the poor souls who perished.MIllions of Creole STARSSmoochG....

12 years ago

preservationhall01

The records in the Natchez newspaper indicated he was a guitar player and listed his hometown as Cincinnati. Glad this little vid had some meaning for you.

12 years ago

Lovinglee226

My Great Uncle Harry Walker played in in this band and died in that fire. He still has a daughter in the Chicago that shared this story of their tragic deaths. My uncle played in the Walter Barnes Sofisticated Swing Band and is pictured standing playing the big bass. I appreciate the info that has been posted here! If anyone has more pictures or information PLEASE SHARE! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH preservationhall01!!!

12 years ago

preservationhall01

So happy this vid made a connection with your mom. I always thought Barnes and the Creolians would have been one of the more famous bands had they not met trajedy. The music is played with a sweetness and "compassion" that few other orchestras could acheive.

12 years ago

Kemetic1

Thank you for posting. My grandfather, listed as Lucas Wilson, but is correctly Lucius Wilson was a band member for many years, but just so happened to miss that trip and was one of the lone survivors of this tragedy. My mother is absolutely ecstatic about hearing of this footage of her father's legacy as a jazz musician. Music has always been a part of our family and this small footage is a great archive. Thank you again.

13 years ago

NNYSPAZ

Great video have a lp Hero .......

13 years ago

Katie Thrasher

Featured extensively in the new book "The Chitlin' Circuit..." this dude pioneered the Black circuit of nightclubs in the South during the 1930's.

13 years ago

preservationhall01

@RhythmClubFire Thanks for making the Rhythm Club Fire documentary. Well done! PH01

13 years ago

Rhythm Club Fire

Thank you for posting this . While working on the documentary I came to know a lot about Walter Barnes . Amazing musician and amazing leader as proved by his final acts on the night of the fire .

14 years ago

busessuck1

Wow its cool how many people come to find their heritage and family connections on youtube Thanks for the work you put in to make this great stuff available

14 years ago

roybo1930

I finally found out why I`m only getting this Awesome song on the Houst Computer, The computer at work has one bad speaker, And apperently only one side of this is playing. At the House it comes out of only one speaker. Not sure if it`s My equipment, Or our service, Or a flaw in the post. But just wanted to let You know just in case! However this is a video worth DIEING for indeed! and is one of My very favorits. Hope You don`t mind Me bringing this up! Thank You for all Your hard Work.

14 years ago

LakesideArt

My Dad was friends with Walter Barnes and saw him perform in Florida (where my Dad was playing at the time) right before they took off for that last performance in Mississippi. God bless you Mr. Walter Barnes.

15 years ago

preservationhall01

Thought it was quite an amazing story. Although he ran a very successful band in Chicago and was made wealthy by Al Capone for his long Cotton Club gigs in Cicero, Illinois -he loved to travel to the deep south, work for little or nothing in dives like the Rhythm Club to see his many fans there and give them some first class entertainment,

15 years ago

preservationhall01

Thanks for stopping by the museum Ed. . . .And thanks for the compliment-always appreciated.

15 years ago

preservationhall01

I have a copy of My Kinda Love. Very scratchy-I'll try and clean it up.

15 years ago

roybo1930

What A Fantistic Version Of This Song!!! But What A Horrable Way For This Wonderful Band To End! They Were Indeed Heros!!!

15 years ago

TorontoEd7

What a tragedy to lose this great band. It is so sad what happened to them. Thanks for educating the public, and for having such an excellent site. I am speechless while listening to this incredible sound.

15 years ago

preservationhall01

Thanks for your comment and rating.

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