The Town Talk from Alexandria, Louisiana • 36

I D-2 Friday, August 17, 2001 Scripps Howard News Service 'Satchmo' remembered what a wonderful man I Herbert Hardesty in the water. Ummm, yes he did. "Yeah, I did. Stupid me," Hardesty laughs. "Then my mama called me to go do something and I forgot about it.

When 1 came back everything was melted." Fortunately another of the Hardesty family friends, band leader Professor Victor, said he knew a guy on Canal Street who could fix it. "I took it down there and a week later it was ready. A trumpet player from Professor Victor's band, "Junior" Cotney, went with me and asked if he could borrow the trumpet for a couple of days to try it out. "I said sure. Then when I went to get it, he asked me to let him use it a couple of more days.

The next time I went to get it, he had moved to Oakland, and taken the trumpet with him." Over the years Hardesty has tried to catch up with Cotney to retrieve his trumpet. "For years I've tried to get it. Every time I was in Oakland and would look him up, he'd duck me," he said. "To this day, I'm still trying to get that trumpet back." "But at least I have a Selmer Co. trumpet," he said.

The Selmer Hardesty explained, made a trumpet patterned after Armstrong's specifications. "They only made about six of them and I have one." Hardesty continued to meet Satchmo throughout the years. "We'd meet at different gigs or in New Orleans. We met once here in Las Vegas and had lunch and talked. "You know we just talked about different things.

But there is one thing he told me that I've always remembered. He said 'Don't ever put your horn in the closet. Keep it out so you won't forget Hardesty said he keeps his horns nearby. (He said he doesn't boil them anymore either.) "He was just a very nice man," Hardesty said. you should be nice to people.

Because those same people you met on the way up will be the same ones you meet on your way back down. "That was Satchmo," Stephens said. cjardontherowntalk.com By Cynthia Jardon View Editor This month marks what would have beenLouis Armstrong's 100tn birthday. Jazz lovers wish that we could have kept him around this long. And yet, thankfully, because of records, television and movies, we have been able to keep him with us.

So far the month has been filled with tributes and music festivals all around the world. Armstrong's life has been recorded and re-recorded in one book after another. Nearly everything in the world has been written about him. So what could I write that would add anything to the tomes historians and jazz experts, much better qualified than have already written? Truthfully the answer is probably not much. But I did have a chance to talk with a couple of men who knew "Satchmo." So it's their stories I'll tell.

We toss the word legend around. We call Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin legends. We've elevated Jim Morrison and others to near legend stature. And it's true that these great performers contributed significantly to their musical genre. They burned brightly and burned out quickly, but left a distinct impact on the musical world.

Maybe it's easy, or at least easier, to become a legend when you are young and bright and gifted and then are gone almost before the ink dries on your last musical composition. There are legends and then there are legends. Louis Armstrong rises to the top of the heap. Because becoming a legend for a black man in the middle part of the last century took stamina, determination, talent, tolerance and compassion. And longevity.

That's the true test. We'll never know if Joplin and Hendrix would have remained popular had they stayed around. But Armstrong met the challenges wrought by time, change and the fickle trends and attitudes of mere mortals like us. It wasn't easy. It took an ability to focus on what was good, rather than bad; what could be done rather than what couldn't; the things that were right rather than the things that were wrong.

Pelican Club, the Tick Tock," he said. These popular black clubs were the places Louis was sure to show up sooner or later. But what about Armstrong the man? "He loved to cook," Stephens said. "We talked about the food when he was King of Zulu. He really liked the food in New Orleans.

In fact he often signed 'Red beans and ricely, yours, Louis "He was a very good bar-becuer," Stephens said. "He would barbecue sometimes when he was here." Today, with marketing the way it is, there would likely be a "Satchmo's BBQ Restaurant" or two. Stephens chuckles as the memories pour in. "He and Cab Calloway were always talking that trash talk 'Cool, 'The sun is shinin' in my 'Run to the bank to get your money before you lose your Armstrong played music because he loved it. "He played music because it made him a lot of money," Stephens said cutting to the heart of the matter.

"But the man was a gifted musician blessed by God. "People are still emulating him today. Can you imagine that?" "Well," said Herbert Hardesty, professional musician. "I don't really have a lot of Satchmo stories. I just have one." Hardesty, who has played with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Fats Domino, lives in Las Vegas now but is from New Orleans.

"I was a kid living on Claiborne Street. And he gave me one of his trumpets," he said. As if that was the end of the story. No big deal, Louis Armstrong, the greatest jazz trumpeter of all times, gave a kid a trumpet. End of story.

No way. C'mon. "He was a friend of my father's," Hardesty explained. "And my dad told him I wanted to learn to play the trumpet. So he gave me one.

"I would play that trumpet. The parades would go by and I'd get down there and play. I wasn't very good and the neighbors would tell me to stop playin' that thing. And it got dirty. Or I thought it was dirty." So one day Hardesty got a pot, put some water in it to boil and then put his trumpet George 'Tex' Stephens And there were lots of things wrong in New Orleans in the mid-1900s.

At least for black men and women. George "Tex" Stephens, the first black disc jockey in Lousiana, called it "those crazy segregation laws." But it was more than just the laws. The laws, after all, were born from the pervasive racist attitudes of white people of the time. Here was Armstrong, rife with musical talent, mostly barred from playing his music anywhere but the black clubs. So he played the black clubs.

He brought jazz to them first and then the world. He carved out a place in history for himself and his music. And that process took time. Because, at times, it must have seemed as painful and as tedious as it would have been for Michelangelo to have sculpted David with an ice pick. But it was inevitable, despite segregation and racial prejudice.

Because legends are like that. Armstrong knew the secret of climbing that ladder to success. He was aware of the dangers and aware that one was likely to traverse that ladder in both directions. "He told me this," Stephens recalls, is too short to live with anything but the very best you can. And you should be nice to people.

Because those same people you met on the way up will be the same ones you meet on your way back Now there's no sense in covering up the fact that this New Orleans man left because of the racial climate. He made his home in Queens, New York. But he came back from time to time to see family and friends and play his music in the town where it was born. "Yes, he was upset by the treatment," Stephens said. Next week's movies The kid from "October Sky" obsesses over something besides rockets in 'Bubble Boy." Jake Gyllenhaal plays Jimmy, a young man whose childhood sweetheart (Marley Shelton of "Sugar is about to marry someone else, and he's determined to stop her.

Trouble is, Jimmy was born without an immune system, and he lives in a plastic bubble in his parents' home. He builds a bubble suit so he can go out into the world and fight for love in this comedy. Swoosie Kurtz, John Carroll Lynch and Danny Trejo also star for first-time director Blair Hayes. Woody Allen hopes to hypnotize audiences into enjoying The Curse of the Jade Scorpion." The writer-director plays a 1940s insurance investigator thrown for a loop by an efficiency expert (Helen Hunt). Both fall under a hypnotic spell that results in Allen stealing a priceless item his company has insured.

Dan Aykroyd, Charles Ogden Stiers, Charlize Theron, Elizabeth Berkley, Wallace Shawn and John Schuck also star. Director John Carpenter heads to the Red Planet for scares with "Ghosts of Mars." A couple of hundred years in the future, a mining operation has disturbed the ghosts of Mars' first inhabitants, who rise and destroy the intruders. A cop (Natasha Henstridge of and a criminal (Ice Cube) must work together to put the spirits to rest and save themselves. Jason Statham, Clea DuVall, Joanna Cassidy and Pam Grier also star. Next week's TV "Let's Bowl," 9:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug.

19, Comedy Central There's nothing like a good game of bowling to settle a dispute or at least that's how this channel feels about it. This new game show is sort of a marriage between "Judge Judy" and "Bowling for Dollars." Competitors settle their beefs by rolling for prizes such as used cars, microwave ovens and new chain saws. If only our world leaders could learn to get along this way. "Small Shots," 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22, TNN In its efforts to distance itself from Nashville, The National Network is revealing a new lineup of original comedy programs.

"Small Shots" is a "hybrid reality" show in which two comedians go across the country, cast a movie parody with small-town residents and then make the film. The opener's film is a vegetarian version of "Silence of the Lambs." The premise has "lame" written all over it, but stick with this one-joke show. As the films develop, it actually gets funny despite itself. Next week's TV "Let's Bowl," 9:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 19, Comedy Central There's nothin Next week's music The following CDs, due in stores Tuesday (Aug.

21). Christina Aguilera "Just Be Free" Laurie Anderson "Life on a String" Broken Machine "A Tribute to Nine Inch Nails" Catie Curtis "My Shirt Looks Good On You" GiGi D'Agostino "L'Amour Tourjours" The Damned "Grave Disorder" Robbie Fulks "Couples in Trouble" Galactic "We Love 'Em Tonight" Juvenile "Project English" Tracy Lyons "Surrender" O.D.B. "Free Dirty" Graham Parker "Deepcut to Nowhere" Rollins Band "Nice" Superchunk "Late-century Dream" Dante Thomas "Fly" Ultramagnetic MCs "Four Horsemen" John Waite "Figure in a Landscape" Soundtracks "Jay Silent Bob Strike Back" Rft Vieuj The View cover features the late great legendary jazz man Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. The anniversary of Armstrong's 100th birthday was this month. Photo illustration by David Texada, Town Talk photo systems editor.

Tfie Inider i "But he rarely touched on it. He was a professional. He would come home to play but he knew the key was taking his music to Chicago, New York and Europe. "He knew that his notoriety would eventually force people to say 'Wait a minute. We were And they did.

But he didn't return home. "Yes, Satchmo rarely mentioned it, but that's why he left. He really wanted to move back. But his wife Lucille said, 'Hell no. We've got a nice big house here and I'm not going In fact, New Orleans, who failed to embrace him in life, would be denied the chance to hold him in death.

Armstrong is buried in Harlem. Stephens recalls the first time he met "Satchmo." "It was 1935 and he was making a movie," he said. "So I went over to Algiers on the West Bank to see what was going on." Stephens ended up being in a crowd shot. "And then I got to shake his hand," he said. "I didn't get to talk with him, but that's the first time I met him." It wasn't to be the last.

You can't live in New Orleans in the mid-1900s and not be affected by the musical movements taking place. Stephens was enmeshed in it, in fact, and began in the late 1940s doing radio broadcasts playing the artists who were developing a new musical genre called rhythm and blues. But jazz was still king. "Satchmo came back to town in 1949 to be King of Zulu for Mardi Gras. I was the one who drove him around." Stephens said whenever Armstrong would come to town he would announce it on the radio.

"And we all knew where to hang out to see him the MARKSVII LE, LA Sunday CHAMPAGKZ raUKCH l)W9 1-800-WIN-1-WIN Highway Marksville, 35 minutes south of Alexandria. A TuKiCA-BiLoxr Tribe of Louisiana Enterprise 1 rMA A entertainment Lorrie Morgan FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 9PM. "Five Minutes," "Except For Monday," "What Part Of No," "Something In Red" and many more! Tickets: $25 $30 -S i k. Burger Bam, Hwy, 84 992-2323. Lecompte Lea's: 1810 Hwy 71 776-5178.

Don's Cajun Kitchen, 1804 Weems Ave. 776-5875. LeesvJIe Hunan Chinese Restaurant: 11468 Lake Charles (337) 392-1 168. Ichiban Japanese Restaurant 1801 Boone (337) 239-9300. Las Margaritas: 11934 Lake Charles Hwy (337) 239-3026.

Orient's Wok Chinese Cafe: 1168 Entrance (337) 537-7678. Pat's Steak House: P.O. Box 1527, (337) 239-7605. Shogun Japanese Restaurant 1 14 E. Lula (337) 238-3085.

Szechuan Chinese Restaurant 12258 Lake Charles (337) 238-2568. Toby Steak House: 11868 Lake Charles (337) 238-0930. Marksvile Grand Casino Avoyelles restaurants 711 Grand (800) 946-1946. Nanny's Restaurant 333 Tunica 253-6058. Mansura Kyrle's Seafood Steak House, (318) 964-2448.

Avoyelles Plaza Bar Grill, 7974 Hwy. 1.964-5771. Natchitoches Dominic's Italian Restaurant Front Street. 354-7767 Landing Restaurant 530 Front 352-1579. Lasyone Meat Pie Kitchen: 622 2nd 352-3353.

Los Gallos Mexican Restaurant 124 Hwy. 1 356-8300. Nicky's Mexican Restaurant 4108 Hwy 6, 352-1538. Mariners Seafood Steak House: Hwy. 1 Bypass.

357-1220. Simpatico's: 302 Hwy. 1, 352-1880. South China Restaurant 307 Hwy. 1 352-8802.

Pioneer Club, 812 Washington 352-4884. Papa's Bar Grill, 604 Front (318) 356-5850. Mama's Oyster House, 608 Front 356-7874. Oakdale Hardwood Mill Restaurant 1194 Old River Mill Rd, 335-0797. Oberlin Polrs Cafe.

Main Street, (337) 639-9841. Tioga Hog Wild BBQ, 500 Shreveport Highway, 640-4125. Turkey Creek Betty's Log Cabin Katfish Kitchen: 6791 Hwy. 167 461-2800. Vlie Platte Cajun Catfish ft Steak House: 1452 Hwy.

167 (337) 363-7161 Catfish Place: 818 S. (337) 36 3-91 22. Jungle Dinner Club: 1636 Main (337)303-9103. Kemie's Restaurant 2756 Tata Cove Road 1337) 363-3768. The Pig Stand, 318 E.

Main, 363-2883. Washington Steamboat Warehouse: P.O Box 275. 826-7227. Evening Dining Editor's note: Evening Dining is a list of locally-owned restaurants in central Louisiana that serve dinner. If a restaurant is not on this list call the Town Talk Features Department at (318) 487-6474.

Alexandria Bangkok Restaurant 3648 North 449-1950. Bayou Garden Restaurant 3800 Coliseum Blvd. 442-5453. Bentley Room: 200 Desoto 448-9600. Bistro on the Bayou: 1321 Chappie James, 445-7574.

Brocoto's, 3140 MacArthur 473-4396. Cajun Landing: 2728 N. MacArthur 487-4912. China Garden Restaurant 3914 Jackson St. 473-8400.

Critics Choice: 5208 Rue Verdun, 445-1680. Eddie's Barbecue: 4814 Lee 445- 9525. El Reparo Mexican Grill: 550 MacArthur 487-0207. Golden China Restaurant 2157 N. Mall 484-9966.

Green Olive Restaurant 5808 Jackson St. 445-7689. Julia's Mexican Restaurant: 2204 Worley 445-2405. Oriental Wok: 6 N. Bolton 448-8247.

Robbie G's: 5859 Jackson St. 443-8621. Sammy's Steak Ribs: 3805 Halsey 445-5125. Spirits Food Friends: 1260-H Texas 445-4491. Suburban Garden: 3322 Jackson 442-6974.

Tunk's Cypress Inn: 9507 Hwy. 28 487-4014. Pinevile Cajun Catfish House: 3400 Old Marksville Hwy. 448-9333. El Rodeo Mexican Grill: 6005 Monroe Hwy 641-0204.

Hickory Hut: 3002 Hwy. 38 442-8246. Judy's Cafe: 4006 Hwy. 28 443- 8095. Paparoux's, 200 Sandifer Lane, 473-8977 Paradise Catfish Kitchen: 4820 Monroe (318) 640-5032.

Stalnaker's Restaurant 4230 Stalnaker 640-1361. Bunkie Dugout Rooky's Tails and Shells, 124 Lyie Lane, 346-90-62. Effie Bruce's Cafe. 2962 Hwy. 8060.

Qenmora Reggie's. 105 7m Street. 748-8923. Carls Catfish Hut, Hwy. 113, 748-4401.

Hneston Sissy's Restaurant 1855 Hwy. 121. 793-5353. Jena Buddy's Fish Finn, 1110 Pine. 992-0120.

Girms Steak Seafood: Hwy 84 992-6M6. ICC The Sunshine Band SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 9PM "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way I Like It," "Boogie Shoes" and many more! Tickets: $25 $30 Tickets for all shows available at Paragon Gifts and all Ticlcetmaster outlets. When purchased at our gift shop. Must have 'layers Card to receive discount. D-3 Reel View D-4 Sound View D-5 La View.