Jazz Legends Celebrate Trains: A Tribute to Travel and Home

During the Jim Crow era in the early 1900s, famous jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong relied on the Pullman sleeping cars for their tours across the United States. While their fame afforded them some protection, they still faced the pervasive threat of racial violence, particularly in the southern states where segregation was enforced. These accommodations offered them a sense of safety and comfort, starkly contrasting with the harsh realities of traveling as Black individuals during that time. Ellington noted in his memoir that he often chartered multiple Pullman cars to avoid the dangers encountered in unfamiliar cities. The service on these trains included African American porters who ensured their well-being, allowing these artists to compose and perform without the stress of racial discrimination. The musicians expressed their appreciation for trains through notable compositions, creating a lasting homage to the railroads that served them in a time of adversity.