Louie Bellson Smithsonian Interview Block 314 (Q11110)

Let's talk about what that was like. You mentioned earlier in this interview about how Benny Goodman was a pioneer, but you yourself were a trailblazer in many ways, and you endured a lot of, shall we say, kinds of experiences that weren't really the norm at that time. Separate but equal was the law of the land, and segregation was strictly enforced. But you seem to feel comfortable crossing c ...