Johnny Wiggs is the New Orleans Cornetist and Bandleader who composed the Southside Aces’ title tune, “Bucktown Bounce.” Johnny played with several bands and orchestras from the 1920s through to his retirement in 1960 (although he made appearances at Preservation Hall from 1965-1967). In the ‘20s and ‘30s he worked with Happy Schilling’s Orchestra and the New Orleans Owls. His own bands included the Bayou Stompers and The Johnny Wiggs Orchestra.

Many of his compositions and recordings come from the 1950s, including “Bucktown Bounce”. He also spent the last half of his life devoted to the revival of New Orleans jazz, cofounding the New Orleans Jazz Club. Keep listening--over time, other Wiggs tunes will make their way into the Aces' repertoire.

Speaking of Bucktown...

Cornetist--and my mentor--Charlie DeVore tells of Bucktown’s connection to Johnny Wiggs in the liner notes of our CD.

Johnny Wiggs was one of Charlie’s mentors and wrote and titled several of his tunes after the various locales in the city. During Johnny’s time the lakefront in Bucktown was characterized as a place perhaps not to be caught without some degree of physical wherewithal.

My memories of Bucktown begin just a handful of years ago, and are certainly much more tame. The first few times I ever went to New Orleans, my first stop was a restaurant on Lake Pontchartrain called Sidmar’s. My experience of Bucktown was of this family seafood restaurant where I could eat a huge and tasty meal and order up a locally brewed Jax beer to really remind myself that I had indeed touched down in that great city. Afterwards, patting my burgeoning belly, I would stroll out into the parking lot looking out on that huge lake, not being able to see the other side. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina left nothing much more than the foundation of one of my first favorite places.

-Tony Balluff