Christopher "Black Happy" Goldston

Christopher "Black Happy" Goldston (born November 27, 1894 in New Orleans , † March 17, 1968 ibid) was an American drummer in various brass bands in New Orleans.

Happy Goldston was the son of a Methodist preacher. He got his surname Happy because of his cheerful character. He played both snare drums and the occasional bass drum, but preferred snare drums, not using tom-tom , hi-hats or ride cymbals . Goldston was mostly self-taught, but learned from other brass band musicians such as Louis Cottrell senior , with whom he played in the Excelsior Brass Band , and "Black Benny" Williams . His role model was Henry Zeno , who last played in the Tuxedo Brass Band .

Initially (before 1920) he played with the Tulane Brass Band and the Crescent Orchestra, in the 1920s with the Onward Brass Band and the Golden Leaf Band , and in the 1930s with the WPA Band (with New Deal aids during the Great depression financed) and in the 1940s and the 1950s with the Tuxedo Brass band of Papa Celestin . He also played in Henry Allen's Brass Band , the Eureka Brass Band, and with Kid Rena .

There are only a few recordings of him in 1950, 1951 and 1953 (with the Paddock Jazz Band , another outfit of Papa Celestin's band) with Papa Celestin's brass band. He's on films from the jazz funerals of Alphonse Picou and Papa Celestin.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Goldston, Christopher "Black Happy"
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Goldston, Christopher; Black Happy (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American jazz drummer
DATE OF BIRTH	November 27, 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH	New Orleans
DATE OF DEATH	17th March 1968
Place of death	New Orleans