On November 17th, I drove over to Roachdale to interview Al Coleman. Roachdale is about a two hour drive from my house in Indianapolis. I came with a digital recorder, a scanner, and my Cell phone. A 1945 Attucks Reunion a month earlier prompted to visit. Over the span of a few hours, we discussed Al's upbringing, his marriage, and his civic and business life. Near the end of the interview Al showed me pictures of relatives and a Family Tree completed a decade earlier.
Detail
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Mostly blank, and WIFI setup
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Graduated Crispus Attucks in 1945, but "posted" until 1946. Stayed to help with the drummers in the band under the direction of Mr. Russell Brown.
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Described a pictorial family tree in the basement. Also described pictures and awards in the Family Room.
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Talked about his youngest son who fought in Viet Nam, and about his brother, and his granddaughter who was a school principal.
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Talked about various awards; Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame, 1986 JACER Inn retreat discussion, and other awards. Doing great things over the years.
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Help of the Almighty. Start of structured interview. How did you end up in Roachdale? It's a long story.
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Merle Laswell was a chapter president on Indy family reunion. They were considering buying some property. Al was on the committee that looked at the property. The group didn't want to buy it, so Al bought it.
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Discussion about things her learned from his Dad. His Mother is related to the Edwards. Further discussion of how he is related to the Edwards family.
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Al had a Hotel, and his wife worked at Fort Harrison. He got a loan from the Fort Harrison Credit Union to buy the land in Roachdale. They normally didn't make mortgages, but they did this time for him.
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So his corporation bought it on a five year note. His corporation also have a hotel on 23 and Central.
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He made improvements to the property, and allowed people from the city to come out a hunt; he wold serve food and beer, etc. His wife Anna then had a job with the government related to drug prevention. They came up with the idea to convert the land for use a a drug rehab retreat.
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Also worked with under-previliaged kids. They were a social assistance agency for over thirty years. Food bank, hosting people from various churches who need short term housing.
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Growing up during segregation. Raised near Shelby and Minnesota streets on the southside (Lockewood St).
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I-65 is there now. Integrated neighborhood, but went to segregated school( #19) [walked 12 blocks]. Then on to Attucks for high school mainly for music. Goes on to talk about Russell Brown and the number of musicians from Indianapolis.
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Military career; went in in 1947 stayed 18 months, then returned again for the Korean war a year later. What was your first job?
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I was in Grades School; boys were wearing Drapes (tight pants). His Dad bought his clothes at L Strauss & Co., he wore shirt and tie a lot. His Dad said no to buying Drapes, so Al said he'd get a job and buy his own Drapes. His Dad said fine, but don't worry about him buying him anything else. So Al took a job at the Star Service Shop on Illinois and Maryland streets.
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Started shinning shoes on Saturday. Paul Wheaton (Guitar Player) also worked there. All worked there two or three Saturdays until he had the money for the Drapes; then quit.
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His Dad just shook his head. He didn't buy Al's clothes anymore. Al later found out that his Dad would sneak to give his Grandmother money so She could buy his clothes. His salary was "peanuts" plus TIPS; it took three weeks to buy a pair of pants. First career job was with a band call Leo Hines. His job was as the Band Boy, mainly setting up stands for the band. One night the drummer didn't show up, so Al got to sit in, and he kept a drumming job after that. Leo left to go down south, and left the band to Delly Storm. J.J. Johnson is one of the few musicians Al hasn't played with or been on the stand with. Al met his wife and son, but not him.
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Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Cole, and many others, Al has played with for many years. Al's Dad was a musician, so Al even knew many of the older musicians. Al's Dad's name was Alivia Coleman. Discussion about the southside.
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Narwood and Lovetown areas. Al grew up near Garfield Park, and it was a mixed neighborhood. Mostly lived in mixed areas, until coming to Roachdale. Discussion about joining the church in Roachdale, etc.
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Good friends and neighbors discussion.
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Joining the local church. Forrest Jones, a friend, and local merchant. Helped Al's family get settled in the neighborhood.
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More discussion on friends and neighbors. How people value friendship.
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If you could spend a day with any famous person, who would it be? And what would you do? Spent time with the wife of the bass player of the Three Souls (she came into town for Gilbert's funeral); I guess I don't know. Gloria has been all over the world. She's one of the top fifty Black Women in the country.
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She was vice President of Clark College. Then on to Bennett College. She was President of the National Girls Scouts. She was on the board of Lowes Corporation (Hotels, Entertainment).
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How did you meet your wife? Near the grade school on the Hill (#37?), his cousin who was like a sister introduced him to his to be wife. Her initial reaction to him was that he was too fast for her.
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Uncle Willie (Wm D. Edwards) married Al and Anna. He recalls seeing his uncle Willie at the grocery at 39th and Illinois, and remarking that he had tied that knot tight! Discussion on marriage and how they stopped counting at 50 years.
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Wanting to write a book, to pickup where his wife had started. It's haunting him, he needs to get started. Discussion about computer purchase and use.
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"Nothing but miracles out here" More discussion about interview questions.
