William "Billy" Diamond, New Orleans blues legend, and "Mayor" of the 9th ward, was born October 5, 1916, the son of a flamboyant and charismatic Negro Baseball League pitcher, Jake "Black" Diamond and Bertha Victor, died on October 20, 2011. He was 95 years old.
When native New Orleanian Billy Diamond was a teenager, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong gave him a trumpet, which he never learned to play, but instead opted to build a washtub bass, a decision inspired by his cousin, a gifted bass player named John Porter. He then became a Dixieland bass player under the mentorship of Oscar "Papa" Celestin, an American jazz bandleader and musician who made huge contributions to jazz during his lifetime.
During World War II, Diamond took a position with the army and became the first man of color to book entertainment for the troops. Always an enterprising individual, Billy soon became one of the top bandleaders in New Orleans. He also entered the competitive music scene in his hometown, playing clubs and school dances.
Billy then set the wheels of history in motion when he accepted an invitation to hear a young pianist perform at a backyard barbecue in the summer of 1947. The pianist, Antoine Domino, impressed Diamond enough that he asked Domino to play in his combo, the Solid Senders. He nicknamed the kid "Fats" because Domino reminded him of renowned pianists Fats Waller and Fats Pichon. "Fats" Domino then went on to his own brilliant career as an American R&B artist and major influence in rock and roll history.
Billy became Domino's road manager in the early 1950s. In the 50s and 60s, Diamond began promoting other artists, including Shirley and Lee, Huey "Piano" Smith, James Booker and Solomon Burke. In the early 1960s, Billy and his wife relocated to Los Angeles, where he hired bands and managed all operations at the 5-4 Ballroom.
In his career, Billy has done it all: bandleader, mentor, visionary, writer and Blues legend. He was an integral contributor to one of the most successful musical movements of the post WWII era, a respected musician, and an excellent manager.
Billy was a man of great integrity, always keeping an open mind and a kind heart to all. He was courageous, diplomatic and fearless. He had a way of making everyone feel special, important and cherished.
Billy is survived by his daughters, Tricia Diamond of Washington and Tracie Diamond of Michigan, and grandsons, Jameson Pierce Diamond and Travis Steven Diamond both of Washington, loving family across the country, as well as countless friends from all over the world who will miss him dearly.