Doreen Ketchins

Even if you didn't play an instrument, you could dance. You know, my dad never played an instrument as far as I know, but he was a member of a social aid and pleasure club. And those were the guys that dress up and dance, you know, in front of the band. So when Lawrence and I would come to the living room to learn new songs, my dad knew all the songs. He called the titles to all the songs.

Even if you didn't play an instrument, you could dance. You know, my dad never played an instrument as far as I know, but he was a member of a social aid and pleasure club. And those were the guys that dress up and dance, you know, in front of the band. So when Lawrence and I would come to the living room to learn new songs, my dad knew all the songs. He called the titles to all the songs.

So we grew up here. The music is in us, you know, and it's all around us. You can't avoid it. It's not like in the French Quarter where people with a whole lot of money can complain to the police about the music, you know, and the police could come down and actually...

So we grew up here. The music is in us, you know, and it's all around us. You can't avoid it. It's not like in the French Quarter where people with a whole lot of money can complain to the police about the music, you know, and the police could come down and actually...

So we grew up here. The music is in us, you know, and it's all around us. You can't avoid it. It's not like in the French Quarter where people with a whole lot of money can complain to the police about the music, you know, and the police could come down and actually...

ask you to stop in the hood you know somebody playing music or practicing their trumpet or something like that you can't call the police please police not gonna even listen to you you know but people don't anyway you know what i mean lawrence used his mom used to make him play outside you know go outside i don't hear all that you know right right so the neighborhood was used to hearing him play and he was used to playing you know whether you liked it or not you know what i mean so yeah

ask you to stop in the hood you know somebody playing music or practicing their trumpet or something like that you can't call the police please police not gonna even listen to you you know but people don't anyway you know what i mean lawrence used his mom used to make him play outside you know go outside i don't hear all that you know right right so the neighborhood was used to hearing him play and he was used to playing you know whether you liked it or not you know what i mean so yeah

ask you to stop in the hood you know somebody playing music or practicing their trumpet or something like that you can't call the police please police not gonna even listen to you you know but people don't anyway you know what i mean lawrence used his mom used to make him play outside you know go outside i don't hear all that you know right right so the neighborhood was used to hearing him play and he was used to playing you know whether you liked it or not you know what i mean so yeah

No, I haven't been out in the street yet. I mean, I played his memorial, but it's Mardi Gras, and we wouldn't be out there anyway this time of the year. They're too crazy around Mardi Gras time. And everybody's asking, hey, when are you coming out and all that stuff. And I say, oh, the weekend after Mardi Gras. And it'll probably be there. I'll probably do it. I have to. I mean, in the beginning...

No, I haven't been out in the street yet. I mean, I played his memorial, but it's Mardi Gras, and we wouldn't be out there anyway this time of the year. They're too crazy around Mardi Gras time. And everybody's asking, hey, when are you coming out and all that stuff. And I say, oh, the weekend after Mardi Gras. And it'll probably be there. I'll probably do it. I have to. I mean, in the beginning...

No, I haven't been out in the street yet. I mean, I played his memorial, but it's Mardi Gras, and we wouldn't be out there anyway this time of the year. They're too crazy around Mardi Gras time. And everybody's asking, hey, when are you coming out and all that stuff. And I say, oh, the weekend after Mardi Gras. And it'll probably be there. I'll probably do it. I have to. I mean, in the beginning...

When he first passed, I couldn't even listen to our music without breaking down. And I thought about it when I was planning his memorial service. I said, you know, you play all of these funerals and second lines and stuff for strangers and friends, and you're not going to play for your husband? It doesn't make any sense. So I worked at it, and it's a state of mind. I got to be. I got to cross.

When he first passed, I couldn't even listen to our music without breaking down. And I thought about it when I was planning his memorial service. I said, you know, you play all of these funerals and second lines and stuff for strangers and friends, and you're not going to play for your husband? It doesn't make any sense. So I worked at it, and it's a state of mind. I got to be. I got to cross.

When he first passed, I couldn't even listen to our music without breaking down. And I thought about it when I was planning his memorial service. I said, you know, you play all of these funerals and second lines and stuff for strangers and friends, and you're not going to play for your husband? It doesn't make any sense. So I worked at it, and it's a state of mind. I got to be. I got to cross.

You know, I got to step to the right or something like that. And then I'm like, okay. And I play. And I can play. And like, he's here. I mean, I still feel his presence. I really do. And I thank God for that because... I don't feel alone. And then our daughter's husband was deployed. So, you know, you could say she just happened to be home. But there's God because she's there and her son's there.

You know, I got to step to the right or something like that. And then I'm like, okay. And I play. And I can play. And like, he's here. I mean, I still feel his presence. I really do. And I thank God for that because... I don't feel alone. And then our daughter's husband was deployed. So, you know, you could say she just happened to be home. But there's God because she's there and her son's there.

You know, I got to step to the right or something like that. And then I'm like, okay. And I play. And I can play. And like, he's here. I mean, I still feel his presence. I really do. And I thank God for that because... I don't feel alone. And then our daughter's husband was deployed. So, you know, you could say she just happened to be home. But there's God because she's there and her son's there.

And it's just beautiful, you know. And if she hadn't been there that morning when I woke up and he was gone, I would have been alone. in that big old house, you know. I'd have still been all right. I'm still impressed with how I handled everything, but I wasn't alone. You know, they were there, and that's God.

And it's just beautiful, you know. And if she hadn't been there that morning when I woke up and he was gone, I would have been alone. in that big old house, you know. I'd have still been all right. I'm still impressed with how I handled everything, but I wasn't alone. You know, they were there, and that's God.

And it's just beautiful, you know. And if she hadn't been there that morning when I woke up and he was gone, I would have been alone. in that big old house, you know. I'd have still been all right. I'm still impressed with how I handled everything, but I wasn't alone. You know, they were there, and that's God.