Jim Cullum’s memorial will have live music, second line

Jim Cullum plays in the second line after the the funeral for Pete Fountain, a jazz clarinet legend, in New Orleans in 2016. Jim Cullum plays in the second line after the the funeral for Pete Fountain, a jazz clarinet legend, in New Orleans in 2016. Photo: Contributor File Photo Photo: Contributor File Photo Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Jim Cullum’s memorial will have live music, second line 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

There will be plenty of music during the memorial for band leader Jim Cullum Jr., who died Sunday of an apparent heart attack.

Scheduled for 2 p.m. on Aug. 31 at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, the celebration of his life will be free and open to the public, and those in attendance will be able to play along.

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According to Donna Cloud, Cullum’s longtime companion, the first portion of the service will consist of music by the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, plus several former band members. Cloud confirmed that clarinetists Allan Vaché and Ron Hockett will attend, and said she expects more to follow.

“All are welcome, and we want anyone who plays to bring their instrument,” Cloud said. The event will have open seating.

The tribute is a fitting send-off for Cullum, a cornetist who spent a lifetime playing traditional jazz and helped promote the genre worldwide via the weekly public radio show “Riverwalk Jazz.”

On ExpressNews.com: Jim Cullum Jr., who brought classic jazz from San Antonio to the world, has died

Several family members and friends will speak, and Cloud said she hopes there will be a prayer.

Following the formal portion of the service, there will be a San Antonio version of the second line, the traditional New Orleans brass band street parade that follows a funeral procession. But due to the expected hot weather, this “parade” will remain inside the Tobin Center.

“We don’t know if people will parade around or stand at their seats, but there’ll be lots of good music,” Cloud said. “We want it to show the brotherhood of the music that Jim loved so much.”

Richard A. Marini is a features writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini