Bernard Addison

Who was Bernard Addison?

Bernard Addison was a jazz guitarist who began as a banjo player in the 1920s. He became interested in banjo when he moved to Washington, D.C. in his youth. In 1930 he switched to guitar to fill in for a Louis Armstrong's guitarist. He would also work with Jelly Roll Morton and the Mills Brothers. In 1935 he did what might be his most noted song, "Toledo Shuffle", with Freddie Jenkins.