Galveston Island's rich musical heritage produced three extraordinary African-American musicians who carried their island-inspired sounds to the world stage. Frederick Tillis, Louis "Blues Boy" Jones, and Richard "Notes" Williams all grew up in 1930s and 40s Galveston, where music spilled from dance halls, churches, and pavilions, shaping their musical identities before they ventured beyond the Gulf Coast.

• Frederick "Baby" Tillis (1930-2020) began performing at age 12, earned a PhD in music composition, and bridged jazz with classical music
• Tillis composed over 125 musical works, published 15 books of poetry, and devoted his life to mentoring young musicians
• Louis "Blues Boy" Jones (1931-1984) learned singing in church choirs before working at pioneering Black-owned Peacock Records
• Jones performed alongside Otis Redding and gained international recognition, though his legacy was nearly forgotten until his recordings resurfaced decades later
• Richard "Notes" Williams (1931-1985) mastered the trumpet and performed with jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus
• All three musicians served in the military during the Korean War period, with both Tillis and Williams directing military bands
• Their stories reveal how Galveston wasn't just a backdrop for music but a launchpad for extraordinary musical careers
• Galveston continues its musical tradition today through venues like Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe and the Grand 1894 Opera House

Galveston Unscripted

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2025 marks the 160th year of Juneteenth, a powerful reminder of the day in 1865 when freedom finally reached the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth began on June 19, 1865, when Union forces arrived in Galveston, Texas, delivering General Order No. 3 which freed approximately 250,000 enslaved people. This historic moment occurred two and a half years after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and over two months after the Civil War officially ended, making Texas the last Confederate state to receive news of emancipation.

Galveston Unscripted

What is Galveston Unscripted?

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Mike Miller, director of the Rosenberg Library, shares the fascinating 150-year evolution of one of Texas's oldest public libraries and how it became Galveston's premier historical research institution. The Rosenberg Library stands as a unique cultural cornerstone housing all four GLAM components—Gallery, Library, Archive, and Museum—preserving irreplaceable Texas history dating back to the early 1700s.

• Founded through Henry Rosenberg's will in 1893, with $600,000 (millions in today's dollars) dedicated to creating a public library
• Opened in 1904 but traces its roots to the 1871 Galveston Mercantile Library, a subscription service created by local merchants
• Houses the collections of the Texas Historical Foundation, focusing on pre-Civil War Texas history and comprehensive Galveston records
• Contains the first map identifying "Galveston Bay" from 1722 and numerous historical treasures
• Established one of the first libraries for African Americans in Texas before quietly desegregating
• Combines all four pillars of information institutions—Gallery, Library, Archive and Museum—making it exceptionally rare for a city of Galveston's size

Galveston Unscripted

What is Galveston Unscripted?

Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!