In 2019, Grammy Award-winning musician PJ Morton announced ambitious plans to restore the home of jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden in Central City, New Orleans. Morton, along with the Buddy’s House Foundation, intended to convert the dilapidated shotgun house into a community recording studio and museum to honor the jazz legend. However, five years later, the project remains unfinished and the future of the iconic property is in limbo.
The house, located near the corner of First Street and Simon Bolivar Avenue, was once home to Bolden, a trumpet player who many historians consider the first true jazz musician. Despite Bolden’s profound influence, no recordings of his music exist, making the preservation of his home even more crucial as one of the few tangible links to his legacy. Over the years, the house has received basic renovations, including new paint, repaired stoops, and weatherboards. Most recently, a fresh coat of butter-yellow paint was applied, along with the installation of gutters and the removal of surrounding trash.
But despite these visible improvements, the building remains unoccupied and unused. City officials have flagged the property multiple times for neglect, even threatening fines before the church paid them off to retain ownership. While Morton and his foundation initially showed great promise, the project’s progress has been slow, and emails and phone calls to PJ Morton and the Greater St. Stephen church have gone unanswered.
The Bolden house, now valued at $250,000, continues to be at risk as natural threats like termites and vines creep into the structure. The house’s future remains unclear, raising concerns about whether the long-delayed renovation will ever come to fruition.
As of now, the legacy of Buddy Bolden remains in limbo, with hopes that PJ Morton’s vision for a tribute to the jazz legend will eventually be realized.
