Hear more about his story and being the first boneman to appear at Jazz Fest in our last interview with him, conducted in early 2019, at this link.
This week on Takin' It To The Streets, Action Jackson gets on the phone with George "The Bone Man" Quinn, the original 7th Ward boneman. Quinn shares what his role is in Mardi Gras and says that being the boneman gives him something to live for. This takes on a deeper meaning as he speaks to Action from hospice care. Quinn was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in September and still carries the ox bone with him everyday.
"When you look at me, you’re looking at yourself when you die," he says of Mardi Gras morning. "When I'm gone, I'm gone; that's it. Nobody can't duplicate it...I can't lay down and die because I ain't ready for that."
Hear the full interview below:
- WWOZ