Glade Torrey
FriedaLouis was raised in the St. Bernard Projects in the 7th Ward of New Orleans. Both of his parents worked outside the home at low paying jobs but Louis never thought of his family as impoverished, there was always good food on the table and an abundance of loving attention from his folks. What more could a child want? His grandfather, a retired jazz promoter and musician, lived with them and gave Louis an old trumpet on his fifth birthday and from the moment he blew his first note, Louis knew what he wanted, he wanted to be like Sachmo, Bix or Kermit. Under his grandfather's guidance, Louis quickly learned to play, and by the time he started in high school, he had formed his own traditional jazz band, earned a good reputation, a modest income, and was able to help his folks with the household expenses.
Young Louis is known for his positive outlook, persistent smile and easy laugh. Generous to a fault, he is always first to volunteer help for a fellow musician in need, or to lend a hand at the local church or homeless shelter doing repairs or serving meals. Being a character himself, he 'collects' characters, making friends with and loving those who are 'unloved' by society, trying to make their lives better as best as he can, even if it is only a laugh or a smile.
Louis is in awe of girls, there isn't a girl he has met yet that he hasn't fallen in love with. His parents insisted that Louis treat the ladies with the utmost respect and honor in the most traditional Southern way. Louis took that advice to heart, yet his infectious personality, quick wit and twinkling eyes have given him a reputation among the females of New Orleans as a rascal, a big flirt or a tease. Consequently, Louis has had a difficult time being taken seriously when it comes to matters of love, which only fuels his desire to try harder and fans the flames of failure. Yet, every evening at the club where Louis and his band play, there is a beautiful young girl who sits in the booth in the back in the corner in the dark and waits patiently for Louis to notice that she is madly in love with him. Last night, Louis finally took notice...
