Roland Burrow
“Life on the Mississippi: A Tale of Two Cities”
Oil on Canvas
40.5″ x 53.5″
In the nineteen-teens the Streckfus Steamer company was running multiple steamboats up and down the Mississippi River for both commerce and entertainment. One of these boats, traveled from New Orleans to St. Louis, on it was Louis Armstrong.
Armstrong, who was beginning to get his musical feet underneath him joined the Fate Marable Band, the entertainment for the boat. Fate, throughout his life would work with many of the greatest African American musicians in history.
Armstrong found the musical scene of St. Louis intriguing and settled for a short while to play the steamers and hangout in the happening music scene.
This painitng details the lively steamboat evening cruises; St. Louis nights filled with music, games, and the river. It depicts the life of many who lived on the west side of the river. However, the life of those just across to the east was very different than those in the west.
In 1917 riots erupted in East St. Louis leaving many dead and the city burned to the ground. As the boat in the painting passes through the iconic Eads Bridge, the viewer can see East St. Louis in flames.
This painting is part of a series that Roland is currently working on of historical St. Louis African American musical events that have long been forgotten. For more information please contact the gallery.
