Fact #179327

An item about the Newsboys Spasm Band in The Sunday Vindicator describes the group with the words, "The most bizarre musical fraternity on record is the Spasm Band of New Orleans. It is composed of six urchins who divide their time equally between mischief and selling papers in the day time, but as soon as night falls they blossom forth as full-fledged members and active players of the Spasm Band." The group, consisting of young part-time musicians plays instruments they have built themselves. They are considered by some commentators to have been "the first jazz band".