Reginald Alfred DuValle

Advice from black pianist Reginald DuValle in 1916 to a young Hoosier with a passion for music - Hoagy Carmichael.

There, Hoagland came under the influence of an African-American pianist named Reginald DuValle, who gave him a great piece of advice: 'Never play anything that ain't right,' he admonished the young pianist. 'You may not make a lot of money, but you'll never get hostile with yourself.' DuValle gave Carmichael pointers about playing hot ragtime and the emerging style of jazz.Carmichael sought out cheap pianos in restaurants, night spots, and brothels where he was allowed to sit in.

Carmichael taught himself to play piano and picked up influences from African-American musicians, including Indianapolis pianist Reginald DuValle.

In 1916, the Carmichaels moved to Indianapolis where Hoagy took lessons from Reginald DuValle, a ragtime pianist.While still at high school he formed a band and continued to lead various groups during his time at Indiana University.In 1922, he met and became friendly with Bix Beiderbecke, then with the Wolverines, for whom Carmichael composed "Riverboat Shuffle" (with Dick Voynow, Mitchell Parish, Irving Mills), one of his first works.During the mid-20s he wrote occasionally, his music being published while he continued with his law studies.In 1927, he happened to hear a recording by Red Nichols of one of his tunes, "Washboard Blues" (lyric later, with Fred B. Callahan and Irving Mills).This convinced Carmichael that he should abandon law school and make a career in music.Also in 1927, he composed "Star Dust", which, with a subsequent lyric by Mitchell Parish, became his biggest seller, and one of the most recorded songs of all time.

Based in New York from 1929, the year "Star Dust" was published, Carmichael mixed with the jazz community, playing piano, singing and simply hanging out.

The Blackbirds, an orchestra led by Reginald DuValle—the local pianist who had taught composer Hoagy Carmichael to play ragtime and jazz—remained a perennial favorite.

Hoagy soon learned the rudiments of jazz piano from Reginald DuValle, an Indianapolis-based musician.By the time he enrolled as a law student at Indiana University, young Hoagy was well-known as a musician playing at fraternity dances and the like.He continued to play in popular ensembles throughout his college days, and made his first recordings in 1925.

However, after graduation in 1926, Hoagy initially opted to pursue a career in law.He took a position at a firm in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he continued to play music on the side.

While in high school, Hoagy befriended Reginald Alfred DuValle, an older black pianist who has been called "the elder statesman of Indiana jazz. According to DuValle's son, "In our neighborhood we seldom had any white people. So he kind of stood out, if you know what I mean.