Editing Buddy Bolden (section)

==Childhood==

When he was born, Bolden's father, Westmore Bolden, was working as a driver for William Walker, the former employer of Buddy's grandfather Gustavus Bolden, who was born in Luisiana in 1806 and died in 1866. Gustavus was most likely born into slavery, though no definitive records say. His mother, Alice (née Harris), was aged 18 when she married Westmore on August 14, 1873. Westmore Bolden was around 25 at the time, as records show that he was 19 in August 1866. When Buddy was six years old, his father died, after which the boy lived with his mother and other family members.{{sfn|Marquis|2005|pp=10–18}} In records of the period the family name is variously spelled ''Bolen'', ''Bolding'', ''Boldan'', and ''Bolden'', thus complicating research.{{sfn|Marquis|2005|p=19}} Buddy likely attended Fisk School in New Orleans, though evidence is circumstantial, as early records of this and other local schools are missing.{{sfn|Marquis|2005|pp=29–30}}