George "Bongo Joe" Coleman

While some may think of him only as a novelty, Bongo Joe (aka George Coleman) had a long, illustrious career, especially for a self-taught street musician who played mainly for free. Born George Coleman in Haines City, FL, on November 28, 1923, he had a rough life from the beginning. His father died before he was born and his mother passed away when he was seven, leaving siblings and neighbors to look after him. Upon graduation from high school, Coleman began a 30-year musical career that found him playing 15 years on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston and another 15 in San Antoni...