"[4] Papoose and his brother Lawrence learned to play guitar from their father, who also taught music to Smiley Lewis and Henry Roeland Byrd.

[3] In March 1948 club owner Michael Tessitore hired piano player Byrd to play at his Caldonia Nite Club, giving him the nickname Professor Longhair—the title of “Professor” had been given to New Orleans piano players since the days of Storyville, and “Longhair” referred to Byrd's relaxed coiffure.

[5] Longhair's regular gig at the Caldonia also included sidemen Eddie "Apeman" Black on saxophone, Clarence "Big Slick" Fritz on drums, and seventeen-year-old Papoose Nelson on guitar.

[2] Longhair later recalled, "Papoose was with me in ’49… His daddy was a help to me… and by him taking up so much time with me, showing me bars and different things… I didn’t figure it was no more than right to help his son out… he was about the best guitar player.

"[6] New Orleans drummer Charles "Hungry" Williams remembered seeing Professor Longhair and his band that included Papoose Nelson at the Pepper Pot in Gretna, Louisiana.

"[8] In addition to playing on Professor Longhair recordings, Nelson worked as a studio guitarist for some of Dave Bartholomew's releases.

[9][10] His other studio work included Bartholomew's production of Smiley Lewis, T-Bone Walker,[11] and Roosevelt Sykes' Imperial Records sides.

[13] In 1958 Nelson and the core of the Domino band led by saxophonist Herb Hardesty cut an album that remained unissued until 2012.

could sing.."[16] Billboard Magazine on January 6, 1962, noted, “Little Bit Of Everything" was an "attractive bluesy theme sung by Walter Nelson in relaxed, showmany fashion.

Domino would later recall his band with Buddy Hagans, Billy Diamond, Cornelius "Tenoo" Coleman, Wendell Duconge, and Papoose Nelson as being his "best ever.

"[8] Fat's Domino's bass player and road manager Billy Diamond said of Papoose Nelson that his driving-but-mellow style became "the backbone of our band.

"[6] After Nelson took him on as a student, he said, "Papoose listened to my chops and said, 'Man, you can't play that outta-meter, foot-beater jive and get a job.'

Aware that a drug overdose death could damage Domino's reputation and cancel the Sullivan date, Diamond claimed he bribed a "Jet" magazine reporter to write that Nelson died of a heart attack.

[1] The Olympia Brass Band led a traditional jazz funeral for Walter C. "Papoose" Nelson, Jr. on March 10, 1962, with family, friends, and members the American Federation of Musicians Local No.

[2] "It Must Be Wonderful" from Herb Hardesty & His Band- The Domino Effect: Wing & Federal Recordings 1958-1961 (vocal by Walter "Papoose" Nelson) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=from+Herb+Hardesty+%26+His+Band-+The+Domino+Effect+It+must+Be+Wonderful "Why Did We Have To Part" from Herb Hardesty & His Band- The Domino Effect: Wing & Federal Recordings 1958-1961 (vocal by Walter "Papoose" Nelson) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22Why+Did+We+Have+To+Part%22+from+Herb+Hardesty+%26+His+Band