 He started playing in street parades around New Orleans with Bunk Johnson and his band and then got a job playing in Willie Hightower's band, the American Stars.The band played in various venues around New Orleans, and Dodds recalls hearing many musicians along the way, including Buddy Bolden, John Robichaux, and Jelly Roll Morton.He played with several different outfits including those of Frankie Duson and Sonny Celestin, and he was part of the New Orleans tradition of playing jazz during funeral marches.