 With Johnson (1894–1955) on piano, his sidemen were Teddy Bunn (1909–1978) (guitar); Elmer James (1910–1954) (double bass); and Zutty Singleton (1898–1975) (drums).At age 39, Ladnier, died unexpectedly of a heart attack June 4, 1939, while staying at Mezz Mezzrow's apartment at 1 West 126th Street – a six-story, 48-unit residential building in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan.It fell upon Mezzrow to take care of Ladnier's belongings and bury him.