James Palao (February 19, 1879 – January 8, 1925) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

musician.

Early life

Palao was born in

Algiers, New Orleans Algiers is a historic neighborhood of New Orleans and is the only Orleans Parish community located on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Algiers is known as the 15th Ward, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans. It was once home to many jazz mu ...

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

, on February 19, 1879. His parents were Felix Palao and Clotile Rebecca Spriggs. Jimmy had violin lessons as a child.

Later life and career

Palao's profession was recorded as "musician" in the 1900 census, but little is known of his career prior to 1907, although he did play in local bands such as the Pacific Brass Band. Palao married Armontine Carter in 1905. The couple had five children, four of whom survived infancy. In 1911, his composition " O You Sweet Rag" was published by H. Kirkus Dugdale. Armontine left him in 1912 and moved to Los Angeles; Palao rejoined her there the following year. In California, he started working in a string trio with Norwood Williams and

Dink Johnson Ollie "Dink" Johnson (1892 – November 29, 1954 was a Dixieland jazz pianist, clarinetist, and drummer. Background Johnson was born in 1892, most likely in New Orleans, although the date is disputed and some sources have cited the place of b ...

. They recruited several others from New Orleans to form The Original Creole Orchestra. The other members were

Freddy Keppard Freddie Keppard (sometimes rendered as Freddy Keppard; February 27, 1890 – July 15, 1933) was an American jazz cornetist who once held the title of "King" in the New Orleans jazz scene. This title was previously held by Buddy Bolden and suc ...

, Eddie Vincent, and George Baquet. Palao and his family moved to New York City around 1916, and stayed for two years. Palao played with

King Oliver Joseph Nathan "King" Oliver (December 19, 1881 – April 8/10, 1938) was an American jazz cornet player and bandleader. He was particularly recognized for his playing style and his pioneering use of Mute (music), mutes in jazz. Also a notable c ...

's band during 1921–22. In 1923 he was with the Syncopated Ginger Snaps, accompanying Dave and Tessie, who were a song and dance act. Around 1924, Palao and his family moved to Chicago from Milwaukee. He had to leave the touring Syncopated Ginger Snaps and return to Chicago because he had

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

. He died there on January 8, 1925, and was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

References

Bibliography

* 1879 births 1925 deaths American jazz bandleaders Louisiana Creole people Jazz musicians from New Orleans 20th-century deaths from tuberculosis Tuberculosis deaths in Illinois {{Jazz-musician-stub