John Casimir (October 16, 1898 – January 3, 1963) 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 majo ...

clarinetist and bandleader, best remembered as the leader of The

Young Tuxedo Brass Band The Young Tuxedo Brass Band is a brass band from New Orleans that was active after World War II. The Young Tuxedo Brass Band was founded in 1938 by John Casimir. Its name is a nod to the Tuxedo Brass Band of Papa Celestin, an ensemble in New Orl ...

for some 20 years up to his death.

Career

Casimir started playing professionally with the Young Eagles Band with Lee Collins in 1919. He was also a member of the Original Tuxedo Brass Band, often following the lead of Louis Armstrong. The Young Tuxedo Brass Band's 1958 album was released under the title ''Jazz Begins'' by

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most ...

. It was the only recording the band released under his leadership. Casimir also led a dance band using some of the same musicians under the name the Young Tuxedo Jazz Band, which also recorded. Casimir played Bb clarinet with the jazz band, and the distinctive higher Eb clarinet with brass bands.

Source

* ''New Orleans Jazz: A Family Album'' by Al Rose and Edmond Souchon, Third Edition, Louisiana State University Press, 1984

References

1898 births 1963 deaths Jazz musicians from New Orleans American jazz clarinetists 20th-century American musicians Tuxedo Brass Band members Young Tuxedo Brass Band members Eureka Brass Band members {{US-clarinetist-stub