Albert "Papa" French (November 16, 1910 – September 28, 1977) was an American jazz musician, banjo player, and band leader in
.
He was a banjo player in the Original
Tuxedo Brass Band The Tuxedo Brass Band, sometimes called the Original Tuxedo Brass Band, was one of the most highly regarded brass bands of New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1910s and 1920s.
It was led by Papa Celestin starting about 1910. Many noted jazz greats play ...
of New Orleans. This band was founded in 1910 and led for 44 years by
Papa Celestin
Oscar Phillip Celestin (January 1, 1884 – December 15, 1954) better known by stage name Papa Celestin was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader.
Life and career
Celestin was born in Napoleonville, Louisiana, to a Creole family, son of a s ...
. After the death of Papa Celestin in 1954, leadership was briefly taken over by trombonist
Eddie Pierson
Eddie or Eddy may refer to:
Science and technology
* Eddy (fluid dynamics), the swirling of a fluid and the reverse current created when the fluid flows past an obstacle
*Eddie (text editor), a text editor originally for BeOS and now ported to Lin ...
until his death in 1958. The leadership of the band fell to Banjo player Albert French, who was called "Papa" French as a token of endearment of the Late Papa Celestin. Papa French led the band until his death in 1977.
He released the traditional jazz LP ''A Night At Dixieland Hall'', recorded live in 1965. Released on the Nobility label as Nobility 702, this set was recorded at Dixieland Hall, 522 Bourbon Street, New Orleans. It featured
Jeanette Kimball
Jeanette Kimball (18 December 1906 – 28 March 2001), née Jeanette Salvant, was a classically trained American jazz pianist who played in jazz bands for more than 70 years, mostly in New Orleans. She received the Black Men of Labor Jazz Lega ...
on Piano,
Louis Barbarin
Louis Barbarin (nickname Lil Barb; October 24, 1902 – May 12, 1997) was a New Orleans jazz drummer.
Early life
Barbarin was born in New Orleans on October 24, 1902. His father was Isidore Barbarin, and his brothers Paul, Lucien, and William all ...
on drums (incorrectly spelled "Louise" on the LP liner notes), Steward Davis on Bass Fiddle,
Joseph "Cornbread" Thomas
Joseph William Thomas, also known as Brother Cornbread (December 3, 1902 – February 18, 1981) was an American jazz clarinetist and singer, closely-associated with the New Orleans jazz scene.
Career
Thomas's first professional gig was in New ...
on Clarinet and Vocals,
Waldren "Frog" Joseph on Trombone,
Wendell Eugene
Wendell Eugene (October 12, 1923 – November 7, 2017) was an American jazz musician from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a popular trombonist on the New Orleans jazz scene and recorded with artists such as Lionel Ferbos, Harold Dejan, and Ker ...
on Trombone, and the well known
Alvin Alcorn
Alvin Elmore Alcorn (September 7, 1912 – July 10, 2003) was an American jazz trumpeter.
Career
Alcorn learned music theory from his brother. In the early 1930s, he was a member of the Sunny South Syncopators led by Armand J. Piron. He worked i ...
on Trumpet.
Albert's son
Bob French was a successful New Orleans musician and radio host who led the Tuxedo Jazz Band for decades after the death of his father in 1977.
Jazz musicians from New Orleans
1977 deaths
1910 births
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