Celebrating the Birthday of Jelly Roll Morton! 10/20

Ragtime and early jazz pianist and composer Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was born in New Orleans on October 20, 1890 (though some say 1885). He was a pivotal figure in early jazz. He was the first arranger in this genre rooted in improvisation, proving that jazz could retain its essential characteristics and spirit even though notated. 

Morton learned to play piano at age 10, and within a few years he was playing in the red-light district bordellos, where he earned the nickname "Jelly Roll." Blending the styles of ragtime and minstrelsy with dance rhythms, he was at the forefront of a movement that would soon be known as "jazz." His composition "Jelly Roll Blues", published in 1915, was the first published jazz composition.

Jelly Roll Morton passed away on July 10, 1941, in Los Angeles, California. Whether or not Morton invented jazz, as he had claimed, he is regarded as one of its great innovators. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him in 1998, and he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

Happy Birthday, Wynton Marsalis! 10/18

Trumpeter, composer and teacher Wynton Marsalis was born in New Orleans on October 18, 1961, into a family of musical royalty. He is the son of jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr., and brother of saxophonist Branford, trombonist Delfeayo, and drummer Jason. While sitting at a table with trumpeters Al Hirt, Miles Davis, and Clark Terry, his father jokingly suggested that he might as well get Wynton a trumpet, too. Hirt volunteered to give him one, so at the age of six Marsalis received his first trumpet. Since that time, he has been awarded nine Grammy Awards and was the first jazz composition to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. In addition, Marsalis is the only musician to win a Grammy Award in jazz and classical during the same year. The artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, he also promotes classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Happy Birthday to one of the all time greats!

Eric Delmar - Given with permission from author

Happy Birthday, Lil Wayne! 9/27

Rapper, singer, songwriter, record executive, entrepreneur and actor Lil Wayne (DeWayne Michael Carter, Jr) was born on September 27, 1982, in New Orleans. He was discovered in 1995 at age 12, and was part of several groups, and he released his debut solo album in 1999, which was certified platinum. His popularity grew and he gained prominence, with albums being certified gold, and culminating in a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2008. Lil Wayne’s success continued but was interrupted by an 8-month jail sentence in New York due to a 2007 weapon possession incident. His 8th studio album was released during his incarceration in 2010, and another was released following his release from jail. In September 2012, Lil Wayne became the first male artist to achieve 109 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, surpassing Elvis Presley. Lil Wayne has sold over 15 million albums in the United States, and more than 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He is also the CEO of his own label, Young Money Entertainment.

By Megan Elice Meadows - IMG_0534, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54753000

Celebrating the Birthday of Eddie Bo - 9/20

Singer, pianist and songwriter Eddie Bo (Edwin Joseph Bocage) was born on September 20, 1929, in New Orleans, and grew up in Algiers and the Ninth Ward. Eddie, who was trained in jazz, was known for his blues, soul and funk recordings, and released more single records than anyone else in New Orleans other than Fats Domino. Eddie won two Lifetime Achievement awards from the South Louisiana Music Association and Music/Offbeat Best of the Beat. He was a veteran of the New Orleans music scene who has been sorely missed since his passing on March 18, 2009.

By Masahiro Sumori - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2066510

Happy Birthday, Little Freddie King!

Delta Blues guitarist Little Freddie King, born Fread Eugene Martin, celebrates his 79th birthday on July 19th. Born in Mississippi in 1940, he moved to New Orleans at age 14. He performed in juke joints with legendary blues artists, and played with luminaries Bo Diddley and John Lee Hooker, as well as playing bass for Freddy King. Style comparisons between the two artists led to his use of the name “Little Freddie King”, though his playing sounds more like his cousin, Lightnin’ Hopkins, He is a three-time New Orleans “Blues Performer of the Year”, he is also a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Happy Birthday, Freddie!