Danny Barker
Encyclopedia
Danny Barker born Daniel Moses Barker, was a jazz
banjoist, singer, guitarist
, songwriter
, ukelele player and author
from New Orleans, founder of the locally famous Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
. He was a rhythm guitarist for some of the best bands of the day, including Cab Calloway
, Lucky Millinder
and Benny Carter
throughout the 1930s.
On September 4, 1945 he recorded with Ohio
's native jazz pianist—Sir Charles Thompson—a date that included saxophonists Dexter Gordon
and Charlie Parker
. Barker's work with the Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band was pivotal in ensuring the longevity of jazz in New Orleans, producing generations of new talent. Brothers Wynton Marsalis
and Branford Marsalis
both played in the band as youths as well as "The King of Treme" Shannon Powell
, Lucien Barbarin
, Dr. Michael White and countless others. One of Barker's earliest teachers in New Orleans was fellow banjoist Emanuel Sayles, whom he recorded with. Throughout his career, he played with Jelly Roll Morton
, Baby Dodds
, James P. Johnson
, Sidney Bechet
, Mezz Mezzrow
, and Red Allen
. He also toured and recorded with his wife, singer Blue Lu Barker
.
Danny Barker was born to a family of musicians in New Orleans in 1909, the grandson of bandleader Isidore Barbarin and nephew of drummers Paul Barbarin
and Louis Barbarin
; he first took up clarinet
and drums
before switching to a ukelele that his aunt got him, and then a banjo
from his uncle or a trumpeter named Lee Collins.
Barker began his career as a musician in his youth with his streetband the Boozan Kings and also toured Mississippi
with Little Brother Montgomery
. In 1930 he moved to New York City
and switched to the guitar. On the day of his arrival in New York his uncle Paul took him to the Rhythm Club, where he saw an inspiring performance by McKinney's Cotton Pickers
. Ironically, that was also their first performance in New York as a band. During his time in New York he frequently played with West Indian musicians, who often mistook him for one of them due to his Creole
style of playing.
Barker played with several acts when he initially moved to New York
, including Fess Williams
, Billy Fowler and the White Brothers. He worked with Buddy Harris
in 1933, Albert Nichols in 1935, Lucky Millinder
from 1937 to 1938, and Benny Carter
in 1938. From the years 1939 to 1946 he was frequently recording with Cab Calloway
, and started his own group featuring his wife Blue Lu Barker
after leaving Calloway. In 1947 he was performing again with Lucky Millinder, and also with Bunk Johnson
. He returned to working with Al Nichols in 1948 and in 1949 rejoined efforts with his wife in a group. During the 1950s he was primarily a freelance musician, but did work with his uncle Paul Barbarin
from 1954 to 1955. In the mid-1950s he went to California
to record yet again with Albert Nichols.
Sometime in the early 1960s he formed a group he called Cinderella. He performed at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival
with Eubie Blake
. In 1963 he was working with Cliff Jackson, and then in 1964 appeared at the World Fair
leading his own group.
In 1965, Barker returned to New Orleans and took up a position as assistant to the curator
of the New Orleans Jazz Museum
. In 1972 he found and led a church-sponsored brass band
for young people—the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
—which became popular. In later years the band became known as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
. During this time he also led the French Market Jazz Band.
The Fairview band also launched the careers of a number of professional musicians who went on to perform in both brass band
and mainstream jazz
contexts, including Leroy Jones
, Wynton Marsalis
, Branford Marsalis
, Kirk Joseph
, and Nicholas Payton
. As Joe Torregano—another Fairview band alumnus—described it, "That group saved jazz for a generation in New Orleans."
Barker played regularly at many New Orleans venues from the late 1960s through the early 1990s, in addition to touring. During the 1994 Mardi Gras
season Barker reigned as King of Krewe du Vieux
. He also published an autobiography
and many articles on New Orleans and jazz history.
Barker also authored and had published two books on jazz from the Oxford University Press
. The first was "Bourboun Street Black" in 1973, which was followed by "A Life In Jazz" in 1986. He also enjoyed painting and was an amateur landscape artist
.
Living during a period when segregation
was still common practice in the United States
, Barker faced many obstacles during his career. Barker suffered from diabetes throughout most of his adult life, and was often in general poor health. He died of cancer
in New Orleans on 13 March 1994 at age 85.
. Musicians from the documentary
speak at length of the profound impact that Barker had on their lives and careers and New Orleans poet
, Chuck Perkins
, reads a poem written for and dedicated to his memory.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
banjoist, singer, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, ukelele player and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
from New Orleans, founder of the locally famous Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
The Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band, also known as the Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band, was a New Orleans brass band created by Danny Barker notable for spuring the revival of participation in the city's brass band tradition by a new generation....
. He was a rhythm guitarist for some of the best bands of the day, including Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
, Lucky Millinder
Lucky Millinder
Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder was an American rhythm and blues and swing bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical taste made his bands successful...
and Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
throughout the 1930s.
On September 4, 1945 he recorded with Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
's native jazz pianist—Sir Charles Thompson—a date that included saxophonists Dexter Gordon
Dexter Gordon
Dexter Gordon was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and an Academy Award-nominated actor . He is regarded as one of the first and most important musicians to adapt the bebop musical language of people like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bud Powell to the tenor saxophone...
and Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
. Barker's work with the Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band was pivotal in ensuring the longevity of jazz in New Orleans, producing generations of new talent. Brothers Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
and Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
both played in the band as youths as well as "The King of Treme" Shannon Powell
Shannon Powell
”The King of Treme” Shannon Powell is an American jazz and New Orleans jazz virtuoso drummer. He has toured internationally and played with Ellis Marsalis, Danny Barker, Willie Metcalf Jr., Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis & the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Diana Krall, Earl King, Dr...
, Lucien Barbarin
Lucien Barbarin
Lucien Barbarin is an American trombone player, born July 17, 1956, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Barbarin tours internationally with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and with Harry Connick, Jr....
, Dr. Michael White and countless others. One of Barker's earliest teachers in New Orleans was fellow banjoist Emanuel Sayles, whom he recorded with. Throughout his career, he played with Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
, Baby Dodds
Baby Dodds
Warren "Baby" Dodds was a jazz drummer born in New Orleans, Louisiana."Baby" Dodds was the younger brother of clarinetist Johnny Dodds. He is regarded as one of the very best jazz drummers of the pre-big band era, and one of the most important early jazz drummers...
, James P. Johnson
James P. Johnson
James P. Johnson was an American pianist and composer...
, Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.He was one of the first important soloists in jazz , and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist...
, Mezz Mezzrow
Mezz Mezzrow
Milton Mesirow, better known as Mezz Mezzrow was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist from Chicago, Illinois. Mezzrow is well known for organizing and financing historic recording sessions with Tommy Ladnier and Sidney Bechet. Mezzrow also recorded a number of times with Bechet and...
, and Red Allen
Red Allen
Henry James "Red" Allen was a jazz trumpeter and vocalist whose style has been claimed to be the first to fully incorporate the innovations of Louis Armstrong.-Life and career:...
. He also toured and recorded with his wife, singer Blue Lu Barker
Blue Lu Barker
Blue Lu Barker was an American jazz and blues singer. Her better known recordings included "Don't You Feel My Leg" and "Look What Baby's Got For You."...
.
Biography
Paul Barbarin
Adolphe Paul Barbarin was a New Orleans jazz drummer, usually regarded as one of the very best of the pre-Big Band era jazz drummers...
and Louis Barbarin
Louis Barbarin
Louis Barbarin was a New Orleans jazz drummer. He studied under the famed drummer, Louis Cottrell, Sr.Louis was the younger brother of Paul Barbarin...
; he first took up clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
and drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
before switching to a ukelele that his aunt got him, and then a banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
from his uncle or a trumpeter named Lee Collins.
Barker began his career as a musician in his youth with his streetband the Boozan Kings and also toured Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
with Little Brother Montgomery
Little Brother Montgomery
Eurreal Wilford "Little Brother" Montgomery was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and blues pianist and singer....
. In 1930 he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and switched to the guitar. On the day of his arrival in New York his uncle Paul took him to the Rhythm Club, where he saw an inspiring performance by McKinney's Cotton Pickers
McKinney's Cotton Pickers
McKinney's Cotton Pickers were an African American jazz band founded in Detroit in 1926 by William McKinney, who expanded his Synco Septet to ten pieces. Cuba Austin took over for McKinney early on drums....
. Ironically, that was also their first performance in New York as a band. During his time in New York he frequently played with West Indian musicians, who often mistook him for one of them due to his Creole
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
style of playing.
Barker played with several acts when he initially moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, including Fess Williams
Fess Williams
Stanley Williams was an American jazz musician.-Early life:...
, Billy Fowler and the White Brothers. He worked with Buddy Harris
Buddy Harris
Walter Francis "Buddy" Harris is a retired American professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he worked in 22 games as a relief pitcher for the – Houston Astros of Major League Baseball...
in 1933, Albert Nichols in 1935, Lucky Millinder
Lucky Millinder
Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder was an American rhythm and blues and swing bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical taste made his bands successful...
from 1937 to 1938, and Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
in 1938. From the years 1939 to 1946 he was frequently recording with Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
, and started his own group featuring his wife Blue Lu Barker
Blue Lu Barker
Blue Lu Barker was an American jazz and blues singer. Her better known recordings included "Don't You Feel My Leg" and "Look What Baby's Got For You."...
after leaving Calloway. In 1947 he was performing again with Lucky Millinder, and also with Bunk Johnson
Bunk Johnson
Willie Gary "Bunk" Johnson was a prominent early New Orleans jazz trumpet player in the early years of the 20th century who enjoyed a revived career in the 1940s....
. He returned to working with Al Nichols in 1948 and in 1949 rejoined efforts with his wife in a group. During the 1950s he was primarily a freelance musician, but did work with his uncle Paul Barbarin
Paul Barbarin
Adolphe Paul Barbarin was a New Orleans jazz drummer, usually regarded as one of the very best of the pre-Big Band era jazz drummers...
from 1954 to 1955. In the mid-1950s he went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to record yet again with Albert Nichols.
Sometime in the early 1960s he formed a group he called Cinderella. He performed at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
with Eubie Blake
Eubie Blake
James Hubert Blake was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. In 1921, Blake and long-time collaborator Noble Sissle wrote the Broadway musical Shuffle Along, one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed by African Americans...
. In 1963 he was working with Cliff Jackson, and then in 1964 appeared at the World Fair
World fair
World Fair can refer to:* Expo , a large public exhibition* This World Fair, an American rock band...
leading his own group.
In 1965, Barker returned to New Orleans and took up a position as assistant to the curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
of the New Orleans Jazz Museum
New Orleans Jazz Museum
The New Orleans Jazz Museum was a museum related to the history of New Orleans jazz. Originally a separate museum, the collection is now in the Louisiana State Museum Jazz Collection....
. In 1972 he found and led a church-sponsored brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
for young people—the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band
The Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band, also known as the Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band, was a New Orleans brass band created by Danny Barker notable for spuring the revival of participation in the city's brass band tradition by a new generation....
—which became popular. In later years the band became known as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a New Orleans, Louisiana, brass band. The ensemble was established in 1977 by Benny Jones together with members of the Tornado Brass Band...
. During this time he also led the French Market Jazz Band.
The Fairview band also launched the careers of a number of professional musicians who went on to perform in both brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
and mainstream jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
contexts, including Leroy Jones
Leroy Jones
Leroy Jones is a jazz trumpeter from New Orleans, Louisiana. Born February 20, 1958, Jones began playing trumpet at the age of ten, and by the time he was 13 was leading the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band, a group of young musicians organized by guitar- and banjo-player Danny Barker...
, Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
, Kirk Joseph
Kirk Joseph
Kirk Joseph is a jazz sousaphone player from New Orleans, Louisiana. The son of trombonist Waldren "Frog" Joseph, Kirk Joseph began playing the sousaphone while a student at Andrew Bell Middle School, and took part in his first professional gig at the age of fifteen when his brother Charles...
, and Nicholas Payton
Nicholas Payton
Nicholas Payton is a jazz trumpet player from New Orleans, Louisiana.-Biography:The son of bassist and sousaphonist Walter Payton, he took up the trumpet at the age of four and by the time he was nine he was playing in the Young Tuxedo Brass Band alongside his father...
. As Joe Torregano—another Fairview band alumnus—described it, "That group saved jazz for a generation in New Orleans."
Barker played regularly at many New Orleans venues from the late 1960s through the early 1990s, in addition to touring. During the 1994 Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
season Barker reigned as King of Krewe du Vieux
Krewe du Vieux
The Krewe du Vieux is a New Orleans Mardi Gras or Carnival krewe, originally and more fully known as the Krewe du Vieux Carré. The parade begins in the Marigny and slowly meanders its way through the Vieux Carre...
. He also published an autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
and many articles on New Orleans and jazz history.
Barker also authored and had published two books on jazz from the Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
. The first was "Bourboun Street Black" in 1973, which was followed by "A Life In Jazz" in 1986. He also enjoyed painting and was an amateur landscape artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
.
Living during a period when segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
was still common practice in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Barker faced many obstacles during his career. Barker suffered from diabetes throughout most of his adult life, and was often in general poor health. He died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in New Orleans on 13 March 1994 at age 85.
Film
Barker is featured posthumously in the 2011 non-fiction film by Darren Hoffman, Tradition is a TempleTradition Is a Temple
Tradition Is a Temple is an American documentary film about New Orleans jazz culture and modernization’s effect on American traditions.-Plot:...
. Musicians from the documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
speak at length of the profound impact that Barker had on their lives and careers and New Orleans poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, Chuck Perkins
Chuck Perkins
Chuck Perkins is an American spoken word poet, orator, narrator, and activist who infuses the rhythms and vernacular from the Crescent City into his musical spoken word pieces...
, reads a poem written for and dedicated to his memory.
Discography
A very incomplete listing of Barker's recordings includes:| Year | Album | Leader | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | "Charlie Parker Charlie Parker Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer.... : Every Bit Of It 1945" |
Sir Charles Thompson | Spotlite Records |
| 1947 | "Creole Reeds " | Sidney Bechet Sidney Bechet Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.He was one of the first important soloists in jazz , and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist... |
Riverside Records Riverside Records Riverside Records was a United States record label specializing in jazz. Founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer under his firm Bill Grauer Productions, Inc. in 1953, the label was a major presence in the jazz record industry for a decade... |
| 1955 | "Paul Barbarin And His New Orleans Jazz" | Paul Barbarin Paul Barbarin Adolphe Paul Barbarin was a New Orleans jazz drummer, usually regarded as one of the very best of the pre-Big Band era jazz drummers... |
Atlantic Records Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
| 1957 | "Broadcast Performances, Vol. 3: Radio And TV Broadcasts (1956–1958)" | Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... |
ESP Disk |
| 1958 | "Mainstream" | Vic Dickenson Vic Dickenson Vic Dickenson was an African-American jazz trombonist. Dickenson's career started out in the 1920s and led him through musical partnerships with such legends as Count Basie , Sidney Bechet and Earl Hines... |
Atlantic Records Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
| 1958 | "LaVern Baker LaVern Baker LaVern Baker was an American rhythm and blues singer, who had several hit records on the pop chart in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her most successful records were "Tweedlee Dee" , "Jim Dandy" , and "I Cried a Tear" .-Early life:She was born Delores LaVern Baker in Chicago, Illinois... Sings Bessie Smith Bessie Smith Bessie Smith was an American blues singer.Sometimes referred to as The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s... " |
Phil Moore Phil Moore (jazz musician) Phil Moore was an African American jazz pianist, orchestral arranger, band leader, and recording artist.-Biography:... Orchestra |
Atlantic Records |
| 1959 | "A Girl And Her Guitar" | Mary Osborne Quintet | Apollo Records Apollo Records Apollo Records may refer to:* Apollo Records - US based company* Apollo Records - US based company* Apollo Records - US based company* Apollo Records - Belgian-based company* Apollo Records - US based company... |
| 1960 | "Ham And Eggs / Liza Little Liza Jane" | Leroy Parkins | Bethlehem Records |
| 1961 | "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" | "The Swingville All Stars" | Swingsville Records |
Awards
- 1994 - Big Easy Entertainment Awards - Best Traditional Jazz Group for Danny Barker
- 1993 - Big Easy Entertainment Awards - Lifetime Achievement In Music
- 1993 - Big Easy Entertainment Awards - Best Traditional Jazz Group for Danny Barker
- 1991 - National Endowment for the ArtsNational Endowment for the ArtsThe National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
(NEA) NEA Jazz Masters Award - 1991 - Big Easy Entertainment Awards - Best Traditional Jazz Group for Danny Barker
- 1990 - Big Easy Entertainment Awards - Best Traditional Jazz Group for Danny Barker and the Jazz Hounds
- 1989 - Big Easy Entertainment Awards - Best Traditional Jazz Group for Danny Barker and the Jazz Hounds with Blue Lu Barker
See also
- List of people from New Orleans