Mutt Carey
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Papa Mutt" Carey (1886 – 1948) was a New Orleans jazz
trumpeter.
Carey was born in Hahnville, Louisiana
, and moved to New Orleans with his family in his youth. His older brother Jack Carey was a trombone
player and bandleader; Mutt was playing cornet
in his brother's band by about 1912. Carey toured the vaudeville
circuits in 1917. He worked with Kid Ory
on and off through the 1910s, and went to California
with Ory in late 1919, making his first recordings there about 1921.
When Ory moved to Chicago, Illinois, Carey took over leadership of the band which was based in Los Angeles, California
through the 1930s. In 1944 he rejoined Ory, and helped revive interest in traditional jazz on the West Coast. He left Ory's band in 1947 to lead a group under his own name. He died in Elsinore, California, on September 3, 1948, aged 61.
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...
trumpeter.
Carey was born in Hahnville, Louisiana
Hahnville, Louisiana
Hahnville is a census-designated place in and the parish seat of St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,792 at the 2000 census...
, and moved to New Orleans with his family in his youth. His older brother Jack Carey was a trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
player and bandleader; Mutt was playing cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
in his brother's band by about 1912. Carey toured the vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
circuits in 1917. He worked with Kid Ory
Kid Ory
Edward "Kid" Ory was a jazz trombonist and bandleader. He was born in Woodland Plantation near LaPlace, Louisiana.-Biography:...
on and off through the 1910s, and 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...
with Ory in late 1919, making his first recordings there about 1921.
When Ory moved to Chicago, Illinois, Carey took over leadership of the band which was based in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
through the 1930s. In 1944 he rejoined Ory, and helped revive interest in traditional jazz on the West Coast. He left Ory's band in 1947 to lead a group under his own name. He died in Elsinore, California, on September 3, 1948, aged 61.