The early development of jazz in New Orleans is closely associated with the popularity of bandleader Charles Buddy Bolden, an uptown cornetist whose charisma and musical power became legendary. Some of the most renowned jazz greats from New Orleans include Louis Satchmo Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Pete Fountain, Wynton and Ellis Marsalis, and Harry Connick Jr. To pay homage to these greats, the Park of Musical Legends has statues dedicated to them. Louis Daniel Armstrong, also known as “Satchmo”, “Satch” or “Pops”, was one of the most famous and pioneering trumpet players of jazz music in the United States.
He was born in 1901 in New Orleans, which is considered the birthplace of this genre. Another key figure in the development of New Orleans ragtime music style, or “jass”, which later became jazz, was Buddy Bolden, also known as “King Bolden”. Music is a way of life in New Orleans and it is used to celebrate, mourn and make history. New Orleans' most influential musicians span several decades and genres, from the jazz artists of the 1920s to the icons of modern hip hop.
Soul, R&B and rock and roll are some of the most popular musical styles that continue to be played in clubs and dance halls in the city, thanks to famous musicians and singers such as Fats Domino and Ernie K-Doe. We can't talk about famous New Orleans musicians without mentioning Louis Armstrong, arguably the city's most famous celebrity and one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. He was known for his skill with the trumpet and began his musical studies with the cornet at 11 years old under the instruction of music teacher Peter Davis. Armstrong soon became one of the best horn players in New Orleans, regularly entertaining guests on riverboats. To learn more about New Orleans' musical history, take a tour of the Tremé neighborhood or visit Louis Armstrong National Jazz Park.
A two-hour walking tour of the French Quarter will provide an excellent introduction to New Orleans music with history lessons and MP3 recordings of music from the early 20th century to contemporary music. New Orleans will always be associated with jazz but these music icons give the city many other claims to fame in other genres such as R&B and rock and roll. King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band was one of the first black bands from New Orleans to gain recognition in the recording industry. In the 1990s, K-Doe was known for his eccentric appearance and flamboyant personality.
They revolutionized jazz by incorporating funk and bebop into traditional New Orleans brass and continue to be a significant influence on most New Orleans music bands. Another influential musician from New Orleans is Ellis Marsalis Jr., best known as one of the top educators at the New Orleans Creative Arts Center where he has influenced his children Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason's careers along with Harry Connick Jr.'s. Allen Richard Toussaint was an American musician, arranger, songwriter and record producer from Gert Town who composed songs for singers Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe, Aaron Neville and more. Fats Domino loved New Orleans so much that after a tour of Europe he stated that he would never leave NOLA again because he couldn't find food he liked anywhere else. A trip to New Orleans isn't complete without listening to a little bebop so there are plenty of jazz clubs to choose from. The career of this native includes a seven-member jazz band in the 1920s, a swing band in the 1930s, a big band in the 1940s, a lounge band in the 1950s and a pop-rock band in the 1960s. As a birthplace and cradle of jazz, New Orleans gave us some of its best musicians who merged traditional music bands with ragtime and traditional black music with loose strong horn riffs and constant improvisation.
Allen Toussaint was an R&B musician who did a little bit of everything: he was a singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer who coined several slogans including “Burn K-Doe Burn” which he frequently used to promote himself vigorously on two community radio stations in New Orleans. Troy Andrews also known as Trombone Shorty is another example of a successful musician from New Orleans who is also a producer actor and philanthropist.
