Billie And DeDe Pierce

Biography

Billie and DeDe Pierce were a celebrated New Orleans jazz and blues duo whose partnership, both musical and marital, spanned decades and left an indelible mark on the city’s traditional jazz scene. Billie Pierce (born Wilhelmina Goodson) was a pianist and vocalist who began her career playing with legendary artists such as Bessie Smith and leading bands in Alabama and New Orleans. DeDe Pierce (born Joseph LaCroix Pierce) was a Creole trumpeter, cornetist, and vocalist who learned his craft from local masters and became known for his distinctive singing and trumpet style, often incorporating Creole French repertoire.

The couple met while performing in neighboring clubs in New Orleans during the early 1930s and soon married, becoming inseparable both on and off stage. They led their own ensemble, serving as the house band at Luthjen’s Dance Hall for over two decades, and later became central figures at Preservation Hall during the New Orleans jazz revival of the 1960s. Despite significant health setbacks in the 1950s—DeDe lost his eyesight and Billie suffered a stroke—they returned to prominence, recording prolifically and touring internationally. Their music, characterized by Billie’s robust, blues-inflected piano and DeDe’s expressive trumpet and vocals, exemplified the raw, heartfelt spirit of traditional New Orleans jazz. Both passed away in New Orleans within a year of each other: DeDe in 1973 and Billie in 1974.

Fun Facts

• Billie Pierce once filled in for her sister Sadie in a riverboat band, which led to her first extended stay in New Orleans.
• DeDe Pierce lost his eyesight due to glaucoma in the 1950s but continued to perform and record.
• The couple’s career was revived in the 1960s thanks to the New Orleans jazz revival and the opening of Preservation Hall, where they became beloved fixtures.
• DeDe often sang jazz standards in both English and Creole French, reflecting his Creole heritage.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Professor Paul Chaligny - Taught trumpet to DeDe Pierce in his youth. [1910s–1920s]
• Kid Rena - Trumpet mentor to DeDe Pierce, influencing his early style. [1920s]

Key Collaborators

• Alphonse Picou - Performed together in Picou’s band and at Luthjen’s Dance Hall. (Live performances at Luthjen’s) [1930s–1940s]
• Emile Barnes - Recorded with Billie Pierce in 1946; played together at Luthjen’s. (1946 recordings; live performances) [1940s]
• George Lewis - Recorded with Billie & DeDe Pierce in 1962; played together in New Orleans clubs. (1962 Atlantic session) [1960s]
• Kid Thomas Valentine - Joined Billie & DeDe Pierce on several recordings. (Various live and recorded sessions) [1960s]
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Billie & DeDe were regular members and featured performers. (Preservation Hall concerts and recordings) [1960s–1970s]

Artists Influenced

• Preservation Hall musicians - Inspired and mentored younger musicians who played at Preservation Hall. (Live performances, mentorship) [1960s–1970s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Freight Train Blues (Music from the Motion Picture The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
2. Careless Love (Round 'Bout Midnight)
3. St Louis Blues (Round 'Bout Midnight)
4. Careless Love (Strollin')
5. Swanee River (Rare Cuts - Well Done, Vol. 1)
6. Sallee Dame (Rare Cuts - Well Done, Vol. 1)
7. Every Woman's Blues (Rare Cuts - Well Done, Vol. 1)
8. Eh! La Bas (Rare Cuts - Well Done, Vol. 1)
9. Careless Love (Rare Cuts - Well Done, Vol. 1)
10. Honky Tonk Town (Rare Cuts - Well Done, Vol. 1)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia