Kid Ory's Sunshine Band

Biography

Edward 'Kid' Ory (December 25, 1886 – January 23, 1973) was a pioneering American jazz trombonist, composer, and bandleader, born in LaPlace, Louisiana. Raised in a French-speaking Creole family, Ory began his musical journey as a child, crafting homemade instruments and initially playing banjo—a skill that influenced his later trombone technique. By his teens, he was leading the Woodland Band, one of the most respected ensembles in southeast Louisiana, and moved his group to New Orleans at age 21, quickly becoming a central figure in the burgeoning jazz scene.

Ory's career flourished as he developed the 'tailgate' trombone style, characterized by rhythmic, staccato lines and expressive glissandos, which became a defining feature of New Orleans jazz. In 1919, he relocated to Los Angeles and formed Kid Ory’s Creole Orchestra, which, in 1922, made the first jazz recording by a Black New Orleans band ('Ory’s Creole Trombone'). By the mid-1920s, Ory was in Chicago, collaborating with legendary figures such as King Oliver, Louis Armstrong (notably in Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven), and Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers. After a hiatus during the Great Depression, Ory returned to prominence in the 1940s, leading bands during the New Orleans jazz revival and performing on influential radio broadcasts like 'The Orson Welles Almanac.'

Ory's robust, earthy trombone sound and innovative use of glissando left a lasting mark on jazz. He codified the trombone’s role in early jazz ensembles and mentored or collaborated with many future jazz greats. His composition 'Muskrat Ramble' (1926) became a jazz standard. Ory retired in 1966, leaving a legacy as a foundational architect of New Orleans jazz, and died in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1973.

Fun Facts

• Ory’s 1922 recording of 'Ory’s Creole Trombone' is considered the first jazz record made by a Black New Orleans band.
• He temporarily left music in the 1930s to run a chicken farm during the Great Depression.
• Ory led the band for 'The Orson Welles Almanac' radio show in 1944, helping spark the New Orleans jazz revival.
• His composition 'Muskrat Ramble' became a jazz standard and is still widely performed.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Buddy Bolden - Ory was discovered by Bolden in New Orleans and was invited to play with him, but Ory's sister said he was too young at the time. (Live performances (early 1900s)) [circa 1900s]

Key Collaborators

• Louis Armstrong - Ory gave Armstrong his first professional job and later played with him in Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven bands. (Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings) [1920s]
• King Oliver - Ory played in King Oliver's Dixie Syncopators and collaborated in Chicago. (King Oliver's Dixie Syncopators) [1920s]
• Jelly Roll Morton - Ory was a member of Morton's Red Hot Peppers, contributing to classic jazz recordings. (Red Hot Peppers recordings) [1920s]
• Sidney Bechet - Bechet was a member of Ory's early New Orleans bands. (Live performances, early recordings) [1910s]
• Bunk Johnson - Ory worked with Johnson during the New Orleans jazz revival. (Revival recordings, live performances) [1940s]
• Barney Bigard - Collaborated during the 1940s New Orleans jazz revival. (Live performances, radio broadcasts) [1940s]

Artists Influenced

• Trummy Young - Young, a prominent jazz trombonist, cited Ory's 'tailgate' style as a major influence. (Performances with Louis Armstrong's All Stars) [1940s-1950s]
• Jack Teagarden - Teagarden, a leading swing-era trombonist, was influenced by Ory's rhythmic approach and glissando technique. (Solo recordings, big band work) [1930s-1950s]
• New Orleans Revivalists - Ory's recordings and leadership in the 1940s revival inspired a generation of traditional jazz musicians. (Crescent label recordings, radio broadcasts) [1940s]

Source: Wikipedia

Top Tracks

1. Ory's Creole Trombone (1920s: The Jazz Age In New Orleans)
2. Society Blues (New Orleans Jazz Of The 1920s)

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Ory's Creole Trombone (1920s: The Jazz Age In New Orleans)
2. Society Blues (New Orleans Jazz Of The 1920s)
3. Ory's Creole Trombone (New Orleans Jazz Of The 1920s)
4. Ory S Creole Trombone - Original Mix (New Orleans Jazz)
5. Ory's Creole Trombone (1920s: The Jazz Age In New Orleans)
6. Ory's Creole Trombone (Essential Jazz Songs)
7. Society Blues (Essential Jazz Songs)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia