Kid Sheik

Biography

George Colar, better known as Kid Sheik or Kid Sheik Cola, was born on September 15, 1908, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up in the vibrant musical environment of New Orleans, he began teaching himself piano at age twelve before moving on to drums and eventually the cornet. His early trumpet instruction came from 'Wooden' Joe Nicholas, and he was deeply influenced by local jazz legends such as Chris Kelly, with whom he began performing professionally as a teenager. By the mid-1920s, Kid Sheik was playing in local bands and soon formed his own group, performing at dances and parties throughout the city and its famed Storyville district.

The 1930s were a challenging period for jazz musicians in New Orleans, but Kid Sheik persevered, supplementing his income with other work while continuing to play music whenever possible. In 1943, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps, where he attended the Air Corps music school and led a small group until 1945. After returning to civilian life, he joined the Eureka Brass Band and the Olympia Brass Band, becoming a fixture in the New Orleans jazz scene for decades. The 1960s marked a turning point as Kid Sheik began recording and touring internationally, performing with groups such as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and collaborating with musicians like Captain John Handy and Barry Martyn. His distinctive trumpet style, rooted in the traditional New Orleans sound, earned him international recognition and respect.

In his later years, Kid Sheik continued to perform and tour, notably with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band throughout the 1980s. He married pianist and singer Sadie Goodson in 1982, and the couple often performed together. Kid Sheik's legacy is celebrated as a vital link to the early days of New Orleans jazz, and he was honored as the subject of the official New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival poster in 1990. He passed away on November 7, 1996, leaving behind a rich legacy as one of the last great traditional jazz trumpeters of his era.

Fun Facts

• Kid Sheik earned his nickname due to his sharp sense of style, often wearing 'sheik suits' as a young man.
• He was the subject of the official New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival poster in 1990, a prestigious local honor.
• Kid Sheik appeared in the Frank DeCola film 'The Cradle Is Rocking,' a documentary about New Orleans jazz.
• He married his childhood sweetheart, pianist Sadie Goodson, when both were in their 70s and 80s, and they performed together in their later years.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Wooden Joe Nicholas - Provided informal trumpet lessons and early musical guidance (Early bandstand performances in New Orleans) [1920s]
• Chris Kelly - Idol and early bandleader; Kid Sheik often filled in for him and adopted his stylistic approach (Performances with Chris Kelly's band) [1920s]

Key Collaborators

• George Lewis - Performed together in New Orleans jazz venues (Gigs at Manny’s Tavern and other venues) [Late 1940s]
• Eureka Brass Band - Permanent member, replacing Eddie Richardson on second cornet (Numerous live performances and recordings) [1952–1990s]
• Olympia Brass Band - Member and performer (Live performances) [1952–1990s]
• Barry Martyn - Toured England together (Tour of England and recordings with Kid Sheik's Band) [1963]
• Captain John Handy - Performed and toured together in Europe (Tour and recordings in Europe) [1966]
• Sadie Goodson - Wife and musical partner; performed in duos and ensembles (Live performances and the 1986 album) [1982–1996]
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Long-term member and touring performer (Tours and performances throughout the 1980s) [1980s]

Artists Influenced

• Younger New Orleans jazz musicians - Served as a living link to early jazz traditions and mentored younger players through performance and collaboration (Ongoing influence through Preservation Hall and brass band scene) [1960s–1990s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Shake That Bottle (Shake That Bottle)
2. Losing My Mind (Kid Suda)
3. Heroine (Examples EP)
4. Stay High (Kid Suda)
5. I Need You (I Need You)
6. Church (Church)
7. Red Dots (Red Dots)
8. Shine (Kid Suda)
9. Tip (Kid Suda)
10. China White (Church)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia