Napoleon's Emperors

Biography

Phil Napoleon, born Filippo Napoli on September 2, 1901, in Boston, Massachusetts, grew up in a musical family surrounded by his brothers George and Joe (saxophonists), guitarist Matthew, and drummer Ted. He took up the trumpet at an early age, performing publicly by age five, and made his recording debut in 1921 at 19 with Lanin’s Southern Serenaders. Rising through groups like Ladd’s Black Aces and Bailey’s Lucky Seven, he co-led the Original Memphis Five from 1922, featuring trombonist Miff Mole, clarinetist Jimmy Lytell, pianist Frank Signorelli, and drummer Jack Roth, recording over 111 titles in 1922-23 alone. In early 1927, as the Original Memphis Five faded, Napoleon formed his own band, Phil Napoleon’s Emperors, marking a shift to leadership under his name while continuing as a sideman in hot jazz sessions.

Napoleon's career spanned jazz eras, from 1920s hot jazz to Dixieland revival. Though active through the 1920s-30s with groups like the California Ramblers and Dorsey Brothers, swing's rise led to anonymous radio work in the 1930s and a short-lived big band in 1937. Post-WWII, he revived his Emperors of Jazz in 1946 with Signorelli and Original Dixieland Jazz Band's Tony Spargo. By 1949, he led a new Memphis Five at Nick’s in New York for seven years, featuring musicians like Cutty Cutshall and Kenny Davern. Moving to Florida in 1956, he performed into the mid-1980s, recording Capitol albums in 1959-60. His trumpet style contributed to early jazz without the fame of Armstrong or Beiderbecke. Napoleon passed away in the 1980s, leaving a legacy in traditional jazz.

Note: No credible sources confirm a ragtime band named 'Napoleon's Emperors'; this refers to Phil Napoleon's short-lived 1927 jazz band, distinct from ragtime (associated with Scott Joplin).

Fun Facts

• Began playing trumpet publicly at age five in a musical family with multiple siblings in jazz.
• Recorded debut alongside Jimmy Durante in 1921 with Lanin’s Southern Serenaders.
• Led Memphis Five at Nick’s in NYC for 7 years (1949-1956) with rotating Dixieland stars.
• Revived Emperors as 'Emperors of Jazz' in 1946, 19 years after original 1927 band.

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Miff Mole - trombonist in Original Memphis Five (over 111 titles 1922-23) [1922-1924]
• Jimmy Lytell - clarinetist in Original Memphis Five (Original Memphis Five recordings) [1922-1923]
• Frank Signorelli - pianist and co-leader in Original Memphis Five and later Emperors of Jazz (Original Memphis Five, Emperors of Jazz 1946) [1922-1946]
• Tony Spargo - drummer/kazoo in Emperors of Jazz (12 songs 1946)

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz