Wilbur De Paris

Biography

Wilbur de Paris (January 11, 1900 – January 3, 1973) was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and first encountered jazz around age 16 in 1917 while performing in a summer show at the Lyric Theatre. He began his professional career playing C-melody saxophone, meeting Louis Armstrong at Tom Anderson's Cafe and working with A.J. Piron's band in 1922 before permanently switching to trombone. After high school, he worked briefly for his father, then toured with traveling shows, starting in Philadelphia in the early 1920s, and made his recording debut in 1928 with Leroy Smith, followed by sessions with Clarence Williams and Edith Wilson in 1929.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• De Paris led his New New Orleans Jazz band as the house band at Jimmy Ryan’s in New York for 11 years starting in 1951, becoming a city institution.[2][3]
• Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, his band toured Africa in 1957 as part of the President's International Program for Cultural Relations.[3]
• His band's repertoire extended beyond jazz standards to light classics, hymns, folksongs, spirituals, blues, and marches, blending Jelly Roll Morton’s style with swing elements.[3]
• Despite playing in Duke Ellington's orchestra from 1945-1947, he received no trombone solos, overshadowed by Lawrence Brown and Tricky Sam Nanton.[2]

Associated Acts

• Wilbur de Paris and His New New Orleans Jazz - eponymous, original
• Wilbur De Paris Septet - eponymous, original
• Wilbur de Paris and His Rampart Street Ramblers - eponymous, original
• Wilbur de Paris & his Orchestra - eponymous, original
• Wilbur de Paris & his Rampart Street Paraders - eponymous, original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Armand J. Piron - Early band leader who employed de Paris as a C-melody saxophonist (Piron’s band) [1922]
• Jelly Roll Morton - Stylistic influence through recordings and band members; de Paris recorded with Morton (Three sessions including 'Fussy Mabel') [1930]

Key Collaborators

• Sidney de Paris - Brother and co-leader turned star soloist in New New Orleans Jazz band (New New Orleans Jazz band, De Paris Brothers for Commodore Records) [1940s-1973]
• Omer Simeon - Clarinetist, ex-Jelly Roll Morton, key band member (New New Orleans Jazz band) [Late 1940s-1950s]
• Zutty Singleton - Drummer in New New Orleans Jazz band (New New Orleans Jazz band) [1950s]
• Doc Cheatham - Trumpeter in the band (New New Orleans Jazz band) [1950s]
• Louis Armstrong - Played in Armstrong's big band (Louis Armstrong orchestra) [1937-1940]
• Duke Ellington - Trombonist in Ellington Orchestra (Duke Ellington Orchestra) [1945-1947]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz