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Willie Humphrey

Biography

Willie Humphrey (William James Humphrey Jr.) was a New Orleans clarinetist whose career in brass bands and traditional jazz spanned more than seventy years. Born on December 29, 1900, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he grew up in one of the city’s most renowned musical dynasties: he was the grandson of legendary cornetist and bandleader Professor James Brown Humphrey and the son of touring clarinetist Willie Humphrey Sr., with brothers Percy (trumpet) and Earl (trombone) also becoming prominent jazz musicians.[1][6][7] Humphrey first studied violin, then switched to trumpet under his grandfather’s tutelage before finally settling on clarinet; he took his first professional job playing alongside his father in George McCullum’s band and soon appeared with groups like the Silver Leaf Orchestra and as leader of a 22‑piece orchestra at New Orleans University.[1][6]

In the late 1910s and 1920s, Humphrey began traveling widely, playing in bands that linked him to the early development of jazz along the Mississippi River. He worked with George Fihle (replacing Lorenzo Tio Jr.), joined Freddie Keppard’s ensemble, and performed in Lawrence Duhe’s “White Sox” band that featured King Oliver.[1] By 1920 he was playing with Amos Riley’s Tulane Band and later with Kid Rena, then in 1925 went up to St. Louis to work for Fate Marable, one of the key riverboat bandleaders.[1][6] Returning to New Orleans in the early 1930s, Humphrey taught in private schools, played in the Works Progress Administration band during the Depression, and toured and recorded with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band in 1935–36, a swing‑era big band associated with Lucky Millinder.[1] During World War II he served in a U.S. Navy band, and after the war he became a mainstay of the Eureka Brass Band and worked frequently with drummer and bandleader Paul Barbarin, including a notable 1955 New York tour.[1][6]

From the 1950s onward, Humphrey emerged as one of the most visible standard‑bearers of traditional New Orleans clarinet. In the 1960s he recorded for Riverside Records’ “Living Legends” series and toured Europe in 1967 with Billie and DeDe Pierce, helping to bring classic New Orleans jazz to new international audiences.[1] Beginning in 1969 he co‑led the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with his brother Percy, recording multiple albums for CBS and becoming closely identified with Preservation Hall’s mission to sustain the city’s early jazz traditions.[1][6][7] His 1974 album New Orleans Clarinet (Smoky Mary) is widely regarded as his finest recorded statement, showcasing his robust tone, blues feeling, and highly vocal, decorative approach to melody.[1][7] Humphrey continued performing into his nineties and, at the time of his death on June 7, 1994, in New Orleans, he was recognized as the city’s oldest performing jazz musician and a vital living link to the first generation of New Orleans jazz.[1][5][6]

Fun Facts

  • At the time of his death in 1994, Willie Humphrey was reported to be the oldest performing jazz musician in New Orleans, still active in his nineties.[1]
  • Humphrey came from a three‑generation musical lineage: his grandfather James Brown Humphrey trained many early jazz players, his father was a touring clarinetist, and his brothers Percy and Earl were prominent trumpet and trombone players respectively.[1][3][6][7]
  • Before settling on clarinet, Humphrey started on violin and then switched to trumpet under his grandfather’s guidance, reflecting the broad instrumental training common in early New Orleans music families.[1]
  • His 1974 LP New Orleans Clarinet is widely regarded as his signature recording, featuring standards such as “Little Liza Jane,” “Pennies from Heaven,” and “China Boy” and highlighting his vigorous, highly ornamented clarinet style.[1][7]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • Professor James Brown Humphrey - Grandfather; prominent New Orleans cornetist, bandleader, and teacher who gave Willie his early formal instruction and directed many early jazz musicians. (Early training and orchestral work, including Willie’s role leading a 22‑piece orchestra at New Orleans University.) [c. 1910s–early 1920s[1][6][7]]
  • Willie Humphrey Sr. - Father; touring clarinetist whose professional work and example shaped Willie’s musicianship; Willie’s first professional job was playing with him. (Performances together in George McCullum’s band in New Orleans.[1][3][7]) [1910s[1][3][7]]

Key Collaborators

  • Percy Humphrey - Younger brother and long‑time musical partner; co‑leader of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and central figure in New Orleans traditional jazz. (Co‑led Preservation Hall Jazz Band; recorded four albums for CBS as co‑leaders.[1][6][7]) [1969–1990s[1][6]]
  • Eureka Brass Band - Major New Orleans brass band with which Humphrey performed regularly after World War II, reinforcing the brass band tradition. (Parades, funerals, and club dates in New Orleans; featured on traditional jazz and brass band recordings (various issues).) [Late 1940s–1950s[1][6]]
  • Paul Barbarin - New Orleans drummer and bandleader; Humphrey frequently played in his bands, culminating in a high‑profile New York tour. (1955 New York City tour with Barbarin’s band; traditional jazz engagements in New Orleans.[1][6]) [1950s (especially 1955)[1]]
  • Mills Blue Rhythm Band / Lucky Millinder - Swing‑era big band with which Humphrey toured and recorded, connecting New Orleans clarinet style to national swing circuits. (Recordings and tours with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band where Lucky Millinder was a frequent player and sometime leader.[1]) [1935–1936[1]]
  • Fate Marable - Riverboat bandleader whose bands were crucial training grounds for early jazz musicians; Humphrey joined his St. Louis‑based group. (Riverboat performances on the Mississippi River out of St. Louis.[1][6]) [1925[1]]
  • Billie and DeDe Pierce - New Orleans trumpeter and pianist/vocalist duo; toured Europe with Humphrey, helping export traditional jazz abroad. (1967 European tour of traditional New Orleans jazz.[1]) [1967[1]]
  • Excelsior and Young Tuxedo Brass Bands - Historic New Orleans brass bands with which Humphrey sustained parade and funeral traditions over many decades. (Local performances, parades, and ceremonial events in New Orleans.[1][6]) [Various periods across mid‑20th century[1][6]]

Artists Influenced

  • Preservation Hall Jazz Band clarinetists and younger traditionalists (e.g., subsequent PHJB reed players) - Humphrey’s long tenure and recordings with Preservation Hall set a stylistic model for later clarinetists in the band and for revivalist musicians worldwide. (Influence most clearly heard through his album New Orleans Clarinet and PHJB recordings for CBS, which became reference points for traditional New Orleans clarinet style.[1][5][7]) [1970s–1990s and beyond (influence period; specific successors not always named in primary sources)]

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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
Two Clarinets on the Porch 1992 Album
Original Album Classics 1977 Album
New Orleans Traditional Jazz Legends, Vol. 2 2008-01-08 Album
Willie Humphrey Meets Maryland Jazz Band of Cologne 2019-11-26 Album
Willie Humphrey Meets His Friends in Germany 1998 Album
In New Orleans 1996 Album

Top Tracks

  1. Bourbon Street Parade - Voice (50th Anniversary Collection)
  2. Rosetta (Two Clarinets on the Porch)
  3. Oh Didn't He Ramble - Voice (50th Anniversary Collection)
  4. Blues for Emma (New Orleans Traditional Jazz Legends, Vol. 2)
  5. Bourbon Street Parade - Voice (New Orleans, Vol. 4)
  6. When I Was a Little Child (Rare Cuts: Well Done, Vol. 3)
  7. Oh Didn't He Ramble - Voice (New Orleans, Vol. 4)
  8. Just A Closer Walk With Thee (Percy Humphrey / Blind Gilbert's Trio)
  9. You Tell Me Your Dream (Take 2) (Rare and Unissued Recordings 1954-1962)
  10. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (Percy Humphrey / Blind Gilbert's Trio)

Heard on WWOZ

Willie Humphrey has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Dec 25, 202512:38MERRY CHRISTMAS BABYNew Orleans Music Showw/ Michael Dominici
Dec 18, 202510:41I Can't Give You Anything But LoveTraditional Jazzw/ Sally Young