Albert "Papa" French Sr. (November 16, 1910 – September 28, 1977) was an American jazz musician, banjo player, and band leader in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

Career

He was a banjo player in the Original

Tuxedo Brass Band The Tuxedo Brass Band, sometimes called the Original Tuxedo Brass Band, was one of the most highly regarded brass bands of New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1910s and 1920s. The band was led by Papa Celestin in around 1910. Many noted jazz greats were ...

of New Orleans. This band was founded in 1910 and led for 44 years by

Papa Celestin Oscar Phillip Celestin (January 1, 1884 – December 15, 1954), better known by his stage name Papa Celestin, was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader. Life and career Celestin was born in Napoleonville, Louisiana, to a Creole family, son o ...

. After the death of Papa Celestin in 1954, leadership was briefly taken over by trombonist Eddie Pierson until his death in 1958. The leadership of the band fell to Banjo player Albert French, who was called "Papa" French as a token of endearment of the Late Papa Celestin. Papa French led the band until his death in 1977. He released the traditional jazz LP ''A Night At Dixieland Hall'', recorded live in 1965. Released on the Nobility label as Nobility 702, this set was recorded at Dixieland Hall, 522 Bourbon Street, New Orleans. It featured Jeanette Kimball on Piano, Louis Barbarin on drums (incorrectly spelled "Louise" on the LP liner notes), Steward Davis on Bass Fiddle, Joseph "Cornbread" Thomas on Clarinet and Vocals, Waldren "Frog" Joseph on Trombone,

Wendell Eugene Wendell Eugene (October 12, 1923 – November 7, 2017) was an American jazz musician from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a popular trombonist on the New Orleans jazz scene and recorded with artists such as Lionel Ferbos, Harold Dejan, and Kermit ...

on Trombone, and the well known

Alvin Alcorn Alvin Elmore Alcorn (September 7, 1912 – July 10, 2003) was an American jazz trumpeter. Career Alcorn learned music theory from his brother. In the early 1930s, he was a member of the Sunny South Syncopators led by Armand J. Piron. He worked i ...

on Trumpet.

Death

French died in 1977 and was funeralized at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in New Orleans.

Personal life

Albert's son Bob French was a successful New Orleans musician and radio host who led the Tuxedo Jazz Band for decades after the death of his father in 1977.

References

Jazz musicians from New Orleans 1977 deaths 1910 births African-American Catholics {{US-jazz-musician-stub