Mood Indigo - Willie Humphrey

Willie Humphrey was born in New Orleans Louisiana on December 29th 1900 and was taught music by his grandfather James Humphrey. Willie started out on the Violin and played in his grandfathers orchestra in 1911. By 1914 Willie had swiched to playing the clarinet and by 1918 was playing in the Excellcisor Brass Band. In 1919 Willie went to chicago and played with New Orleans Trumpter Joe (King) Oliver (1885-1938) and played with Oliver at the infamous Black Sox World Series Games that same year. In 1920 he went back to New Orleans and played with Fate Marable"s Orchestra on a Mississippi river boat . By 1926 he was playing with Dewey Jacksons Peacock Orchestra a river boat band playing in St. Louis.On June 21st 1926 Willie made his first recordings these were made in St .Louis with Dewey Jacksons Orchestra. for the Vocallion lable During the time he was with Jackson he took up the Tenor Saxaphone.From1927 untill 1935 He played and taught music in New Orleans.In 1936 He was playing in New York and on April 1st He recorded with New Orleans Trumpeter Henry( Red) Allen's Orchestra for the Vocallion Lable.That same year Willie was on toure with Luckey Mellinders Orchestra after which He went back to New Orleans and during World war two He played with a Navy band. During the late 1940s into the 1950s Willie was playing and recording with New Orleans drummer Paul Barbarin'(1901-1969) and his band in New Orleans.Starting in 1961 He was a regular at Preservation Hall playing with Sweet Emma Barrett (1897-1983) piano and Her band and in 1964 started touring with this band. From 1969 - 1973 He toured with Billie and DeDe Pierce and their Preservation Hall Jazz Band .When first trumpter DeDe (1904 -1973 )died in December of 1973 and His wife pianist Bellie (1907-1974) died In 1974 Willie's Brother (trumpter) Percy (1905-1995) took over the leadership of this band . Willie continued to toure with this band through 1988 when the long summer toures became to much for him. He would fly out of New Orleans for one night gigs with this band into 1992 but mainly played at Preservation Hall for the rest of his life. On May 27th 1994 Willie suffered a heart attack as he was getting ready to leave Preservation Hall after a show. He was expected to recover and return to the band stand however he took a turn for the worse and died two weeks later . He and his Brother Percy had been playing music together for 83 years. Percy passed away in 1995 .Willie Humphrey made many recordings from 1961-1992. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.