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A.J. Piron
and His Novelty Orchestra
Piron, far right: |
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A.J. Piron
was unable to walk for years due to a crippling, childhood
accident. He focused on studying the violin, playing professionally,
and being a popular leader. Piron is most fondly remembered
for his band that played at Tranchina's Restaurant at Spanish
Fort. He was also a composer and co-formed, for jazz musicians,
a publishing company with Clarence Williams.
He was leader
of Piron's New Orleans Orchestra, which became one of the
great orchestras in New Orleans. Some famous musicians played
in it, including Lorenza Tio, Jr. and Louis Cottrell, Sr.
Old-timers remember the experience of hearing the melodies
of songs like "Purple Rose of Cairo" and "Dreamy
Blues" wafting over the waters of Lake Pontchartrain.
Al Rose said Armand was Creole, and told of taking another Creole
friend, Peter, to see Armand during his last days. Their greeting
in soft voices was "Evnin' Peter. You looking might prosperous
sir. The family fine?" Peter answered "Evenin' Arman.'
I hope you res'well this mawnin." It was a typical Creole
conversation.
From such an illustration, I
hope some of the beautiful relationships that existed in this
world of jazz are apparent.
Borrowed
from:
"Jazz New Orleans Style"
By Bobby Potts |
The Personel:
Charles Bocage-Banjo
Peter Bocage-Trumpet
Louis Cottrelle-Drums
Steve Lewis-Piano
Armand J. Piron-Violin
Charles Seguirre-Tuba
Lorenzo Tio, Jr.-Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Louis Warnecke-Alto Saxophone
Source
The BigBands Database Plus thanks Mr. Verne Buland for this entry on Armand Piron.
| More.... Wikipedia.com |
Piron was born to what was then called a Creole of color family in downtown New Orleans. From his childhood, he had to use a crutch to walk. He began playing violin professionally in about 1904 and, by 1912, was leading the Olympia Orchestra (which included Bunk Johnson, Big Eye Louis Nelson Delisle, and Clarence Williams).
In 1915, Piron and Williams together started the Piron and Williams Publishing Company, and in their first year of business published Piron's composition “I Wish That I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate”, which became his biggest hit. After touring briefly with W.C. Handy in 1917, he started an orchestra under his own name, which soon included such notables as Lorenzo Tio and Steve Lewis. Piron's New Orleans Orchestra quickly became the best paid African American band in New Orleans, for Piron landed regular jobs at both the Spanish Fort amusement park and the exclusive white New Orleans Country Club.
In 1923, Piron took his band to New York City as part of his ambition to make the group nationally known. He succeeded in making a hit there, landing a residency at the Roseland Ballroom, and making recordings for three different companies. The influence of Piron's band on the New York scene can be heard in the records of other New York bands of that time, such as Fletcher Henderson's (although Piron's influence on New York music would be eclipsed a year later when Louis Armstrong arrived in the city). In early 1924, some of Piron's band members were finding the cold northern winter and unfamiliar food and culture objectionable. Piron put the matter to a vote and, to Piron's frustration, the majority of the band voted to return home.
Back in New Orleans, he again lined up good jobs, returning to the Country Club, playing at Tranchina's Restaurant and on the excursion steamships Capital and President into the 1930s; in about 1935, he decided to dramatically change the sound of his orchestra to swing, in line with popular taste.
Piron died on February 17, 1943.
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