Piron's New Orleans Orchestra
Biography
Armand Piron's New Orleans Orchestra was one of the most popular bands in New Orleans in the 1920s. They travelled to New York and played at the Cotton Club and Roseland in 1923. They also recorded two songs with Blues singer Esther Bigeou while in New York, including a fine vocal version of West Indies Blues.
Armand John "A.J." Piron (August 16, 1888–February 17, 1943) was an American jazz violinist, band leader, and composer.
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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.[citation needed]
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.
Charles Bocage Banjo
Peter Bocage Trumpet
Louis Cottrelle Drums
Steve Lewis Piano
Armand J. Piron Violin
Lorenzo Tio, Jr. Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Louis Warnecke Alto Saxophone
Bob Ysaguirre Bass Brass
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.