Oscar "Papa" Celestin

about

Oscar "Papa" Celestin (January 1, 1884 in Napoleonville, Louisiana – December 15, 1954) was an American jazz bandleader, trumpeter, cornetist and vocalist. Celestin was born in Napoleonville, Louisiana, to a Creole family, son of a sugar-cane cutter. In his youth worked on rural Louisiana plantations. Eager for a better life, he worked as a cook for the Texas & Pacific Railroad, saved up money and bought used musical instruments. He played guitar and trombone before deciding on cornet as his main instrument. He took music lessons from Claiborne Williams, who traveled down the Bayou Lafourche from Donaldsonville. He played with the Algiers Brass Band by the early 1900s, and with various small town bands before moving to New Orleans in 1904, at age 20. In New Orleans he played with the Imperial, Indiana, Henry Allen senior's Olympia Brass Bands, and Jack Carey's dance band; early in his career he was sometimes known as "Sonny" Celestin. About 1910 he landed a job as leader of the house band at the Tuxedo Dance Hall on North Franklin St. at the edge of Storyville. He kept the name "Tuxedo" for the name of the band after the Dance Hall closed. Dressing the band in tuxedos, the Tuxedo became one of the most popular bands hired for society functions, both black and white. For years Celestin co-led the Tuxedo Band with trombonist William Ridgely. They made their first recordings with the band during the Okeh Records field trip to New Orleans in 1925. Shortly after Ridgely and Celes

top songs

albums

The Very Best Of Jazz Sessions

1950's Radio Broadcasts

Oscar Papa Celestin

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Sounds Of New Orleans Vol.10

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Marie LaVeau

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New Orleans Jazz of the 1920s

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Recorded in New Orleans 1925-1928

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Papa Celestin's Golden Wedding

Oscar 'Papa' Celestin 1949-1953 (feat. The Original Tuxedo Jazz Band)

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Jazz Greats 1925-1928

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Complete Recordings in Chronological Order

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New Orleans Jazz Greats (Remaster 2022)

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