Wendell Eugene Explained

Wendell Eugene
Birth Name:Wendell Albert Eugene[1]
Birth Date:12 October 1923
Birth Place:New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Death Place:New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genre:Jazz[2]
Occupation:Jazz Musician
Instrument:Trombone[3] [4]
Past Member Of:Olympia Brass Band,[5] Tuxedo Brass Band,[6] Onward Brass Band[7]

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[4] and recorded with artists such as Lionel Ferbos,[8] Harold Dejan, and Kermit Ruffins.[9] He was for a time the oldest active jazz musician in New Orleans.

Early life

Eugene was born to Homer and Apha Eugene on October 12, 1923, and is the youngest of five brothers. He grew up in a family of musicians including his brother Homer Eugene, his cousin Clement Tervalon,[7] and uncle Albert Burbank.[6] His curiosity about music began at the age of 10 when his parents bought him a graphanola. He said he would wind it up and play The Peanut Vendor and Ramona. He received his first trombone at the age of 13 from his brother Homer after mentioning that he wanted to start playing an instrument.[1] As a kid he learned from other New Orleans musicians, but also listened and learned from Big Band Music as well as trombonist J. J. Johnson. While still in high school, he joined the musician's union at 15 and began playing with a variety of New Orleans Jazz Legends. As a teenager, Eugene performed with Avery "Kid" Howard[10] as well as performers and band leaders such as Papa Celestin, George Lewis, Papa French, Paul Barbarin, Louis Cottrell Jr., Willie Humphrey, Don Albert, and Kid Thomas Valentine.[10]

Military career

Eugene joined the United States Navy during World War II and was recruited to play with the U.S. Navy Marching and Concert Band while stationed at Port Chicago, California. He played with the band throughout his four-year enlistment and also played with Louis Armstrong during a 1943 USO event. At the time, Armstrong was short a trombonist and asked Eugene to fill in. Eugene was quoted in The Times-Picayune as saying, "I got up there and did the best I could. I'll never forget it."[1]

Music career

Eugene returned to New Orleans after his military career. He began playing with famous bands from New York City and Chicago and also toured with Lucky Millender and Buddy Johnson. Instead of leaving his family to tour, Eugene stayed close to home, working at the United States Post Office.[1] During that time he continued playing with local band leaders such as Papa Celestin and Papa French. Eugene traveled and toured when he could, sometimes joining the Olympia Brass Band,[5] the Tuxedo Brass Band,[6] and the Onward Brass Band.[7] Although limited in travel due to work obligations, Eugene was still able to sit with several renowned musical groups such as Lionel Hampton and The Temptations.[4] He retired from the Post Office in 1979 and began to pursue his music career full-time.

Eugene is also a writer and composer. In 1978, he wrote, produced, and recorded the album West Indies Blues which was initially released by 504 Records and re-released by the Louisiana Music Factory in 2005. Eugene has played and taught music for more than 72 years, including teaching trombone and dance orchestra instruments at the Grunewald School of Music.[11] Some of his most notable performances include playing at Super Bowl IV in New Orleans in 1970 with the Onward Brass Band.[12] He also played at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1970. In 2012 he played with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for their 50th anniversary performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,[13] He also played at 2012 New Orleans Jazz Festival with then 100-year-old Lionel Ferbos.[14]

Wendell Eugene died on 7 November 2017.[15]

Personal life

Eugene had four daughters, one grandchild, and three great grandchildren. He was Catholic.

Discography

YearTitleLabelNotes
2013If I Had My Life To Life OverGHB RecordsSpecial anniversary edition – 75 years as a New Orleans Jazz Legend
2008Men's WorkingGHB RecordsTrombone and vocals on album from Seva Venet[16]
2007City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans MusicRounder Records / Universal Music GroupTrombone[17]
2002Big EasyBasin Street RecordsTrombone on album with Kermit Ruffins
2002Place of My DreamsGHB RecordsTrombone on album by Lionel Ferbos
2001Mardi Gras in New OrleansRounder RecordsCompilation CD of various jazz artists with recordings from 1985 through 1997[18]
2000Paul Barbarin's Onward Brass Band in Concert 1968 Jazz CrusadeTrombone[19]
1998Kickin' Some BrassTrombone on compilation CD with various artists including The Dirty Dozen, ReBirth, Coolbone, New Birth, and Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy[20]
1998Louisiana 2: Live from the Mountain Stage Blue PlateTrombone on compilation CD[21]
1997Best of Bourbon Street BluesMardi Gras RecordsTrombone on CD by Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band featuring Big Al Carson[22]
1995New Orleans Jazz PreservationMardi Gras RecordsTrombone with the Olympia Brass Band[23]
1995New Orleans Jazz, Vol. 3: Jazz PartyMardi Gras RecordsTrombone[24]
1995The Best of Bourbon Street JazzMardi Gras RecordsTrombone with Mardi Gras Brass Band[25]
1994Authentic New Orleans Jazz FuneralMardi Gras RecordsTrombone with the Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band[26]
1994Best of New Orleans Bourbon Street Jazz: After DarkMardi Gras RecordsTrombone with the Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band[27]
1993Barry Martyn's Down Home BoysSackville RecordsTrombone and vocals on album by Barry Martyn[28]
1993Fess: The Professor Longhair AnthologyRhino EntertainmentTrombone on album with Professor Longhair[29]
1993On Bourbon StreetCompendia Music GroupTrombone on album by Harold Dejan[30]
1992Fallen Heroes: A Jazz FuneralPro-Arte RecordsTrombone on album by Harold Dejan[31]
1991New Orleans: Mardi GrasCompendia Music Group / Pro-Arte RecordsTrombone with the Olympia Brass Band[32]
1990Basin Street BluesCompendia Music Group / Pro-Arte RecordsTrombone and group member on album by Harold Dejan and Olympia Brass Band[33]
1989New Orleans Brass Bands: Down YonderRounder Records Trombone[34]
1987Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Mardi Gras)Mardi Gras RecordsTrombone[35]
1978West Indies Blues504 RecordsWriter, producer, primary artist, and trombonist[36]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Jamison . Don "Moose" . New Orleans Jazz Legends – Wendell Albert Eugene . The Times-Picayune . June 16, 1989 .
  2. News: Spera . Keith . Jazz trumpeters Lionel Ferbos, Irvin Mayfield found common ground despite nearly 70-year age gap . The Times-Picayune . August 19, 2013 . September 5, 2013 .
  3. News: Wyckoff . Geraldine . 2011: A look back musically . The Louisiana Weekly . January 3, 2012 . September 5, 2013 .
  4. Book: Rose, Al . I Remember Jazz: Six Decades Among the Great Jazzmen . LSU Press . 1999 . 9780807153765 .
  5. Book: Burns, Mick . Walking with Legends: Barry Martyn's New Orleans Jazz Odyssey . LSU Press . 2007 . 9780807135495 .
  6. Book: Carter, William . Preservation Hall: Music from the Heart . Continuum . 1999 . 9780304705177 .
  7. News: Bourcier . Richard . In Concert 1968 by Paul Barbarin's Onward Brass Band . Jazz Review . July 24, 1999 . September 5, 2013 .
  8. Place of My Dreams . Lionel Ferbos . 2002 . Inside jacket cover . GHB Records .
  9. Big Easy . 2002 . Inside jacket cover . Basin Street Records .
  10. Web site: A New Home for Jazz . 411 Nola. November 7, 2011 . September 5, 2013 .
  11. News: The Grunewald School of Music Introduces Wendell Eugene . The Louisiana Weekly. 1949 .
  12. News: Super Bowl 1970 . The Times-Picayune New Orleans . November 30, 2011 . September 4, 2013 .
  13. Web site: 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Presented by Shell – Day 7 . Zimbio . May 5, 2012 . September 5, 2013.
  14. News: Duffy . M . Jazz Fest Wraps Up With Funky Collaborations . Fender . May 7, 2012 . September 5, 2013 .
  15. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theneworleansadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=wendell-albert-eugene&pid=187196026 Wendell Albert Eugene
  16. Men's Working . Seva Venet . 2007 . Inside jacket cover . Rovi Music . MW0000811240 .
  17. City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music . 2007 . Inside jacket cover . Rounder Records.
  18. Mardi Gras in New Orleans . Various . 2001 . Inside jacket cover . Rounder Records .
  19. Onward Brass Band in Concert . Paul Barbarin . 2000 . Album Cover . Jazz Crusade .
  20. Kickin' Some Brass . Various . 1998 . 2005 . re-release . Inside jacket cover . .
  21. Louisiana 2: Live from the Mountain Stage . Various . 1998 . Inside jacket cover . .
  22. Best of Bourbon Street Blues . Alton "Big Al" Carson. 1997 . Inside jacket cover (CD & Cassette) . Mardi Gras Records .
  23. New Orleans Jazz Preservations . Olympia Brass Band . 1995 . Inside jacket cover (CD & Cassette) . Mardi Gras Records .
  24. New Orleans Jazz, Vol. 3: Jazz Party . Harold Dejan . 1995 . Inside jacket cover . Mardi Gras Records .
  25. The Best of Bourbon Street Jazz . Various . 1995 . Inside jacket cover . Mardi Gras Records .
  26. Authentic New Orleans Jazz Funeral . Magnificent Seventh's Brass band . 1994 . Inside jacket cover . Mardi Gras Records .
  27. Best of New Orleans Bourbon Street Jazz: After Dark . Magnificent Seventh's Brass band . 1994 . Inside jacket cover . Mardi Gras Records .
  28. Barry Martyn's Down Home Boys . . 1993 . Album Cover . Sackville Records.
  29. Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology . Professor Longhair . 1993 . Inside jacket cover . Rhino Entertainment .
  30. On Bourbon Street . Harold Dejan . 1993 . Inside jacket cover (also pictured on covered) . Compendia Music Group.
  31. Fallen Heroes: A Jazz Funeral . Harold Dejan . 1992 . Inside jacket cover . Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records .
  32. New Orleans: Mardi Gras . Harold Dejan . 1991 . Inside jacket cover . Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records .
  33. Basin Street Blues . Harold Dejan / Olympia Brass Band . 1990 . Inside jacket cover . Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records .
  34. New Orleans Brass Bands Down Under . Various . 1989 . Inside jacket cover . Rounder Records .
  35. Mardi Gras in New Orleans . Various . 1987 . Inside jacket cover . Mardi Gras Records .
  36. West Indies Blues . Wendell Eugene . 1978 . Inside jacket cover . 504 Records .