Andrew Hilaire
Encyclopedia
Andrew Henry Hilaire was a jazz
drummer active from the 1910s to early 1930s, highly regarded by his fellow musicians.
Hilaire was born on in New Orleans of a comparatively middle-class Creole of Color family that lived in the French Quarter
. His family moved to Chicago
in the 1910s. By 1917, he was touring Vaudeville
with the Tennessee Ten jazz band, fronted by Florence Mills
.
Hilaire was active in Chicago's "Roaring Twenties
" music scene, playing with the bands of Lil Hardin Armstrong
and Carroll Dickerson
before 8 years with Doc Cook
. He took part in various recording sessions during his time with the Doc Cook Orchestra, including with Freddie Keppard
and perhaps most famously as a member of Jelly Roll Morton
's Red Hot Peppers.
In the 1930s he played with Jerome Don Pasquall
and Eddie South
in addition to leading his own band.
Andrew Hilaire was remembered by his fellow musicians as being of slight and weak constitution, and had trouble breathing -- believed to be either asthma
or tuberculosis
. He died at home in Chicago at the age of 36.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
drummer active from the 1910s to early 1930s, highly regarded by his fellow musicians.
Hilaire was born on in New Orleans of a comparatively middle-class Creole of Color family that lived in the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
. His family moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in the 1910s. By 1917, he was touring Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
with the Tennessee Ten jazz band, fronted by Florence Mills
Florence Mills
Florence Mills, born Florence Winfrey , known as the "Queen of Happiness," was an African American cabaret singer, dancer, and comedian known for her effervescent stage presence, delicate voice, and winsome, wide-eyed beauty.-Life and career:A daughter of former enslaved parents, Nellie and John...
.
Hilaire was active in Chicago's "Roaring Twenties
Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London, Berlin and Paris for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
" music scene, playing with the bands of Lil Hardin Armstrong
Lil Hardin Armstrong
Lil Hardin Armstrong was a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, singer, and bandleader, and the second wife of Louis Armstrong with whom she collaborated on many recordings in the 1920s....
and Carroll Dickerson
Carroll Dickerson
Carroll Dickerson was a Chicago and New York-based dixieland jazz violinist and bandleader, probably better known for his extensive work with Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines or his more brief work touring with King Oliver....
before 8 years with Doc Cook
Doc Cook
Charles L. Cooke was an American jazz bandleader and arranger, who performed and recorded under the stage name Doc Cook...
. He took part in various recording sessions during his time with the Doc Cook Orchestra, including with Freddie Keppard
Freddie Keppard
Freddie Keppard was an early jazz cornetist.Keppard was born in the Creole of Color community of downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. His older brother Louis Keppard was also a professional musician. Freddie played violin, mandolin, and accordion before switching to cornet...
and perhaps most famously as a member of Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
's Red Hot Peppers.
In the 1930s he played with Jerome Don Pasquall
Jerome Don Pasquall
Jerome Don Pasquall was an American jazz reed player.Pasquall grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and played early in his life on the mellophone in brass bands. He served in the Army in 1918 in the 10th Cavalry Band, and picked up clarinet during this time...
and Eddie South
Eddie South
Eddie South was an American jazz violinist.-Biography:South was a classical violin prodigy who switched to jazz because of limited opportunities for African-American musicians, and started his career playing in vaudeville and jazz orchestras with Freddie Keppard, Jimmy Wade, Charles Elgar, and...
in addition to leading his own band.
Andrew Hilaire was remembered by his fellow musicians as being of slight and weak constitution, and had trouble breathing -- believed to be either asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
or tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. He died at home in Chicago at the age of 36.
External links
- Andrew Hilaire - Jelly Roll Morton's drummer detailed biography by Per Oldaeus
- Andrew Hilaire short bio on Allmusic by Scott Yanow