Jimmy Palao
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Palao, also James Florestan Palao February 19, 1879 - January 8, 1925 was the Leader of the Original Creole Orchestra and it is believed that he was the first to coin the term Jazz
. According to jazz scholar Lawrence Gushee
extensive research revealed that the Original Creole Orchestra was the first African American band from New Orleans (New Orleans historically given the title "The birth place of Jazz") to perform Jazz in over 75 cities in the USA and Canadian cities.
in Algiers, New Orleans, Louisiana
. His parents were Felix Palao and Clotilde Rebecca Spriggs. At the age of six his father recognized that Jimmy had musical talent and Jimmy received extensive musical training and violin lessons from a German teacher. In New Orleans, music was often a family affair and he also received instructions from his Uncle Edgar Palao and his Father Felix Palao. Jimmy went to the country side and taught many youth how to read music and taught them how to play their instruments including Buddy Bolden
.
. There are only a few copyrighted compositions from New Orleans musicians of this era. Jimmy started his musical career playing in his Aunt's Church Hall, The Sacred Heart of Mary Church from 1895 to 1897 where he was leader of the Buddy Johnson band. He played in the Pacific Brass band 1897-1898, Henry Allen brass band 1897-1900, Jimmy Palao band 1900, Buddy Bolden band 1903-1905, and the Imperial Jazz band 1905-1907. Bill Johnson remembered the soulful sounds from the Imperial Band that Jimmie Palao led and called the music "Jazz". He also remembered how excited the audience would get when the band would play.
In 1908 Bill Johnson and Jimmie Palao as leader of the Original Creole Orchestra formed a firm partnership. The driving syncopated style of this New Orleans Jazz
was beginning to transform the Jazz scene. It must be noted that the Creole music
ians alone had mastered the professional survival of Jazz. This style of Jazz was infectious, the audience would roar for more and some sessions would last almost an hour longer. The band members as tired as they were continued to play, they loved the response they were getting. Jimmy Palao and members of this group all had grown up spiritually and musically, together in New Orleans. As though preparing for this moment for all of their lives, they had finally come together as a unit and Jimmy Palao formulated the Original Creole Orchestra. It took every one of them to make this happen, the formula was complete and the time was right, and everything was in place and nothing could stop it-Jazz was about to take hold.
The members of The Original Creole Orchestra were Freddy Keppard, Eddie Vincent, Norwood Williams, George Baquet, and Dink Johnson
. The Original Creole Orchestra disbanded in 1918 and according to many jazz scholars this was the greatest musical organization of Jazz history. There was a record called, "Tack 'Em Down", by the Creole band published by Victor Talking Machine Company
, which was never issued and no test pressing has surfaced. This would have been the first jazz record by a black band. Jimmie Palao went on to play with Lawrence Duhe
band, King Oliver band, Jones Dreamland band, The Jolly Jazzing Jeopards, John Wickliffe's -Ginger band Syncopated Gingersnaps and Dave and Tessie band. Jimmie Palao felt the need to express his jazz voice through his main instrument, the violin. He was an accomplished and expressive jazz violinist, earning a reputation as one of the finest violinists of his generation. He executed a powerful sound that eschewed vibrato, phrasings and nobody heard anything quite like it before. Jimmy Palao was multi talented. He played the violin, saxophone, the cornet, the mellophone and the banjo and he mastered them all.
January 8, 1925 at the age of 45. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery
in Chicago, Illinois.
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...
. According to jazz scholar Lawrence Gushee
Lawrence Gushee
Lawrence "Larry" Gushee is an American musicologist, who specializes in medieval music and early jazz.He was born in Ridley Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied at Haverford College, Yale University, University of Dijon, and the Manhattan School of Music...
extensive research revealed that the Original Creole Orchestra was the first African American band from New Orleans (New Orleans historically given the title "The birth place of Jazz") to perform Jazz in over 75 cities in the USA and Canadian cities.
Early life
James A. Palao was born across the Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in Algiers, New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. His parents were Felix Palao and Clotilde Rebecca Spriggs. At the age of six his father recognized that Jimmy had musical talent and Jimmy received extensive musical training and violin lessons from a German teacher. In New Orleans, music was often a family affair and he also received instructions from his Uncle Edgar Palao and his Father Felix Palao. Jimmy went to the country side and taught many youth how to read music and taught them how to play their instruments including Buddy Bolden
Buddy Bolden
Charles "Buddy" Bolden was an African American cornetist and is regarded by contemporaries as a key figure in the development of a New Orleans style of rag-time music which later came to be known as jazz.- Life :...
.
Music career
He began writing compositions one of which was, "Upon the Fields of Battle" with words and music in 1905, "Echoes of India" published in 1909, and "O You Sweet Rag" was published in 1911 by H. Kirkland Dugdale and Jimmie dedicated O You Sweet Rag to George BaquetGeorge Baquet
George Baquet was an American jazz clarinetist, known for his contributions to early jazz in New Orleans.His father, Theogene Baquet, was also a clarinetist, as were his brothers, Achille and Harold...
. There are only a few copyrighted compositions from New Orleans musicians of this era. Jimmy started his musical career playing in his Aunt's Church Hall, The Sacred Heart of Mary Church from 1895 to 1897 where he was leader of the Buddy Johnson band. He played in the Pacific Brass band 1897-1898, Henry Allen brass band 1897-1900, Jimmy Palao band 1900, Buddy Bolden band 1903-1905, and the Imperial Jazz band 1905-1907. Bill Johnson remembered the soulful sounds from the Imperial Band that Jimmie Palao led and called the music "Jazz". He also remembered how excited the audience would get when the band would play.
In 1908 Bill Johnson and Jimmie Palao as leader of the Original Creole Orchestra formed a firm partnership. The driving syncopated style of this New Orleans Jazz
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
was beginning to transform the Jazz scene. It must be noted that the Creole music
Creole music
Creole music applies to two genres of music from south Louisiana: Creole folk and Creole. Creole folk dates from the 18th century or before, and it consists primarily of folk songs. Many were published, and some found their way into works by Louisiana composers such as Louis Moreau Gottschalk,...
ians alone had mastered the professional survival of Jazz. This style of Jazz was infectious, the audience would roar for more and some sessions would last almost an hour longer. The band members as tired as they were continued to play, they loved the response they were getting. Jimmy Palao and members of this group all had grown up spiritually and musically, together in New Orleans. As though preparing for this moment for all of their lives, they had finally come together as a unit and Jimmy Palao formulated the Original Creole Orchestra. It took every one of them to make this happen, the formula was complete and the time was right, and everything was in place and nothing could stop it-Jazz was about to take hold.
The members of The Original Creole Orchestra were Freddy Keppard, Eddie Vincent, Norwood Williams, George Baquet, and Dink Johnson
Dink Johnson
Ollie "Dink" Johnson was a dixieland jazz pianist, clarinetist, and drummer.-Background:Dink Johnson was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, younger brother of the bass player/bandleader William Manuel Johnson. He worked around Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana before moving to the western United...
. The Original Creole Orchestra disbanded in 1918 and according to many jazz scholars this was the greatest musical organization of Jazz history. There was a record called, "Tack 'Em Down", by the Creole band published by Victor Talking Machine Company
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....
, which was never issued and no test pressing has surfaced. This would have been the first jazz record by a black band. Jimmie Palao went on to play with Lawrence Duhe
Lawrence Duhé
Lawrence Duhé was an early jazz clarinetist and bandleader. He was a member of Sugar Johnnie's New Orleans Creole Orchestra....
band, King Oliver band, Jones Dreamland band, The Jolly Jazzing Jeopards, John Wickliffe's -Ginger band Syncopated Gingersnaps and Dave and Tessie band. Jimmie Palao felt the need to express his jazz voice through his main instrument, the violin. He was an accomplished and expressive jazz violinist, earning a reputation as one of the finest violinists of his generation. He executed a powerful sound that eschewed vibrato, phrasings and nobody heard anything quite like it before. Jimmy Palao was multi talented. He played the violin, saxophone, the cornet, the mellophone and the banjo and he mastered them all.
Death
Jimmy Palao played in major bands and with top artists and jazzmen of the day. The joy of sharing and developing jazz took its toll on "Jimmy's" health. At the rise of his career, Jimmy Palao was on the road with The Syncopated band and Dave and Tressie when they realized Jimmy was very ill. Jimmy Palao died of TuberculosisTuberculosis
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...
January 8, 1925 at the age of 45. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery (Chicago)
Mount Olivet Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery located in Chicago, Illinois. The cemetery is operated by the Archdiocese of Chicago. The cemetery is located at 2755 West 111th St.-History:...
in Chicago, Illinois.