Nappy Lamare
Encyclopedia
Joseph Hilton "Nappy" Lamare (June 14, 1905, New Orleans – May 8, 1988, Newhall, California) was an American jazz
banjo
ist, guitarist
, and vocalist.
Lamar's nickname isn't based on a given name of Napoleon; its true origin was revealed by his son:
Lamare started his musical career in New Orleans, working with performers such as Monk Hazel
, Johnny Wiggs
, and Sharkey Bonano
. In 1925, his childhood friend, drummer Ray Bauduc
, invited him to join Johnny Bayersdorffer
's band, with which he toured in California. After returning to New Orleans, Lamare played in Chicago, New York and Atlantic City with other bands, eventually returning to New Orleans to join the New Orleans Owls
. In 1927, he made his recording debut with Wiggs' band, which was known as "John Hyman's Bayou Stompers".
With jobs in New Orleans becoming scarce, Nappy traveled to New York in search of work there. Bandleader Ben Pollack
hired Lamare as his guitarist in September 1930 upon Bauduc's recommendation. The Pollack band broke up in late 1934. In 1935, along with Bauduc, Miller and other former Pollack band members, Lamare founded the Bob Crosby
band, with which he played until late 1942. In addition to his role as rhythm guitarist, Lamare was a frequent vocalist with the Crosby band.
In early 1943, he joined Eddie Miller's band in California. Much of Lamare's subsequent career was in the Los Angeles
area, where he led his own small groups. In 1947 he became a partial owner, along with two other ex-Crosby sidemen, saxophonists Doc Rando and Noni Bernardi
, of a night club called "Club 47" in Studio City, near Los Angeles. In 1948, he played briefly with Jimmy Dorsey
's band. During his Club 47 days, Nappy broke the little finger of his left hand, which made it impossible for him to play guitar or banjo. As a result of his injury, he switched to the electric bass
for a while.
In 1950 Lamare and his band, the "Straw Hat Strutters", had a television show on KTLA
called Dixie Showboat, and a subsequent 5 year tour together. Following the "Straw Hat Strutters" he co-led the "Riverboat Dandies" with Ray Bauduc
. During the 1950s and 1960s, Nappy toured the United States, and in 1956 he toured the Orient. Injuries from a car accident in 1962 interrupted his career, but he resumed playing with Bauduc and also played with Joe Darensbourg
and at Disneyland.
In 1986 Nappy Lamare moved from Los Angeles to a retirement community in Newhall, California, where he continued to sing and play banjo at the nearby Santa Clarita Jazz Club. The night before his death, he sat in with the amateur band at his retirement community. Nappy Lamare died of a heart attack May 8, 1988, and is buried at the San Fernando Mission
Cemetery, San Fernando, California
.
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...
banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
ist, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, and vocalist.
Lamar's nickname isn't based on a given name of Napoleon; its true origin was revealed by his son:
- Lamare was christened with the nickname of "Nappy" by his close childhood buddy, Eddie MillerEddie Miller (jazz saxophonist)Edward Raymond Müller was a jazz musician who played tenor saxophone and clarinet born in New Orleans, Louisiana....
, during the early 1920s. "Dad liked to sleep in late and plus, he had very tight, curly hair," Barry Lamare explained. "So Eddie used to refer to my dad as being 'nappy-headed.'"
Lamare started his musical career in New Orleans, working with performers such as Monk Hazel
Monk Hazel
Monk Hazel was a jazz drummer.In addition to being a well regarded drummer, Hazel occasionally took solos on brass instruments, notably cornet and melophone. Monk Hazel was a fixture on the New Orleans music scene for decades. Hazel's father was a drummer as well...
, Johnny Wiggs
Johnny Wiggs
Johnny Wiggs was a jazz musician and band leader.Born John Wigginton Hyman on in New Orleans, Louisiana, he started his music career on the violin. He soon adopted the cornet and moved to New York for some time before returning to New Orleans...
, and Sharkey Bonano
Sharkey Bonano
Joseph "Sharkey" Bonano was a jazz trumpeter, band leader, and vocalist....
. In 1925, his childhood friend, drummer Ray Bauduc
Ray Bauduc
Ray Bauduc was a jazz drummer best known for his work with the Bob Crosby Orchestra and their band-within-a-band, the Bobcats, between 1935 and 1942....
, invited him to join Johnny Bayersdorffer
Johnny Bayersdorffer
Johnny Bayersdorffer was a New Orleans jazz cornetist and bandleader.Bayersdorffer was a popular bandleader at the Spanish Fort resort on Bayou St. John by Lake Pontchartrain. He is best remembered to later generations for his 1920s recordings for Okeh Records...
's band, with which he toured in California. After returning to New Orleans, Lamare played in Chicago, New York and Atlantic City with other bands, eventually returning to New Orleans to join the New Orleans Owls
New Orleans Owls
The New Orleans Owls were an early jazz band from New Orleans that descended from The Invincibles String band and recorded 18 sides for Gennett Records and 23 sides for Columbia Records from 1925 to 1927 on 78 rpm Gramophone record. They are reportedly the first group to record by the electric...
. In 1927, he made his recording debut with Wiggs' band, which was known as "John Hyman's Bayou Stompers".
With jobs in New Orleans becoming scarce, Nappy traveled to New York in search of work there. Bandleader Ben Pollack
Ben Pollack
Ben Pollack was a drummer and bandleader from the mid 1920s through the swing era. His eye for talent led him to either discover or employ, at one time or another, musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller, Jimmy McPartland and Harry James...
hired Lamare as his guitarist in September 1930 upon Bauduc's recommendation. The Pollack band broke up in late 1934. In 1935, along with Bauduc, Miller and other former Pollack band members, Lamare founded the Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby
George Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
band, with which he played until late 1942. In addition to his role as rhythm guitarist, Lamare was a frequent vocalist with the Crosby band.
In early 1943, he joined Eddie Miller's band in California. Much of Lamare's subsequent career was in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area, where he led his own small groups. In 1947 he became a partial owner, along with two other ex-Crosby sidemen, saxophonists Doc Rando and Noni Bernardi
Ernani Bernardi
Ernani Bernardi , known also as Noni Bernardi, was a big-band musician turned politician in Los Angeles, California. He represented District 7 on the City Council there from 1961 to 1993—at 32 years the second-longest-serving council member in the history of the city...
, of a night club called "Club 47" in Studio City, near Los Angeles. In 1948, he played briefly with Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
James "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
's band. During his Club 47 days, Nappy broke the little finger of his left hand, which made it impossible for him to play guitar or banjo. As a result of his injury, he switched to the electric bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
for a while.
In 1950 Lamare and his band, the "Straw Hat Strutters", had a television show on KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
called Dixie Showboat, and a subsequent 5 year tour together. Following the "Straw Hat Strutters" he co-led the "Riverboat Dandies" with Ray Bauduc
Ray Bauduc
Ray Bauduc was a jazz drummer best known for his work with the Bob Crosby Orchestra and their band-within-a-band, the Bobcats, between 1935 and 1942....
. During the 1950s and 1960s, Nappy toured the United States, and in 1956 he toured the Orient. Injuries from a car accident in 1962 interrupted his career, but he resumed playing with Bauduc and also played with Joe Darensbourg
Joe Darensbourg
Joe Darensbourg was an American New Orleans based jazz clarinetist and saxophonist notable for his work with Buddy Petit, Jelly Roll Morton, Charlie Creath, Fate Marable, Andy Kirk, Johnny Wittwer, Kid Ory, Wingy Manone, Joe Liggins and Louis Armstrong.-Discography:* The New Orleans Statesman*...
and at Disneyland.
In 1986 Nappy Lamare moved from Los Angeles to a retirement community in Newhall, California, where he continued to sing and play banjo at the nearby Santa Clarita Jazz Club. The night before his death, he sat in with the amateur band at his retirement community. Nappy Lamare died of a heart attack May 8, 1988, and is buried at the San Fernando Mission
Mission San Fernando Rey de España
Mission San Fernando Rey de España was founded on "The Feast of the Birth of Mary" , 1797. The settlement is located on the former Encino Rancho in the Mission Hills community of northern Los Angeles, near the site of the first gold discovery in Alta California.-History:Mission San Fernando Rey de...
Cemetery, San Fernando, California
San Fernando, California
San Fernando is a city located in the San Fernando Valley, in northwestern region of Los Angeles, California, United States. The population was 23,645 at the 2010 census, up from 23,564 at the 2000 census.-History:...
.