Other Italian American Jazz Greats Of New Orleans

OTHER ITALIAN AMERICAN JAZZGREATS OF NEW ORLEANSGiuseppe Alessandra (Joe Alexander)1865 (Italy)-1950 (New Orleans).Played in parades with Reliance Bandsand in dance bands with JohnnyProvenzano, Dominick and Joe Barocco.Tony Almerico 1905-1961. Knownnationwide as Dixieland disc jockey andTV host. His dance band played for theStreckfus Steamship Line in the ‘40s.Frank Assunto 1922-1974. NewOrleans native and leader of worldfamousDukes of Dixieland.Freddie Assunto 1929-1966. Playedin brother Frank's Dukes of Dixieland.Married to the band’s singer, BettyOwens."Papa" Jac Assunto 1902-1985.Father of Frank and Freddie. Played inDukes of Dixieland. Well-known musicteacher and school bandmaster.Dominick Barocco 1893-1970.Studied trumpet with Frank Christian.Played with Johnny Provenzano, NickLaRocca, Clem Camp, and LarryShields. His Susquehanna Band playedon lake steamer of same name.Joe Barocco 1891-1947. Co-leader ofSusquehanna Band with brotherDominick. Also with Reliance BrassBand and Johnny Fischer.Louis Bisso 1905-? Played piano insilent movie theaters in early ‘20s. Headof N.O. City Planning Board in ‘50s.Joseph "Sharkey" Bonano 1904-1972. Dixieland band leader who touredEurope, Asia, and South America withtop N.O. musicians. Replaced BixBeiderbecke in Wolverines orchestraand Nick LaRocca in ODJB."Candy" Candido 1913-1999. Playedwith Louis Prima and Leon Prima in the‘30s. As comedy accompanist to popularsinger Gene Austin, appeared on recordsand in the movies. Joined Ted FioritoBand. Later became stand-up comic.Angelo Capraro 1910 (New Orleans)-1963 (Las Vegas). With Leon Prima,Louis Prima, Sharkey bands in ‘30s.Toured own band under name JimmyCapra. With brother at Cotton Club.Joe Capraro 1903-1987. Played withSharkey and N.O. Rhythm Masters. Ledown band on WSMB in ‘20s, playedThe Cotton Club. Recorded extensivelyon Southland.Tony Costa 1910-? Played with Dukesof Dixieland, Tony Almerico, Phil Zito,and Sharkey.Tony Dalmado 1918-? Trumpeter onKeynote session with Irving Fazola.Sid Davilla 1915-? Swing musicianand owner of Mardi Gras Lounge onBourbon Street.Al Doria 1899-1977. Top Dixielanddrummer. Worked at Werlein's MusicStore.Frank Federico 1908-? Played withLouis Prima, Leon Prima and TonyAlmerico.Sal Franzella 1915-1968. SaengerTheater pit band in ‘30. Toured in ‘30swith LaRocca.Benny Meroff – Played with IshamJones, Paul Whiteman. Concert andstudio work in Hollywood.Nick Gagliardi 1921-? The LastStraws.

Al Gallodoro - Orpheum Theaterhouse band.Ernest Giardina 1870-? Earlyragtime bandleader. Played with FrankChristian.Tony Giardina 1897-1956. Pre-WWIwith Reliance, Brunies, ODJB, FrankChristian.Felix Guarino 1898-? Drummer in‘20s Crescent City Jazzers and ArcadianSerenaders.John Lala 1893-1966. Pre-WWIDixielander. With Happy Schilling,Reliance, Johnny Fischer.Mike Lala 1908-1976. Dancebandleader for forty years. PlayedFrench Quarter at La Lune and FamousDoor night clubs. Earlier played withJoe Capraro, Oscar Marcour, JulesBauduc.Sam LaNasa - Played in TonyParenti's Symphonic Dance Orchestra,Grunewald Hotel ‘20s.Roy Liberto 1928-? Leader of touringnovelty Dixieland band.Arnold Loyacano 1889-1962. Childprodigy, played at Milneburg andFrench Opera house at age 11. Playedwith Reliance, Tom Brown (inChicago), New Orleans Rhythm Kings,Jimmy Durante's Original New OrleansJazz Band, Sig Meyer's DruidsOrchestra, Sharkey, and Leon Prima. Onmusic staff of NBC in early years ofradio.Freddie Loyacano 1905-? Playedwith Sharkey, Leon Prima, Fazola, EllisStratakos.Joe "Hook" Loyacano 1893-1967.Recorded saxophone Halfway Houseorchestra. With Tonny Almerico in‘50s. Brother of Arnold and John.Joe Loyacano 1906-1969. PlayedHalfway House Orchestra. Brother ofSteve and Freddie.John Layacano 1879-1960. Dixielandrhythm man with Reliance, Dan Hughes,Sal Margiotta.Steve Loyacano 1903-? Played withPinky Gerbrecht, Johnny Bayersdorffer,New Orleans Rhythm Kings. LedSaenger Theater band and owned ChezParee Club in 1935.Sherwood Mangiapane 1912-. Greatbassist, singer, and whistler, recordingwith Johnny Wiggs, Raymond Burke,Dr. Edmond Souchon.Joseph "Wingy" Mannone 1900-1987. Lost right arm at age nine. Playedkazoo in Storyville at age twelve. WellknownGulf Coast trumpeter. Recordedwith Arcadian Serenaders. Appeared inseveral films and wrote successfulautobiography, Trumpet on the Wing.(Doubleday).Sal Margiotta 1896-1970. TriangleBand.Leonce Mello 1888-1941. Trombonistwith Reliance, Fischer Brass Band,Barocco brothers.Manuel Mello 1886-1961. Playedparade bands from 1903 (The Big Fiveand Reliance), and Jack Laine's ragtimebands from 1908.Sanford Mello 1901-? In AlfredLaine's band in ‘20s. Brother of Leonceand Manuel.

James Palao 1880-1925. ImperialOrchestra, Original Creole Orchestra.Vaudeville, Chicago.Angelo Palmisano - New OrleansOwls, Halfway House Orchestra.Tony Papalia 1905-1974. Theaterwork, Tony Parenti's orchestra, andorchestra leader.Russ Papalia 1903-1972. Early yearswith Tony Parenti, Johnny Detroit,Irving Fazola, Johnny Bayersdorffer.Dance orchestra leader.Tony Parenti 1900 (New Orleans)-1972 (New York). Musical prodigyfrom age twelve. At fourteen, wasinvited north with ODJB. Worked NewOrleans with Jack Line, on steamerMajestic, in Triangle and AlamoTheaters, Pup Café, Liberty Theater,Lavida Ballroom. His LibertySyncopators recorded on Columbia.Played Broadway in 1960s as worldrenownedjazz star.Santo Pecora 1902-1984. Maestro ofDixieland Tailgate style. Recorded withRhythm King in 1925. Played withBuddy Rogers, Ben Pollack, WillOsborne, Sharkey, Wingy Manone.Played the Famous Door on BourbonStreet.Pete Peccopia ?-1950. Popular 1905-30, playing with Jack Laine dancebands, Reliance Brass, andSusquehanna.Frank Pinero 1906-1967. PlayedDixieland piano with Happy Schilling,Louis Prima, Leon Prima-Sharkey All-Stars.Leon Prima 1907-1985. Bandleaderand nightclub operator. Co-leader ofswing band with Sharkey in ‘30s.Brother of Louis Prima.Louis Prima 1911-1978. Led "kid'sband" with Irving Fazola in 1923.Worked Saenger Theater pit band in1928. Popular swing bandleader in ‘30'.Made several films and records.John Provenzano 1878-1962. Playedearly Dixieland piano with TonyGiardina, Johnny Lala, Brunies, "tangobelt" cabarets 1905-25.Leon Roppolo 1902-1943. Jazzimmortal, though short career ended in asanitarium. Played with Bee Palmer,Brunies, Halfway House Orchestra,New Orleans Rhythm Kings. Musician/composer.Tony Sbarbaro 1987-1969. WithBrunies and Ernest Giardina. Playeddrums/ kazoo with ODJB. Consideredone of the greatest Dixieland drummers.Nunzio Scaglione 1890-1935. PapaLaine veteran. Recorded withBayersdorffer for Okeh.Tony Schiro 1899-1980. Studied withJohn Marrero, Johnny St. Cyr. TriangleBand, Sharkey.Luke Schiro 1903-? Clarinetist,played at NOJC. Taught Irving Fazola.Jacob Schiambra 1910-? Wellknownattorney. Played with JohnnyWiggs in late ‘50s.Joseph "Pee Wee" Spitlera 1938-?In "kid bands" of 50s. Now clarinetistwith Al Hirt.Larry Veca 1889-1911. GreatDixieland cornetist with Papa Laine'sRagtime and Reliance Brass bands.Phil Zito 1914-? Active bandleaderof ‘40s and ‘50s. Recorded with ownband, the International DixielandExpress. Created Nick LaRocca OriginalDixieland Jazz Band Foundation.