Alcide Nunez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alcide Nunez
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Nunez in 1918
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alcide Patrick Nunez |
| Born | March 17, 1884 St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | September 2, 1934 (aged 50) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Clarinet |
| Years active | 1902–1934 |
Alcide Patrick Nunez (born March 17, 1884 – died September 2, 1934) was a famous American jazz clarinet player. People also called him Yellow Nunez or Al Nunez. He was one of the first musicians from New Orleans to record his music.
Biography
Alcide Nunez was born in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, USA. His family moved to New Orleans when he was young. His parents had roots from the Canary Islands and French Creole backgrounds.
Alcide grew up in New Orleans. He started playing guitar in bands. Around 1902, he switched to the clarinet. He quickly became one of the best clarinet players in the city. By 1905, he often played with Papa Jack Laine's band. He also played with Tom Brown and sometimes led his own bands. Alcide could play several instruments. However, he mostly played the clarinet. He was also very good at making up new musical parts as he played. Before becoming a full-time musician, Nunez worked driving a mule-drawn wagon. His friend and fellow musician, "Chink" Martin Abraham, worked with him.
In early 1916, Alcide went to Chicago with a band called Stein's Dixie Jass Band. This band later became famous as the Original Dixieland Jass Band. But Nunez left the band before they made their first recordings. In 1917, the Dixieland Jass Band became very popular. They recorded a song called "Livery Stable Blues". The band's leader, Nick LaRocca, claimed he wrote the song. However, Nunez and Ray Lopez had already copyrighted their own version of the music. LaRocca sued Nunez, but the lawsuit was dismissed. The judge said that musicians who could not read music could not claim to have written it.
After playing with Tom Brown's band in Chicago, Nunez moved to New York City. There, he joined Bert Kelly's band. Another famous musician, Pee Wee Russell, said that Nunez was the best jazz clarinet player in the world. Nunez soon became the leader of Kelly's band.
In early 1919, Nunez helped start a new band called the Louisiana Five. This band was led by drummer Anton Lada. They became one of New York's most popular bands. They recorded music for many different record companies. In early 1920, Nunez played with Harry Yerkes's dance band in New York. But that same year, he rejoined the Louisiana Five. They went on a tour across the United States.
In 1922, Bert Kelly replaced Nunez with Johnny Dodds. Nunez then returned to Chicago. He led the house band at Kelly's Stables. This was one of Chicago's top nightclubs. He also played with Willard Robison's band. Around this time, Nunez started losing his teeth. This made it hard for him to play the clarinet. He moved back to his family in New Orleans. After getting false teeth, he could play the clarinet again. He then joined the New Orleans Police Band. During this time, Nunez also played in "The Moonlight Serenaders" band. He also played in several other dance bands in New Orleans. He stayed in New Orleans until he passed away.
Personal life
Nunez was married three times. He had one child with his second wife. He had three children with his third wife. For a short time in 1921, he lived in Baltimore. He died from a heart attack on September 2, 1934.
See also
In Spanish: Alcide Núñez para niños
