Buddy Boudreaux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buddy Boudreaux
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Buddy Boudreaux in 1985
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Landry Boudreaux |
| Born | December 27, 1917 Donaldsonville, Louisiana, United States |
| Died | June 13, 2015 (aged 97) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Big Band Jazz |
| Instruments | Saxophone Clarinet |
John Landry “Buddy” Boudreaux (December 27, 1917 – June 13, 2015) was a famous big band and jazz musician. He lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Buddy was known for playing the saxophone and clarinet. Starting in 1934, he led many bands. These bands toured the southern United States. They also played with many well-known performers in Baton Rouge. The State-Times newspaper called him “the city’s sound of big band.”
His bands played for stars like Andy Williams, Bernadette Peters, Doc Severinsen, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Burt Bacharach, Johnny Mathis, The Four Tops, Bob Hope, George Burns, and Joan Rivers. He also opened shows for Tony Bennett, Tony Orlando, Louise Mandrell, The Beach Boys, and Bill Cosby. Buddy Boudreaux also helped write “My Baton Rouge.” In 1998, this song became the official song of Baton Rouge.
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Buddy Boudreaux's Early Life
Buddy Boudreaux was born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. When he was six months old, his family moved to Baton Rouge. His father, Edward Lawrence Boudreaux, worked at the Standard Oil refinery. His mother, Rena Marie Landry Boudreaux, played the piano. She really encouraged Buddy's love for music. They would often stay up late listening to live big band music on the radio in the 1920s.
One day, a music teacher heard Buddy playing his cousin's saxophone. The teacher convinced him to take lessons. When Buddy was 12, he earned money by helping a golf professional. He used this money to buy his own saxophone. He also paid $10 for a dozen music lessons. These were the only formal music lessons he ever had.
School Days and Big Decisions
Buddy Boudreaux graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1936. He played in the school band there. To make his father happy, he started studying chemical engineering at Louisiana State University (LSU). But music was always his main passion. He also played in the LSU Tiger Marching Band.
After just one semester, he left LSU to focus on his music career. Many years later, after serving in World War II, he went back to school. He used the G.I. Bill to finish his studies. In 1950, he earned a degree in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley.
A Life in Music: The Big Band Era
In 1929, Buddy joined a 12-person children's orchestra. They played for Saturday shows at the Paramount Theater. He played his first professional show in 1932 when he was 14. Two years later, he joined the Clovis Hendry Orchestra.
Buddy started his own band in 1939. He would visit clubs in Baton Rouge. He told them he had a band that was fully booked out of town. The club owners were impressed and hired him. Then, he would go and form the band! Besides his own groups, Buddy also played with the Bob Crosby Orchestra and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. He toured the South with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra as well.
These bands played swing music, which was very popular in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Big bands used to travel all over the country to perform. Later, these tours became less profitable. Younger audiences started listening to rock music. However, many people still loved swing music and dancing. This led to the rise of local big bands, like Buddy Boudreaux’s. These groups had top musicians who played mostly in their local areas.
The Buddy Lee Orchestra
The 16-piece Buddy Lee Orchestra was started in 1973. Buddy Boudreaux and his friend Lee Fortier created it. Lee was a trumpet player from their youth orchestra days. This was the most famous of Buddy Boudreaux's bands. In 1986, the Buddy Lee Orchestra played alongside Buddy Rich’s big band. This special concert in Baton Rouge was called the Buddy Buddy Concert.
Buddy performed from his teenage years until he was in his 90s. He played for many different events. These included Mardi Gras balls, dances, wedding parties, riverboat cruises, and restaurant brunches. Depending on the event, he would put together different groups. He had a seven-piece Buddy Boudreaux Dance Band, a six-piece Buddy Boudreaux Jazz Ensemble, or a four-piece XL-Acoustic Jazz Combo. For over 50 years, he brought together musicians who entertained the city. He also helped bring famous stars to Baton Rouge. These stars knew they would have great musicians to play with them.
Serving His Country and Music
Buddy Boudreaux was a veteran of World War II. He served in the United States Army Air Corps from February 1943 to September 1945. He was stationed in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Italy. He reached the rank of sergeant major.
Even during his military service, Buddy kept playing music. He performed in a seven-piece army band called the Dukes of Rhythm. They played for USO shows, officer dances, and public dances in French Morocco.
Beyond the Stage: Other Interests
Before retiring in 1980, Buddy Boudreaux had a day job. He worked at the Standard Oil refinery and chemical plant in Baton Rouge. He started as an office boy in 1937. He retired as a senior supervisor in the financial analysis department.
From 1950 to 1990, he also served as a leader for Local 538 of the American Federation of Musicians.
In 1998, Buddy helped form the Louisiana Octogenarian Golf Team. This team played in tournaments across the South. They donated their winnings to charities. When he was in his 80s, he won 32 Senior Olympics golf medals in Louisiana. He was also a leader for his sons’ Cub Scout and Boy Scout groups when they were growing up.
Family and Later Years
Buddy Boudreaux married Ruth Bowman Suthon in 1947. She also worked at Standard Oil and graduated from LSU. They had four sons: Richard, John Jr., Ronald, and Jeffrey. Two of his sons, Ronald and Jeffrey, became professional drummers. Buddy and Ruth also had three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Buddy Boudreaux passed away in Baton Rouge on June 13, 2015. He was 97 years old.
Buddy's Music on Air and Screen
Buddy Boudreaux performed on the Derby Show. This was a daily radio broadcast on WJBO in Baton Rouge in 1940. His music was also featured in several movies. These included The Toy (1982), Blaze (1989), and the French film Louisiana (1984).
What Music Did Buddy Make?
- The Buddy Boudreaux Quartet (1983)
- The Buddy Boudreaux Jazz Ensemble (1984)
- My Baton Rouge (1985)
- Buddy Lee Orchestra (1985)
- XL-Acoustic Jazz Combo (1985)
- The Buddy Boudreaux Dance Band (1985)
See also
In Spanish: Buddy Boudreaux para niños
