Eddie Edwards (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eddie Edwards
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Edwin B. Edwards, c. 1921
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Edwin Branford Edwards |
| Born | May 22, 1891 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | April 9, 1963 (aged 71) New Orleans |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Trombone |
| Associated acts | Original Dixieland Jass Band |
Edwin Branford Edwards (born May 22, 1891 – died April 9, 1963) was an important early jazz musician. He played the trombone and was a member of the famous Original Dixieland Jass Band. This band made some of the very first jazz recordings ever!
Contents
Life and Music Career
Early Life and Musical Start
Eddie Edwards grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, a city famous for its music. He started playing the violin when he was 10 years old. Five years later, he switched to the trombone. He played both instruments professionally. He performed with bands led by Papa Jack Laine and Ernest Giardina. Besides music, Eddie also played minor-league baseball. He even worked as an electrician!
Joining the Original Dixieland Jazz Band
In 1916, Eddie was chosen by Alcide Nunez to go to Chicago, Illinois. There, he played trombone with Johnny Stein's Jazz Band. After some changes in the musicians, this group became the Original Dixieland Jass Band. This band made history by recording the very first jazz records in 1917. Eddie played on one of these first recordings, a song called "Livery Stable Blues". It was later also known as "Barnyard Blues".
Time in the Army and Return to Music
Eddie left the band when he was called to serve in the United States Army. He was in the Army from July 1918 to March 1919. While he was away, another musician named Emile Christian took his place in the band. After leaving the Army, Eddie led his own band for a while. He also played with Jimmie Durante's band. Soon after, he rejoined the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
Later Years and Retirement
After the Original Dixieland Jazz Band broke up, Eddie led another band in New York City. He did this for most of the 1920s. In the early 1930s, he decided to take a break from music. He ran a newspaper stand and worked as a sports coach.
He returned to music in 1936 when Nick LaRocca brought the Original Dixieland Jazz Band back together. Eddie played with them until 1938. He continued to play in other bands in New York into the 1940s. He performed with musicians like Larry Shields, Tony Sbarbaro, and J. Russell Robinson. Eddie kept playing music professionally off and on until shortly before he passed away in New York City in 1963.
Musical Legacy
One of Eddie's own songs, "Sensation Rag" (also called "Sensation"), became very famous. It was played at the big 1938 Benny Goodman jazz concert at Carnegie Hall. This performance was even included on the album The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert.
Another jazz musician, Johnny Wiggs, once said something special about Eddie. He mentioned that while he had heard more fancy trombone players, he had "never heard another tromboner who could give a band the rhythmic punch that Edwards could." This shows how important Eddie's playing was to the sound of the band.
Grammy Hall of Fame
The song "Darktown Strutters' Ball" (recorded in 1917) by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band was honored in 2006. It was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. This award recognizes recordings that are important and have lasting quality.
Sources
- Tim Gracyk's Phonographs and Old Records
- RedHotJazz.com (You can find old recordings here!)
