Louis Nelson Delisle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis Nelson Delisle
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Nelson Delisle in 1910
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Louis Nelson Delisle |
| Also known as | "Big Eye" |
| Born | January 28, 1885 |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 1949 (aged 64) |
| Genres | Dixieland, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Clarinet |
| Years active | 1910s – 1940s |
"Big Eye" Louis Nelson Delisle (born January 28, 1885 – died August 20, 1949) was an American musician. He was a famous Dixieland jazz clarinet player. He lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Besides the clarinet, he also played the double bass, banjo, and accordion.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Training
Louis Nelson Delisle was born into a family of Creoles of color. He spent most of his life in the vibrant city of New Orleans. He learned to play the clarinet from a well-known teacher named Lorenzo Tio. Tio was a very important music teacher in New Orleans.
Musical Career and Influence
Louis Nelson Delisle helped create a style of music called hot jazz. This style is also known as Dixieland jazz. He was a big influence on other famous clarinet players. Two of these were Johnny Dodds and Jimmie Noone.
Clarinet Choices
When he started his career, Delisle often played a C clarinet. This was different from the more common B♭ clarinet. Other New Orleans clarinet players, like Alcide Nunez, also used the C clarinet back then.
Playing in Famous Bands
In 1917, Delisle joined a band called the Original Creole Orchestra. This band included other great musicians like Freddie Keppard and Bill Johnson. The band had broken up earlier that year. But they got back together in New York City. Delisle joined them, taking the place of George Baquet. After a short time, another musician, Jimmie Noone, took Delisle's spot. Later, Delisle was the regular clarinet player for the Jones & Collins Astoria Hot Eight. However, he did not play on their recording sessions in 1929.
Later Years and Recordings
Louis Nelson Delisle made his only recordings later in his life. These recordings happened in the 1940s. By this time, he was often not in good health.
