Papa Jack Laine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Papa Jack Laine
Laine in 1906
Background information
Birth name	George Vital Laine
Also known as	Jack Laine, Papa Jack, Papa Laine
Born	(1873-09-21)September 21, 1873 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	June 1, 1966(1966-06-01) (aged 92) Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Marching band Traditional jazz Jazz Blues Rag-time
Instruments	drums

George Vital "Papa Jack" Laine (born September 21, 1873 – died June 1, 1966) was an American musician. He was an important band leader in New Orleans from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Many musicians who became famous in jazz music learned from him.

Laine's band, called the Reliance Brass Band, was special. It was the first to mix different music styles from Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Many early jazz musicians started by playing in this band. Others were influenced by those who did.

Many New Orleans musicians helped jazz become popular across the United States. They got their start in Laine's marching band. This included the members of the Original Dixieland Jass Band.

Papa Jack Laine's Music Career

Laine played the drums. But he was even more known for organizing and finding jobs for bands. Laine's bands included people from many different backgrounds in New Orleans. These included African American, English, French, German, Irish, Italian, Jewish, and Latin American musicians. He started leading bands in 1885. This was before strict segregation laws began in New Orleans.

Because his band members came from so many different places, they shared many ideas. This mix of ideas helped create the early sounds of jazz music.

Even after laws started to separate "whites" and "colored" people, Laine kept hiring light-skinned African-American musicians. If anyone caused trouble, he would say they were "Cuban" or "Mexican." Because of this, his band attracted a large and diverse group of people. One example was Mexican clarinet player Lorenzo Tio, Sr., who helped create the jazz solo. Laine believed that music could bring people together.

Laine stopped working in the music business around 1920. But he was interviewed many times. He shared his memories of how New Orleans jazz first began.

On January 1, 1951, the New Orleans Jazz Club honored Laine. They made him an Honorary Life Member. They also gave him the title "Father of White Jazz."

Musicians Who Played with Laine

Laine hired more than 100 musicians to play in his bands. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Papa Jack Laine para niños