Artist Biography
Raised in New Orleans, cornettist Joe ‘King’ Oliver rose to prominence with local marching and cabaret bands during the early part of the 20th century. After playing with notable early jazzmen such as Kid Ory, he left for Chicago and by 1920 was leading his own band. Chief among Oliver's many ace sidemen during this era was a young Louis Armstrong. Oliver's band with Armstrong became a sensation, as people flocked to hear the seemingly telepathic communication between the two men. By 1924, Satchmo had left the band and Oliver turned down an offer to become band leader at New York’s Cotton Club, only to see Duke Ellington take the job and the subsequent stardom that came with it. Oliver quit music in 1936, and died two years later, yet his profound influence on the development of America's greatest art form is still felt today.
Hometown
Aben, LA, United States
Genre
Jazz