Lionel Ferbos, New Orleans’ Grand Old Man of Jazz, will celebrate his 99th birthday at The Palm Court Jazz Cafe on Decatur Street on Saturday, 17 July. A proud, dignified man, Lionel still leads his own band, The Louisiana Shakers. He has been playing trumpet for over 70 years and recording music since the early 1960s, despite the fact that when he was a lad, his mother insisted he play banjo as he suffered from asthma. 99 years young indeed! Aged 16, he took trumpet lessons with “Old Man” Professor Chaligny for 25 cents a time. In the early 1930′s he joined John Handy’s band despite remonstrating “I can’t play in your band, I don’t play all that wild jazz”! Now, in 2010 he is “the last man standing” from the era of the greats, and is famed for his weekly gigs at The Palm Court.
On this very special occasion, I am honoured and proud to present my Art&Verse fine art portrait and poem of Lionel which will be on display at The Palm Court on Saturday, 17 July. Be sure to view the portrait on my website.
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