1859 - James B. Humphrey ("Professor Jim") born in New Orleans. He played trumpet and became one of the greatest of the music teachers. He taught the Eclipse Brass Band of the Magnolia Plantation. Among his proteges are his own son and daughters and grandchildren, one of the most celebrated families in jazz. Other of his proteges included Sam, Isaiah, Al, and Andrew Morgan; Chris Kelly; Harrison Barnes; and Sunny Henry. 1859 - The Magnolia Plantation: Owned by Governor Henry Clay Warmouth, it was in the sugarcane business. The children of its hundreds of field hands were taught music once a week by Professor Jim Humphrey during the early 1900's. Among those who became prominent jazzmen were Chris Kelly, Jim Robinson and his brother, Sam.

1866 - John Robichau born in Thibodaux, Louisiana, on 16th January (drummer, brass bass, and alto horn). He was a Creole. Born in the bayou country town of Thibodaux, Robichaux was older than Bolden and had the advantage of an excellent musical education. Played mainly dance music but had to change to meet the challenge of Buddy Bolden music.

1873 -  "Papa" Jack Laine born in New Orleans on 21st September. He was a white man. 1873 - Manuel Perez born circa 1873 in New Orleans (cornetist). He was a (Creole?).

1877 - Charles "Buddy" Bolden born in New Orleans on 6th September. He was a Negro, and legend has it he was the first jazz band leader. Undoubtedly one of the greatest (and possibly the loudest, by all accounts) New Orleans horn men. Mainly led his own band until incapacitated by mental illness in 1907.

1879 - Willie "Bunk" Johnson claimed he was born in New Orleans on 27th December of 1879 (but now generally believed that he was born in 1889). He was a (Negro ? - perhaps an Indian mother would make him a Creole?)   His father had been a slave. His mother was an Indian of the Black Creek tribe. Bunk himself, as quoted in "Remembering Song" by Frederick Turner, said that both his parents were slaves. He was one of thirteen children. There is some confusion here about the history of Bunk and he tended to create the confusion himself.

1880 - Alphonse Picou born in New Orleans on 18th October. Known as the creator of a celebrated chorus in High Society taken from the piccolo part of the brass band arrangement. 1880 - John Robichaux, aged 14, and plays in brass bands during the 1880's. 1880's - Crescent City Brass Band (1880's). This band organised by Professor Jim Humphrey, was perhaps the first to feature syncopated band arrangements. 1880 - Excelsior Brass Band (1880-1928). The first leader was Theogene V. Baquet, cornet player.

1884 - Oscar "Papa" Celestin (trumpet) born in Napoleonville, Louisiana on 1st January.

1885 - "Big Eye" Louis Nelson born in New Orleans on 28th January (clarinetist). He was also known as Louis DeLisle. 1885 - Joe "King" Oliver born on 19th December (trumpeter). There's some doubt about his actual birthplace; it may have been in Abent, Louisiana, but he was certainly raised in New Orleans. He started playing music on trombone, then switched to cornet. 1885 - "Jelly Roll" Morton born in New Orleans on 20th September (but maybe not till 1890). Jelly was a pianist, and his full name was Ferdinand Joseph Le Menthe Morton (he claimed).

1886 - Edward "Kid" Ory born on 25th December, in La Place, Louisiana (trombonist).

1887 - Buddy Petit born (actual date not known) in New Orleans (trumpeter). His actual name was Joseph Crawford. His stepfather was valve-trombonist Joseph Petit who was born in New Orleans around 1880. Buddy went to school with Albert Nicholas and "Snags" Jones.

1888 - Tio-Doublet Orchestra (1888-1890) - a dance orchestra. 1888 - St. Joseph Brass Band (1888-1895). Though based in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, this band frequently played for carnivals and parades in New Orleans. The band leader was Claiborne Williams - a cornetist.

1889 - Tio-Doublet String Band (1889) - a dance quartet. 1889 - Onward Brass Band (1889-1930) 1889 - Melrose Brass Band (1889-1930) - Regular members were Joe "King" Oliver, cornet; Bernard Raphael, Honore Dutrey, trombone: Paul Beaulieu, clarinet; Alphonse Vache, tuba; Willie Phillips, sd. Sometimes Adam Oliver, Bunk Johnson, cornet; Sam Dutrey, Senior, clarinet. 1889 - Pelican Brass Band (organised 1889) - Professor J. Dretsch, leader. Jim Humphrey worked in this band and eventually became its leader. 1889 - May have been the year (1889) that Bunk Johnson was born. He said he was born ten years earlier. 1889 - Freddie Keppard born on 15th February in New Orleans (mandolin player and cornetist). He was the brother of tuba-player and guitarist Louis Keppard, who was born the previous year. Both brothers began on fretted instruments: Freddie on mandolin, and Louis on guitar. Freddie also played violin and accordion before switching exclusively to cornet. 1889 - Nick La Rocca born on 11th April 1889, in New Orleans (trumpeter). He was a white man - full name Dominic James Larocca. Leader of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Made the first jazz disc in 1917. He was credited as composer of many standard tunes. His father was an amateur cornetist. His son, James, became a trumpeter. Nick started to play cornet while still at school, and co-led juvenile band with violinist Henry Young during the summer of 1905.

Quote from "New Orleans Jazz" by Rose and Souchon: "Our first knowledge of an organised jazz band using conventional instruments dates back to 1889 when a group headed by guitarist Charlie Galloway played for dances and social activities. However, the authors disclaim here and now any implication that this was, in truth, the first jazz band. In fact, we are convinced that the development of jazz was so gradual as to make specious any such claim as related to an individual or group. The "Papa" Laine Reliance Band organised in 1892 was the first group we know of to play the style now known as 'authentic jazz'."

1890 - May have been the date that "Jelly Roll" Morton was born (he said he was born in 1885). 1890 - "Papa" Jack Laine formed his own ragtime band in New Orleans circa 1890. The success of his Reliance Band enabled him to form seven other dance groups bearing that name. They worked simultaneously in New Orleans. 1890's - Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band (1890's) - a skiffle band made up of teenage boys under the leadership of Stalebread Lacoume. 1890's - Lincoln Band (1890's) - an offshoot of the Excelsior Brass Band with fewer personnel, assembled by Professor Jim Humphrey. 1890 - Louis Dumaine born in 1890 and became a trained musician active as a leader until shortly before his death in 1949. He was a trumpeter of modest attainments playing a straight lead and soloing adequately. He made only a few recordings, one with his Jazzola Eight in 1927.

1891 - James P. Johnson born in New Jersey on 1st February 1891. He was originally taught piano by his mother, then the family moved to Jersey City, then to New York. There is some controversy over the exact date of his birth. He was not related to pianist-composer J. C. Johnson who was born in Chicago in 1896. Fats Waller was influenced by the piano style of James P. Johnson. 1891 - "Papa" Mutt Carey born in Hahnville, Louisiana some time during 1891. His name was Thomas Carey. He was brother to Jack (trombonist and band leader) and Peter (alto horn). Several other brothers were musicians also. He started on drums and guitar. He was a favourite trumpeter of Kid Ory and they made many recordings together. 1891 - John Robichaux (now aged about 25) began his career as bass drummer for Theogene Baquet's highly regarded Excelsior Brass Band when he went to New Orleans in 1891. He moved there from the bayou country town of Thibodaux.

1892 - Johnny Dodds born in New Orleans on 12th April 1892 (clarinetist). He was one of six children. 1892 - The musical career of Alphonse Picou began in 1892 in a band led by Bouboul Valentin. Alphonse Picou originally started as a guitarist. 1892 - The Reliance Band (circa 1892-1913), dixieland band, dance orchestra. "Papa" Jack Laine operated as many as six units of this organisation simultaneously. Front lines were drawn from members of the Reliance Brass Band. Other musicians were added for dance units. 1892 - Reliance Brass Band (circa 1892-1913). Owned, managed, and booked by "Papa" Jack Laine. 1892 - Adam Olivier Orchestra (1892-1910) - dance orchestra. Many small dance groups played under this name, led by cornetist-violinist Olivier. Most of the musicians were not jazzmen, but both Bunk Johnson (cornet) and Tony Jackson (piano) made their debuts in this band.

1893 - From 1893 to 1939 (46 years) John Robichaux (violinist) was the most continuously active dance band leader in New Orleans (The John Robichaux Dance Orchestra). By 1893 those playing for him were James Williams and James McNeil on cornet; Charles McCurdy, clarinet; Baptiste Delisle, trombone; Edward Dee Dee Chandler, drums; Henry Kimball, bass; and Wendell McNeil, violin.Robichaux was concerned with arranging music and managing the group. Clarence Vincent called him "more of a business man". Of the musicians in this band, it was Chandler and Kimball who involved themselves in the world of jazz. They were all talented musicians.The band played at many of the most important venues in the city. Robichaux's regular jobs included Antoine's Restaurant with the Grunewald (later Roosevelt and now Fairmont) Hotel, and led the only Creole band to play a carnival ball in the old French Opera House. 1893 - Alphonse Picou started to play clarinet, and after a year was a fully fledged musician on that instrument at the age of 16. 1893 - Buddy Bolden Band (1893-1907) - ragtime band. Played for dances, parades, parties, with flexible personnel according to the nature of the job. Among the bandsmen during this period, were Buddy Bolden, trumpet and leader; Bunk Johnson, trumpet (according to this Timeline, Bunk must have played with Buddy Bolden after 1893 because Bunk's "first job" is recorded below as 1894); Willie Cornish, Frank Duson, Vic Garpard, trombone; Frank Lewis, Willie Warner, "Big Eye" Louis Nelson, Sam Dutry Senior, clarinet; Manuel Manetta, Alcide Frank, James A. Palao, violin; Gilbert "Babs" Frank, piccolo; Charlie Galloway, Brock Mumford, Lorenzo Staulz, guitar; Jimmy Johnson, Bob Lyons, Albert Glenny, Bebe Mitchell, string bass/tuba; Bill Willigan, Henry Zeno, John MacMurray, Cornelius Tillman, drums.

1894 - Alphonse Picou organises his own Accordiana Band. It was a dance orchestra. 1894 - Bunk Johnson's first job in 1894 is with Adam Olivier's Orchestra. He stays there for 20 busy years till 1914. In 1894 Creoles are classed in exactly the same way as the Black men. Previously Creoles and Blacks played in their segregated bands. Now some mixing begins to take place. Creoles and Blacks are forced to play together. Also, many Creoles were forced out of the society jobs which they had held almost entirely to themselves for years. Racial tensions developed, and musicians had difficulties trying to mix together; they would not compromise their own musical styles, or social behaviours. Most Creoles did not mix with the black bands till later.) Many white bands took over the society jobs. The 1894 Black Code amendment hit Robichaux's orchestra harder than any others, coming just when they seemed to be at the top of the New Orleans music scene. (NOTE: This comment indicates that maybe Robichaux's orchestra was well under before 1895, i.e. 1895 being the date researched for this Timeline for the beginnings of John Robichaux's Dance Orchestra. Otherwise, if his band was formed in 1895, then it would have been difficult to get established because of the newly implemented 1894 Black Code amendment at that time.) It was a comedown to some of these fine musicians to be thrown into competition with the Uptown blacks and to play for audiences who did not always appreciate their musical background. But Robichaux had enough determination to persevere during the difficult years that followed the transition, and even though a number of his musicians had to moonlight with the Onward Brass Band, he managed to hold on to a number of good jobs.

1895 - Jimmie Noone born (clarinetist). 1895 - Buddy Bolden playing in his own "jazz" band about 1895 (of course, the music style being played was not known as jazz then). Guitarist Louis Keppard remembered playing with Bolden's Band at the Globe Hall in New Orleans in 1895. Bunk Johnson said that he played second with Bolden at about that time, but Big Eye Louis Delisle said that Bolden was "just beginning on cornet" in 1900. 1895 - John Robichaux (1895-1927) - dance orchestra.

1896 - At the age of 10, Edward Ory starts playing banjo. He led a boys' band in his hometown, La Place, then began doubling on valve trombone before specialising on slide trombone. He made regular visits to New Orleans before making his home there about the year 1912. He led a spasm band.

1897 - "Storyville" was established. It was a predefined area in New Orleans, designated by the authorities for licensed prostitution (for whites only). It created a flourishing business and opportunity for musicians. It existee for 20 years, and was closed in 1917. 1897 - Sidney Bechet born (played clarinet and soprano sax). 1897 - Alphonse Picou organises another band, the Independence Band. During the late 1890's he plays regularly in the Lyre Club Symphony Orchestra, and also works with Oscar Du Conge, Dave Peyton, Wooden Joe Nicholas, Manuel Perez and (? Bunk Johnson ?) Barry@hooper-home.com 1897 - Silver Leaf Orchestra (1897-1917) - dance orchestra, led by Albert Baptiste. Led by Johnny Predonce from 1918. This band was one of the bands that Bolden competed with for jobs, both on the street and with the slimmed-down versions that played for large gatherings. 1897 - Columbia Brass Band (1897-1900) 1897 - Diamond Stone Brass Band (1897) - An uptown band that used mostly non-jazzmen.

1898 - Warren "Baby" Dodds born (drummer) - brother of clarinetist Johnny Dodds. 1898 - Kid Rena born - real name Henry Rene, and like Louis Armstrong, he was a product of Joseph Jones' coloured waifs' home. 1898 - From "In Search of Buddy Bolden" by Donald M. Marquis - "A second blow hit Robichaux's orchestra when, in 1898, Chandler, Delisle, and the McNeil brothers were recruited into the army while playing a job with the Onward Band. Robichaux had to quickly pick up others to fill the gaps, and some of these fill-ins were Arthur "Bud" Scott on guitar, Lorenzo Tio and Paul Beaulieu on clarinet, and on some occasions Manuel Perez." 1898 - Columbus Band (1898) - Jazz Band 1898 - Pickwick Brass Band (1898-1901) - Norman "Deuce" Manetta (cornet player) was leader of this band from LaPlace, Louisiana.

1899 - Duke Ellington born. 1899 - Paul Barbarin born (though some think he may have been born in 1901) 1899 - Manual Perez joined the Onward Brass Band in 1899 and stayed with it until it broke up thirty years later. 1899 - Alphonse Picou plays for Oscar Duconge in 1899.

1900 - Eagle Band (1900-1917) - jazz band. 1900 - Olympia Orchestra (1900-1914) - dance orchestra 1900's - Security Orchestra (1900's) - dance orchestra. A small short-lived group, organised, led and managed by trombonist Joseph Petit. 1900 - Deer Range Band - a brass band. Jim Humphrey organised this band in a small town near Magnolia plantation in the nineteenth century. It made frequent appearances in New Orleans and introduced the superior trumpet playing of Chris Kelly and his brother Ben. 1900 - Eclipse Brass Band (1900-1917) - The official band of the Magnolia Plantation, directed by Professor Jim Humphrey. It included Chris Kelly on trumpet; and Sunny Henry and Harrison Banes on trombone. 1900 - Pacific Brass Band (1900-1912) - An Algiers, Louisiana brass band. 1900's - Terminal Brass Band (early 1900's to 1908) - had a permanent nucleus of musicians. 1900 - "Papa" Laine (aged 27) forms a ragtime band. His Reliance Bands worked throughout the Gulf Coast States during the early 1900's. 1900 - Manuel Perez (also aged 27) is active with the Onward Brass Band from the turn of the century. Also, he organised the Imperial Orchestra in 1900 (some references say 1901 - see below). In the years before the First World War, he was in constant demand for parade and dance work. During this period he occasionally doubled on cello. 1900 - Between 1900 and 1915, Alphonse Picou worked with many bands in New Orleans including the Excelsior Brass Band, Freddie Keppard's Olympia Band, and George Moret's Band etc. 1900's - In the early 1900's, Oscar "Papa" Celestin played with the Algiers Brass Band. His original nickname was "Sonny". He played guitar and mandolin, then he worked for a few years as a cook on the Texas and Pacific Railroad. He settled in St Charles, Louisiana, and began playing trombone and trumpet in a local brass band. 1900 - George Lewis born on 13th July 1900 (clarinetist) 1900 - Louis Armstrong born during the year 1900 (trumpeter) - though some think that he was born during the year 1901. 1900 - Wilbur de Paris born during the year 1900 (trombonist) 1900 - Albert Nicholas born during the year 1900 (clarinetist) 1900 - Big Eye Louis Delisle said that in the year 1900, Bolden was "just beginning on cornet"; however, Bolden had his own "ragtime" band in 1893, and he is remembered as playing trumpet with the band then.

These were the "jazz men" who had been born by the year 1900:  Aged 34 - John Robichaux Aged 27 - "Papa" Laine Aged 27 - Manuel Perez Aged 23 - Buddy Bolden Aged 21 - Bunk Johnson Aged 16 - Oscar Celestin Aged 15 - "Big Eye" Louis Nelson Aged 15 - Joe Oliver Aged 15 - Jelly Roll Morton (maybe) Aged 14 - Kid Ory Aged 13 - Buddy Petit Aged 11 - Freddie Keppard Aged 11 - Nick La Rocca Aged 09 - James P Johnson Aged 09 - Mutt Carey Aged 08 - Johnny Dodds Aged 05 - Jimmy Noone Aged 03 - Sidney Bechet Aged 02 - Baby Dodds Aged 02 - Kid Rena Aged 01 - Duke Ellington Aged 01 - Paul Barbarin

1900 - The year 1900 for Joe Oliver, aged 15 years, put him right in the middle of his adolescent years. Apparently during his adolescence he was in an accident which resulted in the permanent loss of sight in one eye. 1900 - Also aged 15 during the year 1900, Jelly Roll Morton had been playing guitar and trombone before he specialised on piano. He was already playing in New Orleans sporting houses around the turn of the century, and drifted into engagements in Biloxi and Meridian, Mississippi, then returned to New Orleans. For the next few years he doubled pool hustling and piano through Louisiana and Mississippi. 1900 - During the year 1900, Edward Ory was now 14 years old, and in his early teens he was leading a hometown band, called the Woodland Band. 1900 - At The Magnolia Plantation (which was in the sugarcane business owned by Governor Henry Clay Warmouth) the children of its hundreds of field hands were taught music once a week by Professor Jim Humphrey during the early 1900's. Among those who later became prominent jazzmen were Chris Kelly, Jim Robinson and his brother, Sam.

At the turn of the century, the Bolden band was very popular. They were producing a new sound. As has been shown through the decades of music during the 20th century, bands which produce the "older" sound need to be good to retain popularity among the crowds. Despite the arrival of Buddy Bolden, John Robichaux managed to "hold his own" - probably because he played for a different type of crowd than Bolden. Robichaux was extremely talented, and would not sacrifice his musical standards. Both musicians, however, often played at similar venues such as Lincoln Park, Longshoremen's Hall, Providence Hall, and the Masonic and Odd Fellows Hall. Bolden's band, the "wilder" band for want of a better word, wasn't hired for "downtown" engagements, but he was invited to play at a few polite society dances. On the hand, the more "refined" Robichaux band now had Williams and McNeil playing hot cornets well enough to "turn on" the uptown crowds. Both bands had large followings. Some folks thought that Bolden's music was too rough. In the Johnson and Lincoln parks, Bolden's and Robichaux's bands competed for popularity. It is generally considered today, that the early major development of traditional jazz took place during 1900-1910. The first half of this period, was apparently, dominated by Buddy Bolden and his band; he was more involved with ragtime than most of his rivals, and apparently his musical style was unique. The book "In Search of Buddy Bolden" reads: "Until 1905 or 1906 his (Bolden's) was the only jazz band in town. But although they were not playing ragtime or jazz during these early years, some of Bolden's contemporaries did later become jazz musicians and others were, in retrospect, labeled as such. Peter Bocage, for example, played with the Imperial Band in 1900, and the Onward in 1903 and 1904, but said that he did not begin playing jazz until he joined the Superior Band around 1907 or 1908. Charley Galloway and Edward Clem, though not closely identified with the new music in 1900, later were called jazz players. Galloway, in fact, had virtually dropped out of the professional music scene when Bolden was at his peak. People comparing Bolden to his contemporaries long after he was gone thought of him as being older than many of the others, when in age he was younger than such musicians as Wallace Collins, Edward Clem, Bob Lyons, Albert Glenny, Henry Zeno, Cornelius Tillman, Willie Cornish, Frank Lewis, Lorenzo Staulz, and Brock Mumford. He was older only in that he was identified with the new music before the others, and he perhaps seemed older because his career was so short." Among Bolden's rivals were John Robichaux's Dance Orchestra, and the Brass Bands. They competed for street jobs, and jobs for large gatherings such as those held in the parks. The Silver Leaf and Golden Rule Orchestras provided lots of competition too, not to mention the many "pick up" bands that were loosely formed by musicians for maybe one-off or two-off performances from night to night.

1901 - Imperial Orchestra (1901-1908) - Dance Orchestra 1901 - Edmond Hall born during 1901 (clarinetist) 1901 - Maybe Paul Barbarin was born during 1901 (drummer) 1901 - Freddie Keppard got his first music job in 1901, at Spanish Fort, with Johnny Brown's band.

1902 - Lil Hardin was thought to be born during 1902 (pianist who later married Louis Armstrong). 1902 - Jimmy Archie born (trombonist) 1902 - Omer Simeon born (clarinetist) 1902 - Louis Nelson born (trombonist) 1902 - Up until 1902, Lincoln Park was the important jazz location. During 1902, the Johnson Park was opened as a baseball park, right next to Lincoln Park. Both Robichaux's and Bolden's bands would compete for maximum audiences. Robichaux would start playing at Lincoln Park, then Bolden would say that "he was callin' his children home", and start playing in the Johnson Park - people ("his children") would leave Lincoln Park to hear him and his band in Johnson Park. Robichaux's band produced the smooth dance type music, but it wasn't very long before audiences preferred the more raggedy, more exciting sound of Bolden, that stirred their inner feelings to be expressed through a more lively form of dancing. Sometimes the two bands played in Lincoln Park at the same time - Robichaux in the pavilion, and Bolden in the skating rink. Both spots were only about 75 yards apart. Quite a noisy happening!

So what happened to the sound of music about this time?   The following comments are extracted from the book "In Search of Buddy Bolden"    The Tio family, educated at the Mexican conservatory, added a Spanish touch.    Alcibiades Jeanjacque, Oscar Duconge, Punkie and Bouboul Valentin added a French style and background    Robichaux and Bocage contributed the French-Haitian mixture   Men played what they felt, what their talents allowed, and each made his individual contribution to the whole. It was nobody's music and it was everybody's music.

1903 - Bix Beiderbecke born at Davenport (cornetist). 1903 - Bunk Johnson travelled extensively in the early 1900's with McCabe's Minstrels, Hagenback's and Wallace's Circus, visiting New York in 1903. 1903 - King Watzke (1903-1908) - dixieland band. Played lots of original material by the leader. None of the tunes had names - just numbers.

1904 - Fats Waller born (pianist) 1904 - Count Basie born (pianist) 1904 - In 1904, "Papa" Jack Laine led a band for three months in St. Louis, Missouri. 1904 - Louis "Big Eye" Nelson starts to specialise on clarinet. His father was an accordionist who taught Louis to play the accordion. Later he played violin, string bass, and guitar. But decided to specialise on clarinet from 1904. He had tuition from Lorenzo Tio Senior. 1904 - Joe Oliver began about 1904 as a substitute with the Onward Brass Band. To about 1910 he was with the Allen Brass Band, the original Superior Orchestra, the Eagle Band, and the Magnolia Orchestra, usually filling in for the famed hornmen - Manual Perez and Bunk Johnson. 1904 - In New York, James P Johnson turns 13 years of age in 1904. He played at local rent parties during his early teens.