Wendell Eugene
Background information
Birth nameWendell Albert Eugene[1]
Born(1923-10-12)October 12, 1923
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedNovember 7, 2017(2017-11-07) (aged 94)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresJazz[2]
Occupation(s)Jazz Musician
Instrument(s)Trombone[3][4]

Wendell Eugene (October 12, 1923 – November 7, 2017) was an American jazz musician from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a popular trombonist on the New Orleans jazz scene[4] and recorded with artists such as Lionel Ferbos,[5] Harold Dejan, and Kermit Ruffins.[6] He was for a time the oldest active jazz musician in New Orleans.

Early life

Eugene was born to Homer and Apha Eugene on October 12, 1923, and is the youngest of five brothers. He grew up in a family of musicians including his brother Homer Eugene, his cousin Clement Tervalon,[7] and uncle Albert Burbank.[8] His curiosity about music began at the age of 10 when his parents bought him a graphanola. He said he would wind it up and play The Peanut Vendor and Ramona. He received his first trombone at the age of 13 from his brother Homer after mentioning that he wanted to start playing an instrument.[1] As a kid he learned from other New Orleans musicians, but also listened and learned from Big Band Music as well as trombonist J. J. Johnson. While still in high school, he joined the musician's union at 15 and began playing with a variety of New Orleans Jazz Legends. As a teenager, Eugene performed with Avery "Kid" Howard[9] as well as performers and band leaders such as Papa Celestin, George Lewis, Papa French, Paul Barbarin, Louis Cottrell Jr., Willie Humphrey, Don Albert, and Kid Thomas Valentine.[9]

Military career

Eugene joined the United States Navy during World War II and was recruited to play with the U.S. Navy Marching and Concert Band while stationed at Port Chicago, California. He played with the band throughout his four-year enlistment and also played with Louis Armstrong during a 1943 USO event. At the time, Armstrong was short a trombonist and asked Eugene to fill in. Eugene was quoted in The Times-Picayune as saying, "I got up there and did the best I could. I'll never forget it."[1]

Wendell Eugene's New Orleans Jazz Band. From left to right: Tom Fischer, Jamie Wight, Wendell Eugene, Jason Marsalis, Lars Edegran, & Richard Moten

Music career

Wendell Eugene in studio in 2013, recording album If I Had My Life To Live Over

Eugene returned to New Orleans after his military career. He began playing with famous bands from New York City and Chicago and also toured with Lucky Millender and Buddy Johnson. Instead of leaving his family to tour, Eugene stayed close to home, working at the United States Post Office.[1] During that time he continued playing with local band leaders such as Papa Celestin and Papa French. Eugene traveled and toured when he could, sometimes joining the Olympia Brass Band,[10] the Tuxedo Brass Band,[8] and the Onward Brass Band.[7] Although limited in travel due to work obligations, Eugene was still able to sit with several renowned musical groups such as Lionel Hampton and The Temptations.[4] He retired from the Post Office in 1979 and began to pursue his music career full-time.

Eugene is also a writer and composer. In 1978, he wrote, produced, and recorded the album West Indies Blues which was initially released by 504 Records and re-released by the Louisiana Music Factory in 2005. Eugene has played and taught music for more than 72 years, including teaching trombone and dance orchestra instruments at the Grunewald School of Music.[11] Some of his most notable performances include playing at Super Bowl IV in New Orleans in 1970 with the Onward Brass Band.[12] He also played at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1970. In 2012 he played with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for their 50th anniversary performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,[13] He also played at 2012 New Orleans Jazz Festival with then 100-year-old Lionel Ferbos.[14]

Wendell Eugene died on 7 November 2017.[15]

Personal life

Eugene had four daughters, one grandchild, and three great grandchildren. He was Catholic.[15]

Discography

Year Title Label Notes
2013 If I Had My Life To Life Over GHB Records Special anniversary edition – 75 years as a New Orleans Jazz Legend
2008 Men's Working GHB Records Trombone and vocals on album from Seva Venet[16]
2007 City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music Rounder Records / Universal Music Group Trombone[17]
2002 Big Easy Basin Street Records Trombone on album with Kermit Ruffins[6]
2002 Place of My Dreams GHB Records Trombone on album by Lionel Ferbos[5]
2001 Mardi Gras in New Orleans Rounder Records Compilation CD of various jazz artists with recordings from 1985 through 1997[18]
2000 Paul Barbarin's Onward Brass Band in Concert 1968 Jazz Crusade Trombone[19]
1998 Kickin' Some Brass Shanachie Records Trombone on compilation CD with various artists including The Dirty Dozen, ReBirth, Coolbone, New Birth, and Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy[20]
1998 Louisiana 2: Live from the Mountain Stage Blue Plate Trombone on compilation CD[21]
1997 Best of Bourbon Street Blues Mardi Gras Records Trombone on CD by Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band featuring Big Al Carson[22]
1995 New Orleans Jazz Preservation Mardi Gras Records Trombone with the Olympia Brass Band[23]
1995 New Orleans Jazz, Vol. 3: Jazz Party Mardi Gras Records Trombone[24]
1995 The Best of Bourbon Street Jazz Mardi Gras Records Trombone with Mardi Gras Brass Band[25]
1994 Authentic New Orleans Jazz Funeral Mardi Gras Records Trombone with the Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band[26]
1994 Best of New Orleans Bourbon Street Jazz: After Dark Mardi Gras Records Trombone with the Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band[27]
1993 Barry Martyn's Down Home Boys Sackville Records Trombone and vocals on album by Barry Martyn[28]
1993 Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology Rhino Entertainment Trombone on album with Professor Longhair[29]
1993 On Bourbon Street Compendia Music Group Trombone on album by Harold Dejan[30]
1992 Fallen Heroes: A Jazz Funeral Pro-Arte Records Trombone on album by Harold Dejan[31]
1991 New Orleans: Mardi Gras Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records Trombone with the Olympia Brass Band[32]
1990 Basin Street Blues Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records Trombone and group member on album by Harold Dejan and Olympia Brass Band[33]
1989 New Orleans Brass Bands: Down Yonder Rounder Records Trombone[34]
1987 Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Mardi Gras) Mardi Gras Records Trombone[35]
1978 West Indies Blues 504 Records Writer, producer, primary artist, and trombonist[36]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jamison, Don "Moose" (June 16, 1989). "New Orleans Jazz Legends – Wendell Albert Eugene". The Times-Picayune.
  2. ↑ Spera, Keith (August 19, 2013). "Jazz trumpeters Lionel Ferbos, Irvin Mayfield found common ground despite nearly 70-year age gap". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  3. ↑ Wyckoff, Geraldine (January 3, 2012). "2011: A look back musically". The Louisiana Weekly. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Rose, Al (1999). I Remember Jazz: Six Decades Among the Great Jazzmen. LSU Press. ISBN 9780807153765.
  5. 1 2 Place of My Dreams (Media notes). Lionel Ferbos. GHB Records. 2002. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. 1 2 Big Easy (Media notes). Basin Street Records. 2002. p. Inside jacket cover.
  7. 1 2
  8. 1 2
  9. 1 2 "A New Home for Jazz". 411 Nola. November 7, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "The Grunewald School of Music Introduces Wendell Eugene". The Louisiana Weekly. 1949.
  12. ↑ "Super Bowl 1970". The Times-Picayune New Orleans. November 30, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  13. ↑ "2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Presented by Shell – Day 7". Zimbio. May 5, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  14. ↑ Duffy, M (May 7, 2012). "Jazz Fest Wraps Up With Funky Collaborations". Fender. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  15. 1 2 Wendell Albert Eugene
  16. ↑ Men's Working (Media notes). Seva Venet. Rovi Music. 2007. p. Inside jacket cover. MW0000811240.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music (Media notes). Rounder Records. 2007. p. Inside jacket cover.
  18. ↑ Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Media notes). Various. Rounder Records. 2001. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ↑ Onward Brass Band in Concert (Media notes). Paul Barbarin. Jazz Crusade. 2000. p. Album Cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ↑ Kickin' Some Brass (Media notes). re-release. Various. Shanachie Records. 2005 [1998]. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ↑ Louisiana 2: Live from the Mountain Stage (Media notes). Various. Blue Plate. 1998. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ↑ Best of Bourbon Street Blues (Media notes). Alton "Big Al" Carson. Mardi Gras Records. 1997. p. Inside jacket cover (CD & Cassette).{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ↑ New Orleans Jazz Preservations (Media notes). Olympia Brass Band. Mardi Gras Records. 1995. p. Inside jacket cover (CD & Cassette).{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ↑ New Orleans Jazz, Vol. 3: Jazz Party (Media notes). Harold Dejan. Mardi Gras Records. 1995. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ↑ The Best of Bourbon Street Jazz (Media notes). Various. Mardi Gras Records. 1995. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ↑ Authentic New Orleans Jazz Funeral (Media notes). Magnificent Seventh's Brass band. Mardi Gras Records. 1994. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ↑ Best of New Orleans Bourbon Street Jazz: After Dark (Media notes). Magnificent Seventh's Brass band. Mardi Gras Records. 1994. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ↑ Barry Martyn's Down Home Boys (Media notes). Barry Martyn. Sackville Records. 1993. p. Album Cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ↑ Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology (Media notes). Professor Longhair. Rhino Entertainment. 1993. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ↑ On Bourbon Street (Media notes). Harold Dejan. Compendia Music Group. 1993. p. Inside jacket cover (also pictured on covered).{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ↑ Fallen Heroes: A Jazz Funeral (Media notes). Harold Dejan. Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records. 1992. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ↑ New Orleans: Mardi Gras (Media notes). Harold Dejan. Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records. 1991. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ↑ Basin Street Blues (Media notes). Harold Dejan / Olympia Brass Band. Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records. 1990. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ↑ New Orleans Brass Bands Down Under (Media notes). Various. Rounder Records. 1989. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  35. ↑ Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Media notes). Various. Mardi Gras Records. 1987. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  36. ↑ West Indies Blues (Media notes). Wendell Eugene. 504 Records. 1978. p. Inside jacket cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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