Humphrey Family

Humphrey Family. Jazz Walk of Fame. , Panel 1 , . Willie J. 1900-1994 , . Willie E. 1880-1964 , . Percy 1900-1995 , . Earl 1902-1971 , . James 1859-1937 , Panel 2 , One of the factors that make the music scene in New Orleans so special is the presence of musical dynasties, families that yield generation upon generation of players to the city's rich musical tapestry. The Barbarin, Joseph, Baquet, Laine, Brunies, and Assunto families are only some of the dynasties that have nourished the development of jazz in New Orleans. Today, the Marsalises, Paytons, Jordans, and others carry on the tradition. Yet, for many people, the first and most abiding jazz dynasty in New Orleans would be the Humphrey family. Professor James Humphrey came to New Orleans from Sellers, Louisiana. As a music teacher he spent decades training brass band musicians at plantations. His son Willie Eli Humphrey was a clarinetist who worked in the Eclipse, traveled with circuses and minstrel shows, and jobbed around town with bands. Willie E. had three musical sons. Willie J. was a clarinetist who was taught by his grandfather, performed with his father from age fourteen, and then went to Chicago in 1919 to work with King Oliver and Freddie Keppard after which he returned to New Orleans to stay. Trombonist Earl Humphrey also studied with James and performed with his father in circus bands. He spent much of the 1920's on the road but retired in 1940, until 1963 when he returned to New Orleans and resumed playing. Unlike his brothers, trumpeter Percy Humphrey stayed in New Orleans for his musical career, building a strong reputation with brass bands and eventually rising to the leadership of the Eureka in 1946., Panel 3 , On Sundays, the entire Humphrey Family would perform at household concerts. It was the perfect environment for raising musicians. , Panel 4 , In the late 1940's Willie J. Humphrey and his brother Percy became mainstays of the Eureka Brass Band, but the pair are best known internationally for their work with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band beginning in the 1960's , Willie and Percy's connection to Preservation Hall after 1961 initially came from their partnership in the Eureka but grew into leadership of the flagship Preservation Hall Jazz Band during the 1970's, leading to international tours and numerous recordings.