Wilbur de Paris

Wilbur de Paris (January 11, 1900 – January 3, 1973)<ref name="LarkinGE">Template:Cite book</ref> was a trombone player and band leader known for mixing Dixieland jazz with swing.<ref name="CarrFairweather2004">Template:Cite book</ref>

Career

Wilbur de Paris was born January 11, 1900, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. His father, Sidney de Paris Sr., was a musician and taught him and his brother Sidney how to play music.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> He played alto saxophone in his father's circus band.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1919, de Paris began his career in Philadelphia in a small band.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":0" /> He visited New Orleans in 1922 and worked with Louis Armstrong and Armand J. Piron. Throughout the 1920s, he worked in Philadelphia and New York, including as band leader.<ref name=":1" /> During this time he permanently switched from saxophone to trombone.<ref name="Yanow">Template:Cite web</ref> Among the musicians de Paris worked with were Stuff Smith, Dave Nelson, Noble Sissle (with whom he toured Europe), and Edgar Hayes.<ref name=":1" />

De Paris toured with Teddy Hill's orchestra from 1936 to 1937 and recorded with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. Again he joined Louis Armstrong, playing with him from the end of 1937 until the end of the decade.<ref name=":1" />

While De Paris remained an obscure figure during this era, his brother Sidney achieved fame as a trumpet soloist. In 1944, the brothers recorded together for the first time as The DeParis Brothers for Commodore Records, producing four songs.<ref name=":0" /> He briefly toured with Ella Fitzgerald and Roy Eldridge before leading his own small band.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>

In late 1945, de Paris broke up his group to join Duke Ellington with whom he stayed until 1947.<ref name=":2" />

Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, de Paris toured Africa in 1957 as part of the President's International Program for Cultural Relations.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

His music is present in the films of Woody Allen, including "In a Persian Market" in The Curse of the Jade Scorpion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Death

De Paris died in Beekman Downtown Hospital, New York on 3 January 1973.<ref name=":3" /> He was survived by two sons and two daughters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>