Nappy Lamare

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Nappy (Hilton Napoleon) Lamare (14 June 1905 - 8 May 1988) was an American jazz banjoist, guitarist and vocalist born in New Orleans, perhaps best-known for his work from 1930-1935 with the Ben Pollack band, and from 1935-1943 with the Bob Crosby band .

Lamare started his musicial career in New Orleans working with performers such as Monk Hazel, Johnny Wiggs and Sharkey Bonano, to name a few. In 1947 he became a partial owner of a club in Los Angeles called 47, and in 1948 Nappy was working for Johnny Dodds. On KTLA in 1950 Lamare and his band, the Straw Hat Strutters, had a television show and subsequent 5 year tour together. Following the Straw Hat Strutters he co-led the Riverboat Dandies with Ray Bauduc. Nappy worked a bit less following a car accident in the 1960s, but did remain active. Nappy Lamare died on May 8, 1988 in Newhall, California.