John Robichaux

John Robichaux, sometimes Robechaux (January 16, 1866, Thibodaux, Louisiana – 1939, New Orleans), was an American jazz bandleader, drummer, and violinist. He was the uncle of Joseph Robichaux.

John Robichaux moved to New Orleans in 1891, where he was the bass drummer for the Excelsior Brass Band from 1892 to 1903. During this time he also worked as a bandleader, playing violinist in his own ensembles from 1893 up until the time of his death. Among the ensembles he led was a 36-piece orchestra in 1913. Robichaux's bands were highly respected in his day and included many of the city's top musicians, such as Bud Scott, Lorenzo Tio, and Manuel Perez. He wrote over 350 songs and wrote many orchestral arrangements, which are now kept at the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive located at Tulane University.

Robichaux also had a nephew named John Robichaux, who was a drummer who played extensively in New Orleans and played in the traveling musical One Mo' Time.

References

• Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler, The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford, 1999, pp. 562-63.
• Mike Hazeldine, "John Robichaux". Grove Jazz online.