Nappy Lamare
| Nappy Lamare | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Joseph Hilton Lamare |
| Born |
June 14, 1905 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died |
May 8, 1988 (aged 82) Newhall, California |
| Genres | Jazz, Dixieland |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
Joseph Hilton "Nappy" Lamare (June 14, 1905 – May 8, 1988) was an American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and vocalist.
Music career
Lamare was born in New Orleans. He got his nickname from his friend, Eddie Miller, because he had curly hair. He started playing trumpet, then dropped it for banjo when he was thirteen. Weeks later, he was a member of the Midnight Serenaders. In his teens he worked with Sharkey Bonano, Monk Hazel, and Johnny Wiggs and in 1925 toured in California with Johnny Bayersdorffer. He recorded for the first time two years later with the New Orleans Owls.[1]
He moved to New York City, playing mostly guitar instead of banjo. He became of a member of the Ben Pollack orchestra and sang on "Two Tickets to Georgia". After Pollack left, Bob Crosby took over the orchestra in 1934, and Lamare remained with him until about 1942, performing in records and films, sometimes as a vocalist.[1][2] After the orchestra dissolved again, he moved to California and spent the rest of his career playing Dixieland as leader of the Louisiana Levee Loungers, then the Straw Hat Strutters in the 1940s and 1950s. The Strutters appeared in the movie Hollywood Rhythm and on the weekly TV variety show Dixie Showboat. While heading the Riverboat Dandies, he injured his pinky finger and played bass guitar for five years until his finger healed. [1][2]
The latter part of his career he spent in reunions with Bob Crosby, performing at Disneyland, and touring with the World's Greatest Jazz Band. He played guitar, banjo, and sang until his death at the age of 82.[1]
Discography
As leader
- Hilton 'Nappy' Lamare and His Rendezvous Ballroom Orchestra, Nappy Lamare (Fairmount, 1947)
- Dixieland Generation, Ray Bauduc and Nappy Lamare (Jasmine, 2009)[3]
As sideman
- 1955 Coast Concert, Bobby Hackett
- 1958 Two-Beat Generation, Ray Bauduc
- 1959 Dixieland Blues, Johnny Maddox & the Rhythmasters
- 1971 Portrait of Eddie, Eddie Miller
- 1989 I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues, Jack Teagarden
- 1990 Remember, Louis Prima
- 1991 Little Jazz, Roy Eldridge
- 1992 South Rampart Street Parade, Bob Crosby
- 1993 Muggshot, Muggsy Spanier
- 1996 Deep in a Dream, Connee Boswell
- 2000 Wingy Sings, Manone Plays: Great Hits, Wingy Manone
- 2001 1925–1935, New Orleans Rhythm Kings
- 2003 The Dean of Swing, Ben Pollack
- 2006 If You Got to Ask, You Ain't Got It!, Fats Waller
- 2008 1930–1931, Red Nichols[3]