Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Lawrence Henry Marrero was born on October 24, 1900 in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 24, 1900. He grew up in a musical family with three brothers who became musicians, bassist Eddie, banjoist John and Simon who played tuba and bass, and their bassist father Billy. He was taught music by his father, and by 1918 he became a professional player.

In 1919 he got his first regular job on banjo with Wooden Joe Nicholas’s Camelia Brass Band and from 1920 he joined on bass drum the Young Tuxedo Brass Band. Marrero was one of the musicians who took part in the first recordings made by Bunk Johnson In 1942, and continued playing and recording in the New Orleans jazz revival. He was featured on many recordings and was a regular member of the George Lewis band from the late 1930s until ill health caused him to quit full-time performance in 1954. He occasionally played with his own band after that.

Marrero was considered to be a steady player with a good tone, however, he never recorded as a leader and rarely did he take solos. Banjoist Lawrence Marrero, who altered the spelling of his name to Laurence, transitioned on June 6, 1959.

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