Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Louis Keppard was born February 2, 1888 in New Orleans, Louisiana and was the older brother of cornetist Freddie Keppard. The guitarist played in the Cherry Blossom Band before leading his own group, the Magnolia Band, which included King Oliver and Honore Dutrey among its members.

He played with Papa Celestin’s Tuxedo Brass Band, Manuel Perez, and followed that residency with the Olympia Orchestra alongside Freddie. In 1917 he moved briefly to Chicago, Illinois but returned soon after. Playing in several New Orleans  brass bands, Louis performed as an alto hornist and guitarist from the 1920s through the 1950s, including in the Gibson Brass Band and the Young Excelsior Brass Band.

Keppard’s style of “shuffle rhythms” was an influence on Danny Barker. He recorded with Wooden Joe Nicholas in 1949, and retired from music some time after 1962.

Guitarist, tubist and alto hornist Louis Keppard, who led a band but never recorded as a leader, died in his hometown sixteen days after his 98th birthday on February 18, 1986.

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