Leon Roppolo (nicknamed "Rap" and sometimes misspelled as "Rappolo") was born in Lutcher, Louisiana, United States, up-river from New Orleans.[1] His family, of Sicilian origin, moved to the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans about 1912.[2] His first instrument was the violin. He was a fan of the marching bands he heard in the streets of New Orleans, and wanted to play clarinet. An older relative with the same name played that instrument in Papa Jack Laine's Reliance Brass Band.
The Rhythm Kings became (along with King Oliver's band) one of the best regarded hot jazz bands in Chicago in the early 1920s. Roppolo's style influenced many younger Chicago musicians, most notably Benny Goodman. Some critics[who?] have called Roppolo's work on the Rhythm Kings Gennett Records the first recorded jazz solos.
After the breakup of the Rhythm Kings in Chicago, Roppolo and Paul Mares headed east to try their luck on the New York City jazz scene.[2] Contemporary musicians recalled Roppolo making some recordings with Original Memphis Five and California Ramblers musicians in New York in 1924. These sides were presumably unissued, or if issued unidentified.[1]
Roppolo and Mares then returned home to New Orleans where they briefly reformed the Rhythm Kings and made some more recordings. After this, Roppolo worked with other New Orleans bands such as the Halfway House Orchestra, with which he recorded on saxophone. Roppolo exhibited ever more eccentric behavior and violent temper.[2] This was finally too much for his family to take, and Leon was committed to the state mental hospital in 1925.[1][3] Some writers[who?] have speculated that he was suffering from tertiary syphilis.
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Leon Roppolo died in New Orleans at the age of 41,[2] and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, within sight of the old Halfway House building where he played for years.[citation needed]
Leon Roppolo and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings (1922-25)
December 15, 2023
leon, roppolo, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, october, 201. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Leon Roppolo news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Leon Joseph Roppolo March 16 1902 October 5 1943 1 was an American early jazz clarinetist best known for his playing with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings He also played saxophone and guitar Contents 1 Life and career 2 Death 3 Compositions 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External linksLife and career editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Leon Roppolo news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Leon Roppolo nicknamed Rap and sometimes misspelled as Rappolo was born in Lutcher Louisiana United States up river from New Orleans 1 His family of Sicilian origin moved to the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans about 1912 2 His first instrument was the violin He was a fan of the marching bands he heard in the streets of New Orleans and wanted to play clarinet An older relative with the same name played that instrument in Papa Jack Laine s Reliance Brass Band Roppolo soon excelled at the clarinet and played youthful jobs with his friends Paul Mares and George Brunies for parades parties and at Milneburg on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain At the age of 15 he decided to leave home to travel with the band of Bee Palmer which soon became the nucleus for the New Orleans Rhythm Kings 2 The Rhythm Kings became along with King Oliver s band one of the best regarded hot jazz bands in Chicago in the early 1920s Roppolo s style influenced many younger Chicago musicians most notably Benny Goodman Some critics who have called Roppolo s work on the Rhythm Kings Gennett Records the first recorded jazz solos After the breakup of the Rhythm Kings in Chicago Roppolo and Paul Mares headed east to try their luck on the New York City jazz scene 2 Contemporary musicians recalled Roppolo making some recordings with Original Memphis Five and California Ramblers musicians in New York in 1924 These sides were presumably unissued or if issued unidentified 1 Roppolo and Mares then returned home to New Orleans where they briefly reformed the Rhythm Kings and made some more recordings After this Roppolo worked with other New Orleans bands such as the Halfway House Orchestra with which he recorded on saxophone Roppolo exhibited ever more eccentric behavior and violent temper 2 This was finally too much for his family to take and Leon was committed to the state mental hospital in 1925 1 3 Some writers who have speculated that he was suffering from tertiary syphilis Death editLeon Roppolo died in New Orleans at the age of 41 2 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery within sight of the old Halfway House building where he played for years citation needed Compositions editRoppolo s compositions include the jazz standards Farewell Blues 4 and Milenberg Joys 5 Gold Leaf Strut or Golden Leaf Strut 6 Tin Roof Blues 1923 7 and Make Love to Me 8 which was a pop song using Leon Roppolo s music from Tin Roof Blues recorded by Jo Stafford in 1954 and later by Anne Murray and B B King Personal life editRoppolo married Mabel Alice Branchard on 17 May 1920 in New Orleans They had one child Epifanio Leon Roppolo citation needed References edit a b c d Leon Roppolo 1902 1943 Syncopatedtimes com Retrieved May 20 2020 a b c d e Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 2140 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 Ron DePasquale Leon Roppolo artist biography AllMusic Farewell Blues Irving Mills Song Info AllMusic Retrieved October 8 2021 Milenberg Joys Details AllMusic Retrieved October 8 2021 Gold Leaf Strut New Orleans Rhythm Kings Song Info AllMusic Retrieved October 8 2021 Leon Roppolo Best Songs List Top New amp Old AllMusic Retrieved October 8 2021 Make Love to Me Ann Margret Song Info AllMusic Retrieved October 8 2021 External links edit nbsp Biography portalLeon Roppolo at Find a Grave Leon Roppolo and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings 1922 25 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leon Roppolo amp oldid 1169710667, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
