Musicians

Renald Richard

A trumpeter in the U.S. Navy band during World War II, Renald recorded on early hits with Erline “Rock and Roll” Harris before joining Ray Charles in 1954. The first band leader of the Ray Charles Band, Renald wrote the lyrics to Ray’s first number one hit, “I Got A Woman.” Later he became an administrator at Atlantic Records, a music teacher in New York, side man on Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally,” and lyricist for Big Joe Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Guitar Slim, Louis Prima, David “Fathead” Newman, and on numerous Ray Charles records.

Victor Goines

Victor Goines was an original member of Don Vappie’s Creole Jazz Serenaders. During his career he has performed with Ruth Brown, Lionel Hampton, Terence Blanchard, Bo Diddley, Freddie Hubbard, Branford Marsalis, Freddie Green, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and many others. Presently, he is Director of the Julliard Institute for Jazz Studies.

Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis has brought jazz back to center stage in the U.S.A. In 1997 he became the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize in music for his epic oratorio on the subject of slavery, Blood on the Fields. As a composer and performer, Marsalis has won critical acclaim and eight Grammy awards. His four-part, Peabody Award-winning TV series, Marsalis on Music, introduced young viewers to the adventure of making music. Wynton serves as artistic director for the Jazz at Lincoln Center program, which he co-founded in 1987.

Plas Johnson

Born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, Plas had his own band in his teens, was touring nationally by his 20s, played fifteen years in the house band for "The Merv Griffin Show." He became one of the most well-known and sought-after musicians on the California studio scene. It’s Plas who played the purring sax of the Pink Panther theme song, the signature music for "The Odd Couple” TV series, even the piccolo solo on “Rockin’ Robin.”

Plas has performed and recorded with music legends Benny Carter, Nat King Cole, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Henry Mancini, Peggy Lee, Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, Sarah Vaughan, Linda Ronstadt, The Coasters, Fats Domino, Tina Turner, The Platters, The Righteous Brothers, Frank Zappa, Sam Cooke, Barry White, Ry Cooder, Nicolette Larson, Aaron Neville, Etta James, B.B. King, Steely Dan, Barbara Streisand, Rod Stewart, Marvin Gaye, and many, many others.

Thaddeus Richard

One of our scholars has called Thaddeus “post-racial.” Whatever that precisely means, he is certainly adaptable. Starting professionally at 15 in R&B, he had become a Nashville studio country and western musician when, in 1974, Paul McCartney whisked him into the world of commercial pop. Touring as part of Paul McCartney and Wings, Thaddeus recorded on some of the band's most famous songs: "Live and Let Die," "Maybe I'm Amazed," and "Silly Love Songs." He stayed with McCartney until 1980 when Paul disbanded the horn section. Today Thaddeus lives in the bayou town of Thibodaux, Louisiana, and alternates gigs at local clubs with appearances on the international jazz circuit.

Germaine Bazzle

Germaine Bazzle is one of New Orleans' treasures. An immensely talented jazz vocalist, she chose to remain at home, near family, instead of a life on the road, performing at local clubs and events for the past 20 years, and passing on her knowledge of music as an instructor at Xavier University Preparatory School.

 Lillian Boutte

In a professional career that has spanned four decades, Lillian's vocal recordings have included gospel, jazz, R&B, swing and blues with legends such as Allen Touissant, Dr. John, Patti Labelle, The Neville Brothers and The Pointer Sisters. She was given the official title of New Orleans Music Ambassador, the first to receive that title since Louis Armstrong.

Mark Braud

Mark Braud comes for a family of jazz trumpeters. He is currently a member of the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band, as well as leading his own jazz band, The New Orleans Jazz Giants, and brass band, The Basin Street Brass Band.

Topsy Chapman

Topsy Chapman has toured the world singing and performing gospel and jazz, but she always returns to New Orleans. Currently she fronts the group Solid Harmony, which includes two of her daughters, Yolanda and Jolynda.

 Leah Chase

Leah Chase has earned numerous awards for her vocal jazz, pop, and Broadway show tune performances. Her tours have taken her all over Europe and South American, and she performs frequently in New Orleans, where she also serves on the faculty of the music department at the University of New Orleans. She is the daughter of famed New Orleans cook Leah Chase.

Leroy Jones

Trumpeter LeRoy Jones is a member of the Harry Connick Jr. Orchestra and has played clubs around New Orleans and on international tours. He has also fronted the LeRoy Jones Quintet since the 1980s. At age 13 he led Danny Barker's Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band.