Lawrence Marrero

Lawrence Henry Marrero (October 24, 1900 – June 6, 1959) was an American jazz banjoist.

Lawrence Marrero
Marrero on banjo. Photograph by Stanley Kubrick, for Look of June 6, 1950
Background information
Also known as	Laurence Marrero
Born	October 24, 1900 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died	June 6, 1959 (aged 58)
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Banjo
Years active	1919–1955
Associated acts	Camelia Brass Band, Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Bunk Johnson, George Lewis

Early life

Marrero was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 24, 1900.[1] He grew up in a musical family: three brothers became musicians[2] – Eddie (bass), John (banjo) and Simon (tuba and bass) – and their father Billy was also a bass player.[1] Lawrence (who chose to spell his name "Laurence") was taught music by his father, and became a professional player around 1918.[1]

Later life and career

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.[3]

In 1942 Marrero was one of the musicians who part of the first recordings made by Bunk Johnson, and continued playing and recording in the New Orleans jazz revival.[1] 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.[1] He occasionally played with his own band after that.[2]

Marrero was considered to be a steady player with a good tone;[1] he never recorded as a leader and rarely did he take solos.[2] He died in New Orleans on June 6, 1959.[1]

References

1. Flanagan, David (2003), Marrero, Lawrence (Henry), Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J290000
2. Yanow, Scott. "Laurence Marrero". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
3. "Marrero, Lawrence « Banjology - Sites@Duke". duke.edu. 2013-04-07. Retrieved 2015-06-01.