Discover the “Jazz Corner of America” in New Orleans

Bourbon Street’s 50-Club Jazz Revival After WWII

After World War II, Bourbon Street lit up with the sounds of jazz.

Boxing promoter Hyp Guinle had opened the Famous Door in 1936, calling it the “Jazz Corner of America. ” By the late 1940s, over 50 nightclubs packed the famous New Orleans street.

Trumpet player “Sharkey” Bonano wowed crowds in his bowler hat until teenage brothers Frank and Fred Assunto took over with their Dukes of Dixieland band for a record 176 weeks.

Meanwhile, the six-foot-four “Papa” Celestin led his Tuxedo Orchestra at the Paddock Lounge before playing the White House in 1953.

The street still echoes with this golden age of jazz that changed American music forever.

GIs and Sailors Turned Bourbon Street into a Booming Jazz Hub

After World War II, Bourbon Street took off with entertainment.

Club owners quickly opened spots to cash in on New Orleans’ spicy reputation as military folks flooded the city. By the late 1940s, over 50 venues lined the famous street, offering jazz, burlesque shows, and more.

Live bands backed strippers, comedians, and other performers.

Jazz buff Bill Russell helped the revival by recording local talents like Bunk Johnson and George Lewis, putting New Orleans back on the music map.

The Famous Door Became the “Jazz Corner of America”

Boxing promoter Hyp Guinle opened the Famous Door in 1936 at Bourbon and Conti Streets. He smartly called it the “Jazz Corner of America,” a nickname that stuck as the club grew popular.

Tourists made trips just to visit this hot spot, where music and shows ran nightly. The entrance featured a frame filled with names of all the musicians who had played there.

This club played a big role in bringing back traditional New Orleans jazz during the 1940s and 1950s.

Sharkey Bonano Wowed Crowds with His Bowler Hat and Bold Trumpet

Joseph “Sharkey” Bonano took over the Famous Door around 1948 with his Kings of Dixieland band. Though only 5’4″ tall, Bonano stood out with his loud style and trademark Cavanaugh bowler hat.

His Famous Door shows became must-see stops for New Orleans tourists. Radio and TV spots spread his fame beyond the city.

Bonano and his Kings stayed at the Famous Door until 1950 when they hit the road to tour, helping fuel growing interest in the New Orleans jazz sound across America.

Teenage Brothers Turned the Dukes of Dixieland into Famous Door Legends

Frank and Fred Assunto, just teenagers when they started, brought their Dukes of Dixieland to the Famous Door in December 1950. The club took a chance on these unknown young musicians for what was planned as a short gig.

The gamble paid off. The Dukes proved so popular they stayed for 176 weeks straight – almost three and a half years.

A young Pete Fountain played clarinet with them during this run as they grew from local favorites to national stars.

Papa Celestin Found Late-Career Fame at the Paddock Lounge

Oscar “Papa” Celestin used his regular spot at the Paddock Lounge on Bourbon Street to launch an amazing comeback late in his career.

The six-foot-four bandleader became key in bringing back traditional New Orleans jazz during the late 1940s.

Jazz fans packed the Paddock every Sunday to hear Papa Celestin’s eight-piece band play old-time New Orleans jazz, drawing visitors from across the country to hear the real thing.

Eisenhower Welcomed Papa Celestin to the White House

On May 8, 1953, Papa Celestin and his Original Tuxedo Jazz Band became the first New Orleans jazz group to play at the White House.

The band played during the yearly White House Correspondents’ dinner, where Celestin got the group’s Certificate of Honor.

President Eisenhower shook his hand and told him, “Mr. Celestin, you are a fine gentleman and a credit to your race and our country. ” Celestin later called this meeting the proudest moment of his life.

Jazz Clubs Created a Musical Community Unlike Any Other

Bourbon Street in the 1940s and 1950s had many jazz spots where musicians found steady work.

Jimmy King’s Mardi Gras Lounge opened in 1946, featuring top bandleaders like George Lewis, Papa Celestin, and Freddie Kohlman.

The Paddock showed off Papa Celestin and later Octave Crosby’s band, with Narvin Kimball’s Gentlemen of Jazz playing weeknights.

Dixie’s Bar of Music stood out with its all-girl band and welcoming vibe for all types of guests.

Record Companies Captured the Magic of Bourbon Street

The Dukes of Dixieland made their first records in 1951 for local labels Bandwagon and Imperial. Their early recordings included the first version of “Bourbon Street Parade,” which became a jazz classic.

Papa Celestin’s Original Tuxedo Orchestra went back to the recording studio in 1947 for New Jersey’s Deluxe Records.

During his last recording session in 1954, Celestin recorded “Marie Laveau,” a song about the famous New Orleans voodoo queen that locals loved.

Ed Sullivan Helped Bourbon Street Jazz Reach Living Rooms Nationwide

The Dukes of Dixieland hit it big in 1959 with a sold-out show at Carnegie Hall and a spot at the Playboy Jazz Festival in Chicago.

They played on the Ed Sullivan Show three times and joined three popular Timex jazz TV specials.

Sullivan told viewers he first met the Assunto Brothers at the Famous Door and called them “the number one jazz combo in the country.”

Their 1957 record for Audio Fidelity made history as the first jazz album recorded in stereo.

Pete Fountain and Al Hirt Turned Friendly Rivalry into Jazz Gold

Pete Fountain opened his French Quarter Inn at 800 Bourbon Street in spring 1960 after getting famous on The Lawrence Welk Show.

Al Hirt soon followed with his own club at 501 Bourbon Street, even hiring Ellis Marsalis as his piano player for a while.

Big names like Frank Sinatra, Phil Harris, Robert Goulet, and Brenda Lee often stopped by Fountain’s club and sometimes joined the band.

Though competitors, Fountain and Hirt stayed friendly, often visiting each other’s clubs and recording together.

Bourbon Street Set the Stage for Jazz Preservation

The traditional jazz revival on Bourbon Street happened a full decade before Preservation Hall opened its doors in 1961.

Pete Fountain and Al Hirt became the faces of New Orleans jazz on national TV, making Bourbon Street famous as America’s jazz capital.

Many musicians who played the Bourbon Street clubs, like Willie Humphrey, later became founding members of the first Preservation Hall bands in the early 1960s.

The Paddock Lounge and other venues gave steady work to scores of talented musicians who otherwise might not have found paying audiences.

This golden era created the foundation for New Orleans jazz to survive and thrive for future generations.

Visiting Bourbon Quarter, New Orleans

You can experience Bourbon Street’s jazz golden age at 311 Bourbon Street, where free live jazz plays daily from 10am. Eight bronze statues honor 1940s-1950s legends like Louis Prima and Fats Domino.

Café Beignet serves drinks and beignets with outdoor seating.

For authentic jazz clubs, visit Maison Bourbon at 641 Bourbon Street with no cover charge or Fritzel’s European Jazz Club at 733 Bourbon Street.

The Jazz Playhouse at Royal Sonesta Hotel requires tickets for 7:30pm shows.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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