28 Facts About Harrison Verrett

Harrison Verrett was born to Joseph Verrett and Mary Verrett in Napoleonville in Assumption Parish, Louisiana.

Harrison Verrett tried playing mellophone in parade bands, but said he "got tired of walking".

Harrison Verrett joined Brown's band as a trumpet player, but "not having teeth it used to bother me so I gave the trumpet up".

Harrison Verrett was a banjoist with the band for three years.

At age 18, Harrison Verrett went to Biloxi, Mississippi, and joined a medicine show band that featured pianist Earl Hines.

Harrison Verrett toured with the show for a year, including through Canada.

Harrison Verrett left the band in Omaha, Nebraska, and returned briefly to New Orleans.

Harrison Verrett left the Isle of Caprice employment to play in New Orleans, and occasionally the Mississippi Gulf Coast in taxi dance bands in the late 1920s.

Harrison Verrett married Philonese Domino in 1932 and quit the Fern Cafe in 1934.

Harrison Verrett joined Charlie Smith's big band in New Orleans, playing first trumpet for six months, until dental problems recurred.

Harrison Verrett relocated in 1941 to Oxnard, California, taking an essential job with the Navy to stay out of the service.

Harrison Verrett worked as a carpenter, and his wife Philonese as a cook, at the nearby naval base at Port Hueneme and played nights at saxophonist Earl Fortier's club.

Shirley Harrison Verrett later became an internationally renowned opera singer and concert recitalist.

Harrison Verrett eventually entered the Army as a private in 1943.

Harrison Verrett showed his young brother-in-law the basics on Domino's family piano years earlier by labeling the piano keys and showing him chords and scales.

Once he remedied this inconsistency, Harrison Verrett got him into the musicians' union and booked him at clubs.

Back in New Orleans, Harrison Verrett performed with Papa Celestin from 1945 to 1951, including at the Paddock Lounge and the Court of Two Sisters.

Harrison Verrett advised Domino not to sell his songs outright, but to get a publishing contract for royalties.

Harrison Verrett recorded with Papa Celestin and his Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra for De Luxe Records on the October 26,1947 session that marked Celestin's return to recording for the first time since 1928.

Harrison Verrett worked as a carpenter at the time to supplement his income from music.

Harrison Verrett left Papa Celestin's band to accompany his homesick brother-in-law on the road, often acting as the Domino band's driver.

Harrison Verrett was instrumental in Domino's recording of traditional jazz songs and standards.

Harrison Verrett performed and recorded with Edward "Noon" Johnson's Bazooka Band and toured with Punch Miller's band.

Harrison Verrett performed regularly at Preservation Hall, while occasionally going on the road with Fats Domino's band.

In November 1964, Harrison Verrett was driving the band bus in Arizona down a steep mountain section of Route 66 on the way to Las Vegas when he lost control and collided with an oncoming car.

Harrison Verrett was so rattled by the incident he would never drive for his brother-in-law again.

Harrison Verrett used to come pick us up and he'd tell us, 'You ain't got time for them women; you learn your music first.

Harrison Verrett died of lung cancer at age 58 on October 13,1965.