1. Luis Carl Russell was a pioneering Panamanian jazz pianist, orchestra leader, composer, and arranger.
11 Facts About Luis Russell
1. 2.
Luis Carl Russell was born on Careening Cay, near Bocas del Toro, Panama, in a family of African-Caribbean ancestry.
3.
Luis Russell's father was a music teacher, and Russell learned to play guitar, piano, and violin.
4.
Luis Russell had begun playing professionally, accompanying silent films by 1917 and later at a casino in Colon, Panama.
5.
Luis Russell moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1925 and worked with Doc Cook and King Oliver.
6.
The Oliver band moved to New York City, and Russell left to form his own band.
7.
Between 1926 and 1934, Luis Russell recorded 38 sides, plus those issued under Red Allen and a handful where Armstrong led his band.
8.
That same year, Armstrong took over the orchestra altogether, and for the next eight years they functioned as back-up band for Armstrong, with Luis Russell acting as the musical director.
9.
Luis Russell led a new band from 1943 to 1948 that played at the Savoy and Apollo and made a few recordings.
10.
In 1948, Luis Russell retired from music and opened a notions shop, with irregular band gigs and teaching music on the side.
11.
Luis Russell died in New York City at the age of 61.