Jazz royalty

Jazz royalty is a term that reflects the many great jazz musicians who have some sort of royal title in their names or nicknames.

Earliest jazz "monarchs" in New Orleans

The practice goes back to New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, back before the music was commonly known as "jazz". Buddy Bolden was known as "King Bolden", as the top hot music and hot trumpeter of the city.

Related Topics:
New Orleans - 20th century - Buddy Bolden - Trumpet

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The realization that such titles might have commercial or public relations values also dates to this era. Violinist and bandleader Alex Watzke, observing Bolden's popularity, started billing himself as "King Watzke", and paid children coins to publicly point at him as he walked down the street and say "There goes King Watzke". While he succeeded in appending that nickname to himself, some fellow musicians used it more with amusement than with the respect accorded to Bolden.

Related Topics:
Violin - King Watzke

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After Bolden left the music scene in 1907, his crown was taken by Freddie Keppard. "King Keppard" ruled until 1914 when Joe Oliver bested him in musical battle.

Related Topics:
1907 - Freddie Keppard - 1914 - Joe Oliver

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Joe Oliver left New Orleans in 1919. Some later writers have assumed that the trumpet crown at that time went to Oliver's protege Louis Armstrong, but Armstrong and his contemporaries made no such claim. Armstrong had a powerful rival in Buddie Petit, whom many ranked higher than young Armstrong in the period of 1919-1922. Neither billed himself as "king".

Related Topics:
1919 - Louis Armstrong - Buddie Petit

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