Luis Russell
Name
Luis Russell
About
The pianist and bandleader Luis Russell was born in Panama to a Jamaican family. A professional musician in the port city of Colón, Russell moved to New Orleans in 1921. From there, he moved to Chicago to play with New Orleans innovator King Oliver. In the late 1920s, Russell relocated to New York, where he formed his own band, which would go on to serve as Louis Armstrong's backing band for nearly a decade. Russell continued to perform swing jazz in subsequent years, leading his own dance bands through the 1940s.
Birth date
1902
Death date
1963
Genre
The pianist and bandleader Luis Russell was born in Panama to a Jamaican family. A professional musician in the port city of Colón, Russell moved to New Orleans in 1921. From there, he moved to Chicago to play with New Orleans innovator King Oliver. In the late 1920s, Russell relocated to New York, where he formed his own band, which would go on to serve as Louis Armstrong's backing band for nearly a decade. Russell continued to perform swing jazz in subsequent years, leading his own dance bands through the 1940s.