Thought to be a South Carolina native; cousin of [James] Arthur Briggs; played the tuba in the Jenkins Orphanage Band; in 1928, he recorded with Louis Armstrong’s Hot Seven and was closely associated with the New Orleans jazz scene where he often played the bass…
Considered one of the best trumpeters in Europe; spent some of his childhood in Charleston and studied music at Jenkins Orphanage along with his cousin and tuba player, Pete Briggs; as a youth, he began playing trumpet with James Reese Europe’s 369th U.S. Infantry Band…
Ace drummer who studied drums with Herbert and Stephen Wright, Jenkins Orphanage Band musicians; born in Charleston, West Virginia (passed away in Mt. Vernon, New York); enrolled in the Jenkins Orphanage in 1913 and toured with the Jenkins Orphanage Band when they performed at the Anglo-American Exposition in London in 1914; [...]
Born in Charleston, West Virginia with younger brother Tommy; entered the Jenkins Orphanage as a child and toured with the band’s musical traveling show in 1915; led his own band and played regularly with Jelly Roll Morton and recorded with him as well; he also recorded with Ethel Waters, Jimmy Dunn, [...]
Quentin Baxter, drummer, is a native Charlestonian who comes from a family of drummers. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition from the College of Charleston (C of C) and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Jazz Percussion and recording engineer in the Department of Music at C of [...]
Began musical studies on brass instruments, notably the trombone then later the trumpet; born in Moscow, Indiana states a CJI supporter who knew/played with Anderson (though some say Greenville, South Carolina) and later, a resident at Jenkins Orphanage; his brother, “Kitty” played trombone …
(AKA) Aiken [Aitken and Aikin], “Gus” or “Rice” Augustine
Born in Charleston and resident of the Jenkins Orphanage; known as “Spec” at the orphanage and played in its bands from 1912, then left to work in traveling shows; brother Eugene “Buddy,” also a resident of the orphanage, played trombone and [...]
Trombonist; played in the Jenkins Orphanage Band from 1912; toured with Fletcher Henderson (1921) and worked with Willie Gant, Wilbur Sweatman, Elmer Snowden, Charlie Johnson; he played and recorded with Perry Bradford’s Jazz Phools along with Herb Flemming, Garvin Bushell, Bubber Miley and brother, Gus Aiken, and on recordings with Ethel Waters and Louis Armstrong.
Master percussionist and recording engineer; son of Annie Swinton Johnson and Juan Amalbert, his mother was part of the Mt. Pleasant (SC), east of the Cooper River families of Swintons and Ascues…
