Lawrence Duhé (April 30, 1887 – 1960), also known as Lawrence Duhe, [1] was an early jazz clarinetist and bandleader.
Duhé was born in LaPlace, Louisiana, on April 30, 1887. [2] His father, Evariste, worked in a sugar mill and played the violin. [1] Lawrence played with his three brothers [2] in the Duhe Brothers Band, and their two sisters played piano and organ in churches. [1]
Duhé was part of Kid Ory's band and followed the trombonist to New Orleans in 1910. [1] They separated around 18 months later, and Duhé led his own band in Storyville. [1] In 1917 he moved to Chicago, where his band played in dance halls and performed at the 1919 World Series. [2] In 1923 he returned to New Orleans and played for most of the next decade in bands led by trumpeter Evan Thomas and trombonist Gus Fortinet. [2] After touring with the Rabbit's Foot minstrel show he worked in Lafayette, Louisiana with trumpeter Frank Brown. [2] Duhé retired from music in 1945 and died in Lafayette in 1960. [2] Grove reports that, "Despite his prominence in the history of early jazz, Duhé is not known to have made any recordings that were issued commercially." [2]
Lawrence Duhé (April 30, 1887 – 1960), also known as Lawrence Duhe, [1] was an early jazz clarinetist and bandleader.
Duhé was born in LaPlace, Louisiana, on April 30, 1887. [2] His father, Evariste, worked in a sugar mill and played the violin. [1] Lawrence played with his three brothers [2] in the Duhe Brothers Band, and their two sisters played piano and organ in churches. [1]
Duhé was part of Kid Ory's band and followed the trombonist to New Orleans in 1910. [1] They separated around 18 months later, and Duhé led his own band in Storyville. [1] In 1917 he moved to Chicago, where his band played in dance halls and performed at the 1919 World Series. [2] In 1923 he returned to New Orleans and played for most of the next decade in bands led by trumpeter Evan Thomas and trombonist Gus Fortinet. [2] After touring with the Rabbit's Foot minstrel show he worked in Lafayette, Louisiana with trumpeter Frank Brown. [2] Duhé retired from music in 1945 and died in Lafayette in 1960. [2] Grove reports that, "Despite his prominence in the history of early jazz, Duhé is not known to have made any recordings that were issued commercially." [2]