Leon Roppolo
Leon Joseph Roppolo (March 16, 1902 – October 5, 1943)[1] was an American early jazz clarinetist, best known for his playing with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. He also played saxophone and guitar.
Life and career
[edit]Leon Roppolo (nicknamed "Rap" and sometimes misspelled as "Rappolo") was born in Lutcher, Louisiana, United States, up-river from New Orleans.[1] His family, of Sicilian origin, moved to the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans about 1912.[2]
At the age of fifteen he decided to leave home to travel with the band of Bee Palmer, which soon became the nucleus for the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.[2] After the breakup of the Rhythm Kings in Chicago, Roppolo and Paul Mares headed east to try their luck on the New York City jazz scene.[2] Contemporary musicians recalled Roppolo making some recordings with Original Memphis Five and California Ramblers musicians in New York in 1924; these sides were presumably unissued, or if issued unidentified.[1]
Roppolo exhibited ever more eccentric behavior and violent temper.[2] This was finally too much for his family to take, and Leon was committed to the state mental hospital in 1925.[1][3] Roppolo died in New Orleans at the age of forty-one.[2]
Compositions
[edit]Roppolo's compositions include the jazz standards "Farewell Blues"[4] and "Milenberg Joys",[5] "Gold Leaf Strut" or "Golden Leaf Strut",[6] "Tin Roof Blues" (1923),[7] and "Make Love to Me".[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Leon Roppolo (1902-1943)". Syncopatedtimes.com. 20 May 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2140. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ Ron DePasquale, Leon Roppolo - artist biography, AllMusic
- ^ "Farewell Blues - Irving Mills | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "Milenberg Joys | Details". AllMusic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "Gold Leaf Strut - New Orleans Rhythm Kings | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "Leon Roppolo Best Songs List: Top, New, & Old". AllMusic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "Make Love to Me - Ann-Margret | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
