Lawrence Marrero | |
|---|---|
 Marrero on banjo. Photograph by Stanley Kubrick, for Look of June 6, 1950 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lawrence Henry Marrero |
| Also known as | Laurence Marrero |
| Born | October 24, 1900 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Died | June 6, 1959 (aged 58) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Banjo |
| Years active | 1919–1955 |
Lawrence Henry Marrero (October 24, 1900 – June 6, 1959) was an American jazz banjoist.
Marrero was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 24, 1900.[1] He grew up in a musical family: three brothers became musicians[2] – Eddie (bass), John (banjo) and Simon (tuba and bass) – and their father Billy was also a bass player.[1] Lawrence (who chose to spell his name "Laurence") was taught music by his father, and became a professional player around 1918.[1]
In 1919 he got his first regular job on banjo with Wooden Joe Nicholas's Camelia Brass Band and from 1920 he joined on bass drum the Young Tuxedo Brass Band.[3]
In 1942 Marrero was one of the musicians who part of the first recordings made by Bunk Johnson, and continued playing and recording in the New Orleans jazz revival.[1] He was featured on many recordings and was a regular member of the George Lewis band from the late 1930s until ill health caused him to quit full-time performance in 1954.[1] He occasionally played with his own band after that.[2]
Marrero was considered to be a steady player with a good tone;[1] he never recorded as a leader and rarely did he take solos.[2] He died in New Orleans on June 6, 1959.[1]
