Snoozer Quinn
Encyclopedia
Ed "Snoozer" Quinn was a jazz
guitarist very highly regarded by his fellow musicians, but who left few recordings.
Quinn was born Edward McIntosh Quinn in Pike County, Mississippi
in 1907. He and his family moved to Bogalusa, Louisiana
when he was a toddler. In his teens and early twenties he was a member of the Paul English Traveling Shows, Mart Britt's Sylvan Beach Orchestra and Peck Kelley
's band, Peck's Bad Boys. For a brief period Snoozer also led the Louisiana Ramblers. Documentation shows he performed in and around Galveston, Texas
and San Antonio, Texas
and Shreveport, Louisiana
. In the mid 1920s he made a series of radio broadcasts as a banjo virtuoso.
Perhaps most notably, Snoozer joined the Paul Whiteman
Orchestra after Whiteman heard him backstage at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans, Louisiana
on October 28, 1928. Snoozer was in New York City
for a brief period of time, approximately from January-March 1929.
Quinn had a series of recording sessions in the 1920s, including solos and records with Bix Beiderbecke
and Frankie Trumbauer
, that were inexplicably lost and never issued. His only commercially issued sides in this era are some with the Whiteman's full orchestra, where he is mostly inaudible, and a few rare cuts backing singers Bee Palmer
and possibly Bing Crosby
. In 1931, Quinn recorded some accompaniments for country singer Jimmie Davis
.
Quinn contracted tuberculosis
. In 1948, musician and educator Johnny Wiggs
brought a home recording machine and some blank discs to the tuberculosis ward of Charity Hospital, New Orleans where Quinn was bedridden and persuaded Quinn to record. These amateur recordings were later issued and are Quinn's best known.
Quinn died on April 21, 1949 at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He is buried in Ponemah Cemetery in Bogalusa, Louisiana
.
(Details of Quinn's life have been obscure. His death date is listed as 1952 in many places, but this is incorrect. Also, he is listed in many places as being born in 1906 but according to his passport and death certificate, he was born in 1907. 1910 census records from Pike County indicate Quinn was about three years old in 1910. Official birth certificates were not kept in Mississippi
until beginning in 1912.)
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
guitarist very highly regarded by his fellow musicians, but who left few recordings.
Quinn was born Edward McIntosh Quinn in Pike County, Mississippi
Pike County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,940 people, 14,792 households, and 10,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 95 people per square mile . There were 16,720 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...
in 1907. He and his family moved to Bogalusa, Louisiana
Bogalusa, Louisiana
Bogalusa is a city in Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,365 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Bogalusa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Washington Parish and is also part of the larger New Orleans–Metairie–Bogalusa...
when he was a toddler. In his teens and early twenties he was a member of the Paul English Traveling Shows, Mart Britt's Sylvan Beach Orchestra and Peck Kelley
Peck Kelley
John Dickson "Peck" Kelley was an American jazz pianist born in Houston, Texas. Kelley was best known for his 1920s band Peck's Bad Boys, which included Jack Teagarden and Pee Wee Russell, among others.- Career :...
's band, Peck's Bad Boys. For a brief period Snoozer also led the Louisiana Ramblers. Documentation shows he performed in and around Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
and San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. In the mid 1920s he made a series of radio broadcasts as a banjo virtuoso.
Perhaps most notably, Snoozer joined the Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
Orchestra after Whiteman heard him backstage at the St. Charles Theatre in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
on October 28, 1928. Snoozer was in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for a brief period of time, approximately from January-March 1929.
Quinn had a series of recording sessions in the 1920s, including solos and records with Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was an American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer.With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s...
and Frankie Trumbauer
Frankie Trumbauer
Orie Frank Trumbauer was one of the leading jazz saxophonists of the 1920s and 1930s. He played the C-melody saxophone which, in size, is between an alto and tenor saxophone...
, that were inexplicably lost and never issued. His only commercially issued sides in this era are some with the Whiteman's full orchestra, where he is mostly inaudible, and a few rare cuts backing singers Bee Palmer
Bee Palmer
Bee Palmer , was a United States singer and dancer. She was born Beatrice C. Palmer in Chicago.Palmer first attracted significant attention as one of the first exponents of the "shimmy" dance in the late 1910s...
and possibly Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
. In 1931, Quinn recorded some accompaniments for country singer Jimmie Davis
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. In 1948, musician and educator Johnny Wiggs
Johnny Wiggs
Johnny Wiggs was a jazz musician and band leader.Born John Wigginton Hyman on in New Orleans, Louisiana, he started his music career on the violin. He soon adopted the cornet and moved to New York for some time before returning to New Orleans...
brought a home recording machine and some blank discs to the tuberculosis ward of Charity Hospital, New Orleans where Quinn was bedridden and persuaded Quinn to record. These amateur recordings were later issued and are Quinn's best known.
Quinn died on April 21, 1949 at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He is buried in Ponemah Cemetery in Bogalusa, Louisiana
Bogalusa, Louisiana
Bogalusa is a city in Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,365 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Bogalusa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Washington Parish and is also part of the larger New Orleans–Metairie–Bogalusa...
.
(Details of Quinn's life have been obscure. His death date is listed as 1952 in many places, but this is incorrect. Also, he is listed in many places as being born in 1906 but according to his passport and death certificate, he was born in 1907. 1910 census records from Pike County indicate Quinn was about three years old in 1910. Official birth certificates were not kept in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
until beginning in 1912.)
External links
- SnoozerQuinn.com Website dedicated to Snoozer Quinn
- The Legendary Snoozer Quinn Biography with audio examples of his recordings
- All Media Guide biography