Manuel Manetta

Manuel "Fess" Manetta (October 3, 1889 – October 10, 1969) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist.

Early life

Manetta was born in New Orleans (district of Algiers) on October 3, 1889.[1] He was of African and Italian descent.[2] He came from a family of brass players, and could play at least six instruments capably: violin, guitar, piano, cornet, saxophone, and trombone.[3]

Later life and career

He was able to play two brass instruments at the same time, including very late in his life.[3] He played early in the 20th century with the Eagle Brass Band and the Tuxedo Brass Band, and was a veteran of some of Buddy Bolden's bands.[3]

He played in New Orleans for much of his career, but toured with Kid Ory in 1919 and with the Martels Family Band as a pianist in the 1920s.[3] He played on riverboats with Ed Allen in that decade as well.[3] He continued working up until his death, playing in the bands of Papa Celestin, Arnold Du Pas, Manuel Perez, and others.[3] The final four decades of his life were spent mostly on teaching, but he also recorded in 1957, laying down tracks that were first released on Whorehouse Piano.[1] He died in New Orleans on October 10, 1969.[1]

References
  1. Russell, Bill (2003), Manetta, Manuel (Fess), Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J287100
  2. "Subversive Sounds: Race and the Birth of Jazz in New Orleans", by Charles B. Hersch, p.21.
  3. Chadbourne, Eugene. "Manuel Manetta". AllMusic. Retrieved December 22, 2018.


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