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This week in history: Achille Joseph Baquet dies [1]

['Shannon Stecker', 'More Shannon Stecker', 'Verite News']

Date: 2023-11-21

The talented clarinetist and saxophone player Achille Joseph Baquet died on November 20, 1955. Baquet was a member of several jazz bands and orchestras throughout his career.

Baquet was born in New Orleans on November 15, 1885, the son of Leocadie Marie Martinez and Theogene Baquet. Theogene was a cornetist, music teacher and leader of the popular Excelsior Brass Band. Baquet’s younger brother, clarinetist George Baquet, was also a well-known musician and music teacher in New Orleans. Among George Baquet’s students was Sidney Bechet.

While his brother and father spent their careers working with and teaching other African American jazz musicians in New Orleans, Baquet’s fair skin allowed him to pass for white. He played with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, an all-white ensemble established in the early 1900s. The band was widely known for recording what was considered the first jazz record, “Livery Stable Blues.”

According to Allmusic.com, Baquet also played with the Original New Orleans Jazz Band, Papa Jack Laine’s Reliance Orchestra, the Happy Schilling Dance Orchestra, and perhaps the Whiteway Jazz Band, although the actual identity of the Whiteway Jazz band members is still unknown.

He is credited with writing and arranging the songs, “Why Cry Blues” and “Ole Miss.” In an interview, Papa Jack Laine said that Baquet was the actual composer behind “Tiger Rag,” a popular jazz standard often played during college football games.

During his career, Baquet spent time in New York and Los Angeles. He died in Los Angeles on November 20, 1955 at the age of 70.

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If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @VeriteNewsNola on Facebook @VeriteNewsNola on Twitter. If you have any other questions, contact managing editor Tim Morris. This week in history: Achille Joseph Baquet dies <h1>This week in history: Achille Joseph Baquet dies</h1> by Shannon Stecker, Verite News November 21, 2023 The talented clarinetist and saxophone player Achille Joseph Baquet died on<a href="https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/achille-joseph-baquet-24-6qjj3q"> November 20, 1955</a>. Baquet was a member of several jazz bands and orchestras throughout his career. Baquet was born in New Orleans on<a href="https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/achille-joseph-baquet-24-6qjj3q"> November 15, 1885</a>, the<a href="http://about.jamesbaquet.com/2009/06/achille-joseph-baquet-my-dads-dad.html"> son</a> of Leocadie Marie Martinez and Theogene Baquet. Theogene was a cornetist, music teacher and leader of the popular Excelsior Brass Band. Baquet’s <a href="http://about.jamesbaquet.com/2009/06/achille-joseph-baquet-my-dads-dad.html">younger brother</a>, clarinetist George Baquet, was also a well-known musician and music teacher in New Orleans. Among George Baquet’s students was Sidney Bechet. While his brother and father spent<a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/achille-joseph-baquet-mn0001411692#biography"> their careers</a> working with and teaching other African American jazz musicians in New Orleans, Baquet’s fair skin allowed him to <a href="https://musicrising.tulane.edu/discover/people/achille-baquet/">pass for white</a>. He played with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, an all-white ensemble established in the early<a href="https://jazz.fm/the-original-dixieland-jazz-band-and-origins-of-the-first-jazz-recording/"> 1900s</a>. The band was widely known for recording what was considered <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/first-jazz-record-released/">the first jazz record</a>, “Livery Stable Blues.” According to<a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/achille-joseph-baquet-mn0001411692#biography"> Allmusic.com</a>, Baquet also played with the Original New Orleans Jazz Band, Papa Jack Laine’s Reliance Orchestra, the Happy Schilling Dance Orchestra, and perhaps the Whiteway Jazz Band, although the actual identity of the Whiteway Jazz band members is still<a href="https://syncopatedtimes.com/whiteway-jazz-band/"> unknown</a>. He is<a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/6198657-Achille-Baquet"> credited</a> with writing and arranging the songs, “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtbJ25y3X4U">Why Cry Blues</a>” and “Ole Miss.” In an interview, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jazz/learn/historyculture/papa_jack.htm">Papa Jack Laine</a> said that Baquet was the <a href="https://basinstreet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Jack-laine-1.pdf">actual composer</a> behind “<a href="https://youtu.be/89fZGnAdago?feature=shared">Tiger Rag</a>,” a popular jazz standard often played during college football games. During his career, Baquet spent time in New York and Los Angeles. He died in Los Angeles on<a href="https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/achille-joseph-baquet-24-6qjj3q"> November 20, 1955</a> at the age of 70. This <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org/2023/11/21/this-week-in-history-achille-joseph-baquet-dies/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org">Verite News</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-Verite-icon.png?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://veritenews.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=10792" style="width:1px;height:1px;"> Copy to Clipboard

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