Last week I paid tribute to the recently departed New Orleans music giant Allen Toussaint. He was certainly one of the greats to emerge from the Crescent City, but not the only one. Another towering figure in the musical history of the city was Wardell Quezergue, who passed away in 2011.
Quezergue was so highly thought of that he acquired the title of the “Creole Beethoven.” Back in the 1940’s he got his start playing with Dave Bartholomew’s band before leading his own Dukes of Rhythm in the ’50s. During this time he also worked as an arranger for leading lights Fats Domino and Professor Longhair among other … (more)
On the Corner 