NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Among the most influential New Orleans musicians of the 20th century was Mr. Danny Barker. Barker was banjo, ukelele and guitar player, singer and composer and master of New Orleans Traditional Music.
In the 1930s, he played with greats like Cab Calloway and Benny Carter, but saw a need in the 1970s in our city to form the Fairview Baptist Church Jazz Band, and teach traditional jazz to young musicians.
The results are brilliant from the Marsalis brothers, to Herlin Riley, to Dr. Michael White, to Lucien Barbarin, to Shannon Powell, they all contribute some of their growth and success to Mr. Barker.
“I first started playing my first professional gig, I started playing. I was 12 years old, and I went on a gig with Mr. Danny Barker,” recalls Drummer Shannon Powell.
Barker believed that if the older musicians didn’t teach our traditional music to young people, the music would die. We are forever indebted to his vision of keeping the music alive.
Fred Johnson, co-founder of the Black Men of Labor Social Aid and Pleasure Club says, “Mr. Barker single handedly revived and saved the brass band as we know it.”
That’s right, no Danny Barker no Dirty Dozen Brass Band, no Rebirth Brass Band, no Hot 8 Brass Band, and by extension so would go our social aid and pleasure clubs.
Quint Davis, Jazz Fest Co-Founder recalled, “Danny Barker had a lot of influence in a lot of ways, and then he himself was a giant, and he was married to Blu Lu Barker who was like our Bessie Smith. ”
For his contribution, his determination of keeping the music going, and his work with molding and educating our musicians, Danny Barker is a Giant of the Fest.