King Oliver, born Joseph Oliver on December 19, 1881, in Abend, Louisiana, was a pivotal figure in the development of early jazz music. Known for his unique cornet playing, Oliver was a bandleader, mentor, and key inspiration for subsequent jazz legends. He started his career in brass bands and dance bands in New Orleans, then became a major influence in Chicago after he moved there in 1918.

King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, which he formed in the early 1920s, became a crucible of talent and innovation, featuring future jazz luminaries like Louis Armstrong, who regarded Oliver as his mentor. Armstrong joined the band in 1922, and the two would record a series of groundbreaking tracks that would cement Oliver's legacy. Despite battling financial and health issues in the later years of his life, which led to a decline in his career, King Oliver's influence on jazz music remains indisputable. "King Oliver" is not just an acknowledgment of his talent but a title that recognizes his royalty in the jazz genre. Oliver's work exemplifies the spirit of jazz from its earliest days, and his recordings, now digitally remastered, continue to be celebrated by jazz enthusiasts around the world. Oliver passed away on April 10, 1938, in Savannah, Georgia, but his contribution to the music world endures through projects and releases that revisit and honor his artistry.

Genres

Dixieland

Jazz Trumpet

New Orleans Jazz

Latest Release

I Can’t Stop Loving You

King Oliver

Album - 72 Tracks - Released July 2, 2023