Marty Napoleon (June 2, 1921 – April 27, 2015)[1] was an American jazz pianist.[2] He replaced Earl Hines in Louis Armstrong's All Stars band in 1952.[2] In 1946 he worked with Gene Krupa and went on to work with his uncle Phil Napoleon, a trumpeter, in Phil's Original Memphis Five. In the 1950s he also worked with his brother Teddy Napoleon, a pianist, and from 1966 to 1971 he performed with Armstrong again.[3] One highlight of his work with Armstrong was a swing version of "Sunrise, Sunset", from the musical Fiddler on the Roof.[4] Napoleon was born Matthew Napoli in Brooklyn to Sicilian immigrants; he later legally changed his name.[4]
Marty Napoleon | |
|---|---|
 Left to right: Don Varella, Stan Johnson, Marty Napoleon, Fraser MacPherson. Penthouse, Vancouver, B.C. April 4, 1952. Photo courtesy of the Fraser MacPherson estate | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Matthew Napoli |
| Born | June 2, 1921 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 27, 2015 (aged 93) Glen Cove, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1940s–2012 |
Discography
editAs leader
edit- Marty Napoleon Swings and Sings (Bethlehem, 1955)
- Marty Napoleon and His Music (Stere-o-Craft, 1958)
- We 3...A Jazz Apprto Stereo (Everest, 1959)
- The Napoleon Brothers: A Rare Musical Vintage (Herald, 1958)
- Lionel Hampton Presents: Who's Who In Jazz Louis Armstrong Alumni (Who's Who in Jazz, 1977)
As sideman
edit- Louis Armstrong, Louis (Mercury, 1966)
- Louis Armstrong, What a Wonderful World (Stateside, 1968)
- Louis Armstrong, The Night Before Christmas (Continental, 1971)
- Phil Bodner, Fine and Dandy (Stash, 1981)
- Ruby Braff, Swinging with Ruby Braff (Jazztone, 1955)
- Ruby Braff, Easy Now (RCA Victor, 1959)
- Chubby Jackson, Chubby Jackson Discovers Maria Marshall (Crown, 1961)
References
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marty Napoleon.
- ^ "Marty Napoleon Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ a b Slotnik, Daniel E. (1 May 2015). "Marty Napoleon, 93, Dies; Jazz Pianist Played With Louis Armstrong". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ Yanow, Scott. "Marty Napoleon". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ a b Bernstein, Adam (2015-04-30). "Marty Napoleon, vivacious jazz pianist for Louis Armstrong, dies at 93". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-01-07.