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
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 nameMatthew Napoli
Born(1921-06-02)June 2, 1921
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 27, 2015(2015-04-27) (aged 93)
Glen Cove, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active1940s–2012

Discography

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As leader

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  1. ^ "Marty Napoleon Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Marty Napoleon". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. ^ 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.