Pat Barberot (born Ladner Joseph Barberot; March 17, 1926 – April 5, 2007)[1] was an American band leader. He was the founder and band leader of one of New Orleans' longest running big bands, the Pat Barberot Orchestra.[2]

Pat Barberot
Birth nameLadner Joseph Barberot
Born(1926-03-17)March 17, 1926
Died(2007-04-05)April 5, 2007 (aged 81)
GenresBig band, jazz
OccupationBand leader
InstrumentSaxophone
Formerly ofPat Barberot Orchestra
Websitepatbarberotorchestra.com

From the late 1930s until 2007,[3] Barberot's band, with his saxophone out front, performed its own arrangements of classics including the big band composers Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Louis Prima, and Sy Oliver. In 1970, Barberot realized that venues for big band were fading away, so he opened his own club, The Jefferson Orleans North.[4] There his band performed big band hits including In The Mood, Moonlight Serenade, Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing), Midnight Tango and Eager Beaver at their weekly concerts for over 35 years.

In August 2005, the flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the Jefferson Orleans North. Barberot later rebuilt the club and reunited his band, and they resumed performances four months later.[5]

After taking ill in the fall of 2006, Barberot died on April 5, 2007, aged 81. He had served in the United States Navy during World War II.[6]

The Pat Barberot Orchestra continues to play weekly,[7] now under the direction of Pat Barberot's son (and drummer), Bryan Barberot.[3][8] The Orchestra and its fans are the subject of a PBS documentary called A Place To Dance, which was scheduled to air on public television stations in the US in summer 2007.[9][5]

References

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  1. ^ "United States Social Security Death Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Pat Barberot, leader of popular big band" Times-Picayune
  3. ^ a b Pfefferle Tafur, Suzanne (July 23, 2017). "Keeping the music alive: Times haven't changed for regulars at orchestra's weekly event in Metairie". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  4. ^ "The Pat Barberot Orchestra". Wanderlust Productions. New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  5. ^ a b Phillips, Kyra (December 6, 2005). "LIVE FROM... Ford Makes Controversial Advertising Move; New Orleans Dance Hall Reopens; Professor Acquitted of Funding Islamist Terrorism". CNN.com - Transcripts. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  6. ^ "Ladner Barberot Obituary (2007) - The Times-Picayune". obits.nola.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  7. ^ "Matthew Wright | Music and Media". Loyola University New Orleans. Retrieved 2021-01-12. Matthew plays weekly with the Pat Barberot Orchestra, a local jazz big band
  8. ^ Pfefferle Tafur, Suzanne (December 4, 2018). "Series at Little Gem brings big-band era back to life for dancers, variety show fans". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  9. ^ "Alabama Public Television: Place To Dance; A | from PBS". www.aptv.org.
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