Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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DUKES OF DIXIELAND

Dixieland band led by brothers Fred (trombone; b 3 Dec. '29; d 21 April '66, Las Vegas) and Frank Assunto (trumpet; b 29 Jan. '22; d 25 Feb. '74, New Orleans). Formed group '49 for Horace Heidt talent show; played at Famous Door in New Orleans for four years; fame in '50s on TV, tours; records on Roulette, RCA, MCA, but mostly Audio Fidelity, selling especially well because they were among the first stereo records. Both life-long musicians, born in New Orleans, taught by their father Jacob "Papa Jac' Assunto (banjo, trombone; b 1 Nov. '05, Lake Charles LA), prominent local player who toured with them after '55: all the more remarkable that their work was suitable mainly for tourists, and that Louis Armstrong recorded with them '59-60 (tracks issued on many labels incl. Leisure CD '97; Rick Matteson on tuba highly praised by Cadence). They recorded '62 on Columbia; the band kept going after the Assunto brothers were gone and recorded for ProJazz '87; a completely new lineup made Sound Of Bix '96 on Leisure.