On October 10, 1969, Manuel “Fess” Manetta died in New Orleans, a week past his 80th birthday. Born across the river in Algiers to a family of brass players, he handled at least six instruments: violin, guitar, piano, cornet, saxophone and trombone. He played in bands with Buddy Bolden, worked as solo pianist at Willie Piazza’s house on Basin Street in Storyville, went on the road with Kid Ory in 1919 and played the riverboats in the 1920s. His party piece was playing trumpet and trombone at once, which he could still manage very late in life; a 1950 photograph shows him doing it with two trumpets. He spent his last four decades mostly teaching, which earned him “Fess,” short for Professor; his pupils included Henry “Red” Allen, Buddie Petit and Emmett Hardy. His own playing finally got recorded in 1957, and those tracks were first released on an LP called Whorehouse Piano.
Sources: Manuel Manetta — Wikipedia (born Algiers, New Orleans, October 3, 1889; died New Orleans, October 10, 1969; six instruments; two brass instruments at once, late in life; Bolden bands; Kid Ory tour 1919; four decades teaching; 1957 tracks first released on Whorehouse Piano, citing Bill Russell’s Grove entry) , Manetta Residence historical marker, 331 Alix Street, Algiers (N.O. Jazz Commission / Preservation Resource Center, 2002) — via HMdb (Manetta 1889–1969; bands with Buddy Bolden, Papa Celestin, Manuel Perez; solo pianist at Willie Piazza’s on Basin Street; “could play trumpet and trombone at the same time”) , Today in Louisiana Music History: October 10 — OffBeat (Manetta dies in New Orleans at age 80; performed with Buddy Bolden and Kid Ory) , A Tribute to Manuel Manetta — The Historic New Orleans Collection (1950 photograph of Manetta playing two trumpets at once; Kid Ory 1919; Streckfus riverboats; taught from the 1930s, students including Red Allen and Buddie Petit) , Manuel Manetta — Music Rising, Tulane University (solo pianist in brothels and with the Original Tuxedo Orchestra in Storyville; students Henry “Red” Allen, Buddie Petit, Emmett Hardy)
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