Lawrence Cotton

Lawrence Cotton (born February 2, 1927) is an American R&B and jazz pianist who performs and lives in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Early life and education Lawrence Eddie Cotton was born in the 13th Ward of Uptown New Orleans, and has lived there all his life. His father was a dockworker, and amateur pianist who played at house parties. His mother, Edna Mae Lanz, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, worked as a domestic. Cotton attended elementary school at John McDonogh No. 6 School located at Camp Street and Napoleon Avenue. His older brother Walter James, called W.J. by the family, died at age eight after being run over by a car while playing ball. Two of his father's four sisters had pianos and Cotton would go to their houses and play around on their pianos. His father sometimes played at rent parties. until after serving in the Army Air Corps, where he was promoted to sergeant. His enlistment lasted from 1946 to 1949, during which time he married Lillie Mae Tasker.

Career One of Cotton's first professional jobs was substituting for Jeanette Kimball at a gig with Papa French at a private club on Canal Street. Also on that job was "Brother Cornbread" Thomas on clarinet. While still studying at Gruenwald, Cotton got a job for about six months at Happy's Corral in Harvey, Louisiana. There he met Hosea Hill, whose band had also been booked there. Cotton was called to play with Lambert's orchestra when Hosea Hill hired them to tour with Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones. Slim was a notorious drinker and hell-raiser who told him, "Cotton, you're going to outlive me 'cause I'm living two or three days to your one". Tired of the life on the road, he left Guitar Slim and went back to New Orleans in late 1958. Slim died of pneumonia two months later in New York City.

When Cotton returned to New Orleans he joined guitarist Edgar Blanchard's band the Gondoliers. White's recordings were popular in New Orleans but didn't chart nationally. He disbanded the Cavaliers, a black band that had played in whites-only clubs, in 1966. After integration was enforced white club owners would not book bands that drew blacks, afraid they might frighten off their white patrons. In addition, local radio stations had eschewed R&B in favor of British Invasion bands.

Also in 1966 Cotton got a day job doing clerical work with U.S. Customs, happy to have a regular paycheck and benefits.

Personal life Cotton was married to his wife Lillie Mae, who died in 1997, for over 50 years. He is a lifetime member of Second Baptist Church- Sixth District, where he serves as deacon and trustee.

Recognition Cotton was named Master Practitioner by the Preservation Hall Foundation in 2019. He is honored with the annual namesake Cotton Fest, with musicians that have included Leo Nocentelli, Deacon John, and Bo Dollis Jr. and the Wild Magnolias. “There's been music all around me ever since I can remember,” Cotton said. He started taking music lessons late in life with teacher Roger Dickinson. Cotton says “He's really brought me up to another level."