Paul Crawford

Paul Crawford (1925 - 1996) was an American jazz musician, music arranger, and music historian. He specialized in Dixieland jazz.

Early life and education Crawford was born in Atmore, Alabama, to parents who were a Baptist minister and a music teacher. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was stationed in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Crawford graduated from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, USA, where he studied trombone in a classical style. He studied under trombonist and teacher Emory Remington. Crawford also pursued for a time graduate studies at the University of Alabama. He then moved to New Orleans in 1951, at which time he became a specialist in the Dixieland style of Jazz. He made his first recordings in 1957 with the Lakefront Loungers. During this time, Crawford's principal musical instrument was the trombone. Many of his gigs at that time were non-paying. Crawford participated in jam sessions at the New Orleans Jazz Club. He also performed at times with Sharkey Bonano. He obtained a regular paying position with bandleader Paul "Doc" Evans.

In this role, Crawford resurrected many forgotten pieces of jazz music and developed arrangements of them. He also developed a significant number of photos of jazz musicians and performances, in a private collection.

Personal life Crawford's wife's given name was Mary, and they had three children including first-born Elyse, daughter Amy, and Crawford's stepson Samuel Charters. He resided on Joliet Street in New Orleans much of the latter part of his life. He acquired a significant collection of jazz recordings, including of artists that he personally knew or performed with.

Crawford died in July 1996 of lung cancer. He had been living in a skilled nursing facility at the time of his death.