Wendell Eugene

Wendell Eugene (October 12, 1923 – November 7, 2017) was an American jazz musician from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a popular trombonist on the New Orleans jazz scene Harold Dejan, and Kermit Ruffins. He was for a time the oldest active jazz musician in New Orleans.

Early life

Eugene was born to Homer and Apha Eugene on October 12, 1923, and is the youngest of five brothers. He grew up in a family of musicians including his brother Homer Eugene, his cousin Clement Tervalon, as well as performers and band leaders such as Papa Celestin, George Lewis, Papa French, Paul Barbarin, Louis Cottrell Jr., Willie Humphrey, Don Albert, and Kid Thomas Valentine. Some of his most notable performances include playing at Super Bowl IV in New Orleans in 1970 with the Onward Brass Band. He also played at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1970. In 2012 he played with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for their 50th anniversary performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, He also played at 2012 New Orleans Jazz Festival with then 100-year-old Lionel Ferbos.

Wendell Eugene died on 7 November 2017.

Personal life

Eugene had four daughters, one grandchild, and three great grandchildren. He was Catholic. 2007 City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music Rounder Records / Universal Music Group Trombone 2002 Big Easy Basin Street Records Trombone on album with Kermit Ruffins 2000 Paul Barbarin's Onward Brass Band in Concert 1968 Jazz Crusade Trombone 1998 Kickin' Some Brass Shanachie Records Trombone on compilation CD with various artists including The Dirty Dozen, ReBirth, Coolbone, New Birth, and Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy 1998 Louisiana 2: Live from the Mountain Stage Blue Plate Trombone on compilation CD 1997 Best of Bourbon Street Blues Mardi Gras Records Trombone on CD by Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band featuring Big Al Carson 1995 New Orleans Jazz Preservation Mardi Gras Records Trombone with the Olympia Brass Band 1995 New Orleans Jazz, Vol. 3: Jazz Party Mardi Gras Records Trombone 1995 The Best of Bourbon Street Jazz Mardi Gras Records Trombone with Mardi Gras Brass Band 1994 Authentic New Orleans Jazz Funeral Mardi Gras Records Trombone with the Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band 1994 Best of New Orleans Bourbon Street Jazz: After Dark Mardi Gras Records Trombone with the Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band 1993 Barry Martyn's Down Home Boys Sackville Records Trombone and vocals on album by Barry Martyn 1993 Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology Rhino Entertainment Trombone on album with Professor Longhair 1993 On Bourbon Street Compendia Music Group Trombone on album by Harold Dejan 1992 Fallen Heroes: A Jazz Funeral Pro-Arte Records Trombone on album by Harold Dejan 1991 New Orleans: Mardi Gras Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records Trombone with the Olympia Brass Band 1990 Basin Street Blues Compendia Music Group / Pro-Arte Records Trombone and group member on album by Harold Dejan and Olympia Brass Band 1989 New Orleans Brass Bands: Down Yonder Rounder Records Trombone 1987 Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Mardi Gras) Mardi Gras Records Trombone 1978 West Indies Blues 504 Records Writer, producer, primary artist, and trombonist