Oscar “Papa” Celestin

Early Years
Oscar Celestin (1884-1954) was born into a Creole family in Napoleonville, LA. He was the son of a sugarcane cutter and during his youth, he worked along side his family on rural Louisiana plantations. He wanted something more for himself; so he worked as a cook on the Texas & Pacific Railroad, saved his money, and purchased used musical instruments. He learned to play the guitar and trombone but settled on the cornet as his favorite instrument. He worked hard and paid for music lessons from Claiborne Williams, who was well known from Bayou Lafourche to Donaldsonville, LA. By the early 1900s, Oscar played with the Algiers Brass Band and other small town bands before moving to New Orleans in 1904.

New Orleans Bound
While in New Orleans, his career blossomed while playing with the Imperial Indiana, Henry Allen senior’s Olympia Brass Bands, and Jack Carey’s dance band. At this stage in his career, he was known as “Sonny” Celestin. By 1910, Celestin earned the job title of bandleader at the Tuxedo Dance Hall on N. Franklin St. at the edge of Storyville. He held on to the band name “Tuxedo” even after the dance hall closed, dressed the members in tuxedos and they were the most popular band for hire for both black and white social events. He co-lead the Tuxedo Band with renown trombonist William Ridgely. With Okeh Records, they produced their first recordings in 1925.

National Recognition

After a falling out with Ridgely, Celestin produced more recording for Columbia Records throughout the 1920s. He worked with several amazing jazz figures including: trombonist Bill Matthews, pianist Octave Crosby, drummer Christopher Goldston, cornetist Joe Oliver, trumpeter Mutt Carey, clarinetist Alphonse Picou, and trumpeter Louis Armstrong. He also led the Tuxedo Brass Band.

In 1932, the Great Depression forced Celestin out of the music business and into work at the shipyard. After World War II, he was able to put a band together and was considered one of New Orleans’ key tourist attractions. In 1953, Papa Celestin gained national attention when he led his band in the big-band travelogue Cinerama Holiday. Papa and his band were regulars at the Paddocks Lounge on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. They continued to gain national recognition by making regular radio shows, television appearances, more recordings and even gave a performance at the White House for President Eisenhower. Celestin’s last singing recording was Marie LeVeau.

Due to his major contributions to jazz, the New Orleans Jazz Foundation, honored Celestin by having a bust made and donating it to the New Orleans Museum of Art.