Dixieland jazz musician Lionel Ferbos performs at his 102nd birthday party with Jamie Wight, right, at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe in New Orleans in this 2013 file photo. Lionel Ferbos died Saturday, July 19, 2014, at his home in New Orleans, according to a family friend. He was 103.NEW ORLEANS – Centenarian jazz musician Lionel Ferbos died Saturday at his home in New Orleans, just days after celebrating his 103rd birthday on July 17 with friends and family in the French Quarter.
His granddaughter, Lori Schexnayder, said the trumpeter she called “paw-paw” died peacefully, surrounded by friends and family.
Ferbos performed all over New Orleans and its suburbs for decades. His ability to read music made him an in-demand musician for gigs that took him to parks, schools, churches, dance halls and even prisons. He also performed at his 102nd birthday party and at every New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival until this past year.
Ferbos was believed to be the oldest working jazz musician, performing regularly until last year. He was also the last living member of the WPA band, which was formed during the Depression by laborers in the city’s Works Progress Administration.
He had recently become too weak to hold his trumpet, but family members would occasionally hold it to his mouth so that he could blow into it, Schexnayder said.