Phil Napoleon & His Orchestra - Five Pennies

Well schooled on the trumpet, Napoleon played with a number of Dixieland groups, but in 1917, he and pianist Frank Signorelli started The Original Memphis Five, a very prolific band that in the 20's recorded under different band names. Napoleon was the first trumpet player with McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and with Sam Lanin's orchestras when Bix or Red Nichols wasn't playing. In 1937, he formed his first 'bigband' with Walter Bloom as his manager. However, he also played in and had several bands. In 1943, he was part of the Dorsey Brothers orchestra, yet still playing at other gigs while also on call for NBC's New York studio. In 1946, Jimmy Dorsey was in need of a trumpet player and Napoleon joined Jimmy's band in Los Angeles. In 1947 he returned to New York until 1950. He then began playing with a small jazz group at a well known New York Jazz club named Nick's. Later in the 50's he settled in Miami and went back to fronting small dixieland groups. This great reoord was made in 1927.