Lawrence Marrero

Marrero was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 24, 1900.[1] He grew up in a musical family: three brothers became musicians[2] – Eddie (bass), John (banjo) and Simon (tuba and bass) – and their father Billy was also a bass player.[1] Lawrence (who chose to spell his name "Laurence") was taught music by his father, and became a professional player around 1918.[1]

In 1919 he got his first regular job on banjo with Wooden Joe Nicholas's Camelia Brass Band and from 1920 he joined on bass drum the Young Tuxedo Brass Band.[3]

In 1942 Marrero was one of the musicians who part of the first recordings made by Bunk Johnson, and continued playing and recording in the New Orleans jazz revival.[1] He was featured on many recordings and was a regular member of the George Lewis band from the late 1930s until ill health caused him to quit full-time performance in 1954.[1] He occasionally played with his own band after that.[2]

Marrero was considered to be a steady player with a good tone;[1] he never recorded as a leader and rarely did he take solos.[2] He died in New Orleans on June 6, 1959.[1]