One of the oldest jazz bands in New Orleans celebrates its 50th anniversary
NEW ORLEANS (August 8, 2024) — This summer, The DUKES of Dixieland are commemorating a half-century of musical talent and a commitment to preserving New Orleans jazz. One of the oldest bands in New Orleans, second only to Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The DUKES have performed all over the world and kept impressive company along the way.
The DUKES have played 24 symphonies and have 13 symphony charts of which four were premiered with the famed Boston POPS. The DUKES have recorded with a variety of musicians across genres, including The Oak Ridge Boys, Luther Kent and Moses Hogan’s Gloryland gospel group, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2000.
They have 31 albums to their name, including two live from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Featuring a host of different talented musicians over time, The DUKES are one of the longest running acts at Jazz Fest with 46 appearances. The band has also appeared over the years on NBC’s Today Show, ESPN’s Monday Night Football and the HBO series, Treme.
“Over the last 50 years, our band has had a tremendous opportunity to do what we love, entertaining legions of music fans all over the world and in our own backyard in New Orleans where the world comes to visit,” said John Shoup, manager of The DUKES since 1974.
For a time, The DUKES had their own jazz club, DUKES PLACE, atop the historic Hotel Monteleone, through a deal they struck with the legendary Louis Prima. They also played a stint at Mahogony Hall.
With a repertoire of 400 songs, The DUKES have enriched the cultural history of New Orleans. Their impressive catalog and loyal fanbase have kept the band’s momentum at an all-time high as they continue to highlight the beauty and culture intertwined with the cultivation of jazz. These days, fans can enjoy The DUKES aboard the Steamboat NATCHEZ’s dinner cruises, Tuesday-Sunday, 6-9 p.m.
For more information about The DUKES of Dixieland, visit dukesofdixieland.com.
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Editor’s Note: Click here for hi-resolution photos.
About The DUKES of Dixieland: Celebrating 50 years, The DUKES of Dixieland have performed New Orleans jazz around the world. Currently, they play Tuesday – Sunday, 6 to 9 p.m. on the Steamboat NATCHEZ and are available for private bookings.
Did You Know?
Under the direction of Shoup Management, the original members of The DUKES of Dixieland performed live for the first time in July 1974 with the Chicago Pops in Grant Park.
In 1975, The DUKES recorded their first album, “Vodka Tonic,” with Tom “Tippy” Morgan, then head of A&R Capitol Records, and later MCA Records.
Over 50 years with a host of different talented musicians, The DUKES have performed with 24 symphonies, including five different nights with the Boston Pops, as well as once with Mitch Miller and later with Skitch Henderson, both conducting with the New York Pops in Carnegie Hall. After performing with the Guatemala National Symphony, The DUKES donated their instruments, with the permission of their sponsor, YAMAHA, to the Guatemala Symphony.
The DUKES have 13 symphony charts, of which four were premiered with the Boston Pops over four different nights.
The DUKES have performed in over 15 countries, including Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Finland and the usual European and American border countries.
At DUKES PLACE, The DUKES recorded two national PBS television series. The first was "Jazz from New Orleans," featuring Don Menza, Les McCann, Stephane Grappelli, Jack Sheldon, Ernestine Anderson, Frank Foster and others. The second, "Dixieland Jazz from New Orleans”, featured Banu Gibson, Clive Wilson, Chris Barber, Alvin Alcorn, Connie Jones and James Davis.
In 1992, The DUKES moved their home base to the Steamboat NATCHEZ.
The DUKES have appeared 46 times at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and all but one French Quarter Festival to date.
The DUKES performed for the HBO series, Treme, and they were featured on NBC's Today Show and ESPN's Monday Night Football.
The DUKES recorded with Moses Hogan's "Gloryland" gospel group, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2000. They also recorded "When Country Meets Dixie" with The Oak Ridge Boys. And they recorded with Luther Kent, taking him on tour throughout Japan.
The DUKES were the first to record on a new platform called "Direct-to-Disc.”
Over 50 years, The DUKES have embodied the spirit of soulful jazz while navigating changes in venues and personnel. Preserving their mark on the community for half a century, they are a peak example of New Orleans entertainment, contributing to the preservation of authentic jazz.