Lorenzo Tio Jr.

b. 21 April 1893, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, d. 24 December 1933, New York City, New York, USA. Tio was playing clarinet in marching bands before he entered his teens and thereafter played in many and varied settings. Among the bands with which he worked were those led by Papa Celestin, Manuel Perez and Armand J. Piron. He came from a prominent musical family, many of whom also played clarinet, among them his uncle, Papa Luis Tio, and his father, Lorenzo Tio Snr. For all the quality of his playing style, Tio’s reputation rests primarily upon his legendary status as a teacher. During a long career as a tutor his pupils included an astonishing array of clarinet masters including Barney Bigard, Albert Nicholas, Paul Barnes, Louis Cottrell, Albert Burbank, Johnny Dodds and Jimmie Noone. In the early 30s he lived in New York, leading a band and continuing to draw the respect of his fellow musicians.