The Original Dixieland Jazz Band

In 1916 five musicians from New Orleans came together at the invitation from a nightclub promoter from Chicago, where another New Orleans band was playing their distinct New Orleans style of music. These musicians played the popular music of the day in a new and unique style that got folk toe-tapping and listening in record numbers. With Henry Ragas on piano, Eddie Edwards on trombone, Nick LaRocca on cornet and trumper, and drummer Tony Sbarbaro began playing as The Dixie Jass Band. They played the new and popular Southern style 'Blues' music, but added an uptempo beat, creating a very new style of music that was soon called 'jass' or 'jazz' and a new genre of music was created that influenced musicians and started the evolution of music from the blues up to Rock 'n Roll.