Marty Napoleon

Marty Napoleon
Left to right: Don Varella, Stan Johnson, Marty Napoleon, Fraser MacPherson. Penthouse, Vancouver, B.C. April 4, 1952. Photo courtesy of the Fraser MacPherson estate
Background information
Born	(1921-06-02)June 2, 1921
Origin	Brooklyn, New York
Died
Genres	Jazz
Instruments	Piano
Associated acts	Louis Armstrong Charlie Ventura

Marty Napoleon (June 2, 1921 – April 27, 2015) was an American jazz pianist born in Brooklyn, New York, perhaps best known for having replaced Earl Hines in Louis Armstrong's All Stars in 1952. In 1946 he worked with Gene Krupa and went on to work with his uncle Phil Napoleon, a trumpeter, in Phil's Original Memphis Five. In the 1950s he also worked with his brother Teddy Napoleon, a pianist, and from 1966–1971 he was performing with Louis Armstrong again.

One highlight of his work with Armstrong was a rollicking swing version of “Sunrise, Sunset,” from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Napoleon was born Matthew Napoli in Brooklyn to Sicilian immigrants; he later legally changed his name.

Napoleon lived at The Regency senior center, in Glen Cove, NY (Long Island).

Select discography

As bandleader

• Marty Napoleon Swings and Sings (Bethlehem Records)

With Louis Armstrong

• A Kiss To Build a Dream On (Brunswick Records)
• Louis Armstrong with Jack Pleiss' Orchestra (Decca Records)

With Kai Winding

• New Sound In Modern Music, Vol. 4 (Savoy Records)

With Charlie Ventura

• Blue Saxophone (Norgran Records)
• Collates (Mercury Records)

With Rex Stewart

• Late Date (Simitar Records)

With Carl Barry

• A Kiss To Build a Dream On (Brunswick Records)

With Herbie Fields

• Herbie Fields: His Orchestra and Quintet (1946-1947) (RCA Victor Records)

With Teddy Reig

• Ed Pob (Savoy Records)

With Allen Eager

• Tenor Sax Solos (Savoy Records)

George Peri Drummer Leader

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons