Bob French

Bob French, a drummer and vocalist steeped in the New Orleans tradition, carries forward the legacy of his father, the city's noted banjoist Albert "Papa" French. Over the years this journeyman musician has backed an array of talents, among them New Orleans R&B legends Dave Bartholomew and James "Sugarboy" Crawford, rock & roll icon Fats Domino, and numerous others. Following Albert "Papa" French's death in 1977, Bob assumed direction of the family band, the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band—the longest-running continuously active ensemble in New Orleans, established in 1910 by trumpeter Oscar "Papa" Celestin. In the decades since, he has guided the group while also presenting the WWOZ program French Cooking, a showcase for the city's wide-ranging musical styles. The 2007 release Marsalis Music Honors Bob French appeared on Marsalis Music/Rounder Records.