George Vetiala “Papa Jack” Laine’s House
2405 Chartres St.New Orleans LA 70117
Location Status:
Same structure, different use
Curated by
e/Prime Media & Randy Fertel
George Vetiala “Papa Jack” Laine (1873-1966) lived here from 1903 until 1909. From the 1890s to World War I, Laine led a group of brass bands each known as the Reliance Band, which hired many musicians who later became important members of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. Laine, who was white, was known to hire lighter-skinned African American musicians such as Dave Perkins, Achille Baquet, and George Baquet, discretely violating segregation laws.
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Videos
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park’s Jazz Walk of Fame segment on “Papa Jack” Laine
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park’s Jazz Walk of Fame segment on “Papa Jack” Laine
Images
Papa Jack Laine's house in 2017.
Photo by Jan Gilbert.
Papa Jack Laine's house.
Courtesy of Louisiana State Jazz Museum.
New Orleans Jazz Commission plaque.
Photo by Kevin McCaffrey.
Jack Laine and band from 1898.
Courtesy of Louisiana State Jazz Museum.
Papa Jack Laine and his band cut up on a trip to Alexandria, Louisiana.
Courtesy of the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University.
An early portrait of Papa Jack Laine’s Reliance Band.
Courtesy of Louisiana State Jazz Museum.
Jack Laine on bass drum ahead of a procession of armed, uniformed soldiers.
Courtesy of the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University.
The Reliance Band in a parade. Jack Laine has a drum on the right.
Courtesy of the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University.
Reliance Band in 1910: Manuel Mello, Alcide Nunez, Leonce Mello, Alfred Laine, Chink Martin, and Mike Stevens with Jack Laine seated.
Courtesy of the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University.
Related Tours
Links
Further reading from the National Park Service
Further reading from Music Rising at Tulane University
Further reading from the Preservation Resource Center
Another residence of Laine's in the Marigny: 538 St. Ferdinand Street
Another residence of Laine's in the Marigny: 2424 Chartres Street