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FORMED: 1948
DISBANDED: 1974
Trumpeter Frank Assunto (who was also a fine singer) and his
brother/trombonist Fred Assunto formed the Dukes of Dixieland in 1948
and won a Horace Heidt talent contest. In 1950 they started a long
engagement at the Famous Door in New Orleans. An early member of the
group was clarinetist Pete Fountain and the Assuntos' father Papa Jac
joined the band in 1955 on banjo and second trombone. The group's first
recordings were for Band Wagon in 1951 and Fountain appeared on their
1955 Vik date but the Dukes really caught on with a dozen albums cut for
Audio Fidelity during 1956-60. During this period the Dukes also
recorded twice with Louis Armstrong. The band hit its peak with their
Columbia records of 1961-64 (featuring clarinetist Jerry Fuller),
particularly an exciting set recorded at Disneyland. Their Decca and
Coral dates of 1965-66, although of some interest, are a step down in
quality. Both Fred (1966) and Frank (1974) died of cancer. In the late
'70s a new Dukes of Dixieland was formed but this group is somewhat
corny and inferior in quality, having no real connection to the original
band. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
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