* Sep 17, 1902 New Orleans La.
† Apr 5, 1990

As a brass band musician he played with: Kid Howard, Onward Brass Band

Started in Thibodeaux with Joe Gabriel's band. In the early 20's and 30's he was with the Original Tuxedo Orchestra and Kid Rena's band. Then he joined for the next fifteen years with Sidney Desvigne orchestra. he was in the WPA music program during the depression and later joined Kid Thomas (1944). In the 60's he was a regular at Preservation Hall playing with Percy Humphrey and Punch Miller.16

Mr. Nelson was born in New Orleans on september 17, 1902, but grew up in Napoleonville, La. His mother was a mathematician and a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music; his father was a physician. "He was the last personal link to the original tailgate style," said the jazz historian Dick Allen. "That's the way trombonists used to play in New Orleans - sitting on the tailgate of the wagon as they advertised dances."i1

He died from injuries suffered in a car accident 10 days earlier.i2

Sources (internet):
i1 http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=9784
i2 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE0D91E31F934A35757C0A966958260&sec=&spon=

Sources (brassband history):
16 New Orleans Jazz, family album by Al Rose and Edmond Souchon