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* January 13, 1921 Wilmington, De
† Oct 8, 2004 New Orleans, La.
Reginald Allen Koeller Sr.
As a brass band musician he played with:
Andrew
Hall' Society, Harold
Dejan's Olympia,
Young Tuxedo,
Mr. Reginald Koeller Jr. (son of) mailed us this information on November
7. 2008
Daddy was born January 13, 1921 in Wilmington De. He came to
New Orleans on military leave from the Army, with some friends, and
that’s how my dad met my mom. They courted by mail for 13 months
while daddy was stationed in Hawaii. He sent my mom a ring and asked her
to marry him from Hawaii. Once discharged from the military in December
of 1945, Daddy went home to Delaware and told his mother (the Late
Elizabeth Koeller) to pack her bags, he was taking her to New Orleans
to witness him getting married. After the wedding, my mom and dad moved
to Delaware. But after 3 years, they moved back to New Orleans because
he wanted to play music. To my parents union, three of us were born. My
oldest sister Janice Koeller-Cosey, My sister The Late Michele Koeller
Washington and my self. Michele died July 19 1983. His grand children
were the apple of his eye. They called him Paw Paw and we all started
calling him that. Daddy played with Andrew
Hall' Society brass band, Dalton Rousseau, Hermann Shermann,
Lawrence Trotter, Greg Stafford (his favorite trumpet player) Tuba fats,
Grand Marshall Fats Houston, Emile Knox, Walter Payton, Harold
Dejan's Olympia brass band, The Raymond Anchor Orchestra, Kendrick
Johnson's Orchestra, Andrew Morgan's Young Tuxedo Brass Band. Daddy's last gig, was with the
Preservation Hall Band on Monday Nights for 13 years until his
death. Daddy also played in the New Orleans Jazz band who played at the
New Orleans Jazz basketball games with Grand Marshal Ellena
Tatum. Daddy played over 60 yrs. of Dixieland music. He has played
music all over the world. He also played for the historic opening of the
Audubon Park swimming pool after it was intergraded back in the late
sixties. My dad was also a staff manager for 38 years for Peoples Life
Insurance and Atlanta Life Insurance Companies for a combined 38 years.
He loved J&B scotch but was never was late nor did he miss work! My
family and I are very proud of what he accomplished musically and in his
lifetime. He is sadly missed.
Reggie Jr.
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