Kermit Ruffins

Like Louis Armstrong, trumpeter Kermit Ruffins is from New Orleans, but unlike him he was somewhat of a latecomer to jazz. Born in 1964, Ruffins discovered Armstrong and the jazz tradition at 19. With fellow students from his high school he formed the Rebirth Brass Band, performing songs by Armstrong and others from the New Orleans tradition. With his other talents as singer, songwriter, and deliverer of between-song patter, Ruffins, with his band the Barbeque Swingers, became a popular entertainer in his hometown and beyond.