Background
Eugene was born to Homer and Apha Eugene on October 12, 1923 and is the youngest of five brothers. He grew up in a family of musicians including his brother Homer Eugene, his cousin Clement Tervalon, and uncle Albert Burbank.
Eugene was born to Homer and Apha Eugene on October 12, 1923 and is the youngest of five brothers. He grew up in a family of musicians including his brother Homer Eugene, his cousin Clement Tervalon, and uncle Albert Burbank.
He is a popular trombonist on the New Orleans jazz scene and has recorded with artists such as Lionel Ferbos, Harold Dejan, and Kermit Ruffins. He is the oldest active jazz musician in New Orleans. He said he would wind it up and play The Peanut Vendor and Ramona.
As a kid he learned from other New Orleans musicians, but also listened and learned from Big Band Music as well as trombonist J. J. Johnson.
While still in high school, he joined the musician"s union at 15 and began playing with a variety of New Orleans Jazz Legends. As a teenager, Eugene performed with Avery "Kid" Howard as well as performers and band leaders such as Papa Celestin, George Lewis, Papa French, Willie Humphrey, Don Albert, and Kid Thomas Valentine.
Eugene joined the United States Navy during World World War II and was recruited to play with the United States. Navy Marching and Concert Band while stationed at Portuguese Chicago, California. He played with the band throughout his four-year enlistment and also played with Louis Armstrong during a 1943 United Service Organizations event.
At the time, Armstrong was short a trombonist and asked Eugene to fill in.
Eugene was quoted in The Times-Picayune as saying, "I got up there and did the best I could. I"ll never forget lieutenant" Eugene returned to New Orleans after his military career. He began playing with famous bands from New York City and Chicago and also toured with Lucky Millender and Buddy Johnson.
Instead of leaving his family to tour, Eugene stayed close to home, working at the United States Post Office.
During that time he continued playing with local band leaders such as Papa Celestin and Papa French. Eugene traveled and toured when he could, sometimes joining the Olympia Brass Band, the Tuxedo Brass Band, and the Onward Brass Band.
Although limited in travel due to work obligations, Eugene was still able to sit with several renowned musical groups such as Lionel Hampton and The Temptations. He retired from the Post Office in 1979 and began to pursue his music career full-time.
Eugene is also a writer and composer.
In 1978, he wrote, produced, and recorded the album West Indies Blues which was initially released by 504 Records and re-released by the Louisiana Music Factory in 2005. Eugene has played and taught music for more than 72 years, including teaching trombone and dance orchestra instruments at the Grunewald School of Music. Some of his most notable performances include playing at Super Bowl IV in New Orleans in 1970 with the Onward Brass Band.
He also played at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1970.
In 2012 he played with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for their 50th anniversary performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, He also played at 2012 New Orleans Jazz Festival with then 100-year-old Lionel Ferbos.