conductor bandleader jazz musician
Born on October 27, 1954, Wendell Brunious was born into a Louisiana Creole family, the son of Nazimova "Chinee" Santiago and John "Picket" Brunious, Senior who was a trumpeter who studied at Juilliard, played with the Onward Brass Band, Young Tuxedo Brass Band, and Paul Barbarin, and arranged for Billy Eckstine and Cab Calloway.
He studied at Southern University (where he played with Danny Barker) and played dance music in clubs on Bourbon Street in the middle of the 1970s.
Brunious sang in Chief John and the Mahogany Hall Stompers in the 1960s, a group in which his father was also a member. He began on trumpet at age 11 and played at Paul Barbarin"s funeral. In 1976, Brunious subbed in for his father in Albert "Papa" French"s band for Mardi Gras, and by 1979 was playing regularly at Preservation Hall with Kid Thomas Valentine.
He was named leader of the group upon Valentine"s death in 1987.
He also played with the Eureka Brass Band (1980), Lionel Hampton (1981), Linda Hopkins (1984), and Sammy Rimington (1984). He played with Louis Nelson in 1987-1989, and did recordings with the Caledonia Jazz Band of Norway in 1985 and 1987.
His first record as a leader came in 1986, which featured Nelson, Rimington, and Barry Martyn as sidemen. He later played with Doctor Michael White, Chris Barber, Papa Don Vappie, Bob Wilber and the Pfister Sisters.
He remained a regular performer at Preservation Hall into the 2000s.
Wendell Brunious married Rita (Hoard) Brunious in New Orleans in 1984. They have two children, Meredith Brunious, a New Orleans costumer and Brandon Brunious, a New Orleans jazz bassist and guitarist. Brunious currently resides and plays regularly in New Orleans, Louisiana.
