Waldren Joseph

Who was Waldren Joseph?

Waldren "Frog" Joseph was a jazz trombone player from New Orleans, Louisiana. He played in a variety of styles over his career but was best known as a performer of traditional New Orleans jazz in the style carried on today by the Preservation Hall ensembles. His first job was as a teenager, playing piano, double bass and trombone on an excursion boat on Lake Ponchartrain, and he went on to tour with a range of musicians including Joe Robichaux, Sidney Desvigne, and Lee Allen. Joseph also recorded with R&B artists such as Big Joe Turner, Earl King, Smiley Lewis, and Dave Bartholomew. In the traditional vein, he recorded and toured with New Orleans bandleaders like Paul Barbarin, Louis Cottrell, Jr., and Papa French. Late in his life he was a member of the Original Camelia Band led by trumpeter Clive Wilson.

Joseph was the father of seven children, two of whom went on to become accomplished jazz musicians themselves: sousaphone player Kirk Joseph and trombonist Charles Joseph.