Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker

Who was Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker?

Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker was an African American musician from the Mississippi River delta country of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas who was particularly known as a trombonist of jazz, blues, and rock music. From 1919 until his death, Whittaker performed with minstrel shows, carnival bands, swing orchestras, and rhythm-and-blues groups. He played alongside Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Born in Newellton in northern Tensas Parish in northeastern Louisiana, he was the only child of Tom and Kizzie Whittaker. His parents separated, and Kizzie, herself a talented musician, took Pee Wee on a musical tour until he could enter school. While he was in elementary school, Pee Wee lived with his maternal grandfather, who played the violin. He also studied under a Professor Smith from Alcorn State University near Lorman, Mississippi. He learned how to read music and to master the clarinet, guitar, string bass, and mandolin, as well as the trombone.

Between 1917 and 1918, the Whittakers moved north to Lake Village in southeastern Arkansas. His mother left her musical career when she was called to the Missionary Baptist ministry.