Charles “Sonny” Henry

Trombonist Charles “Sonny” Henry (1885-1960) grew up on the Magnolia Plantation in Plaquemines Parish and was a student of James Brown Humphrey, who put him to work in the Eclipse Brass Band in 1902. Henry moved to New Orleans in 1913 and played with the Excelsior Brass band and with Hippolyte Charles’ dance band until 1920, when he joined Amos White’s jazz band. In 1927 he was in John Robichaux’s band at the Lyric Theater in the French Quarter, backing up vaudeville performers. In the 1930s Henry was first trombone under Louis Dumaine in the Works Progress Administration band. In the 1940s he performed primarily with the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, then he switched to the Eureka in 1947, remaining with them until 1960.