Al Rose
Al Rose was a notable writer and jazz music historian born in New Orleans in 1916. Growing up amidst the vibrant jazz scene of his hometown, he developed a lifelong passion for the genre, particularly for traditional jazz. His varied career included roles as a union organizer, shipyard worker, and even a public relations person for a circus in Eastern Europe. Despite not being a musician himself, Rose became a significant advocate for classic jazz, leading efforts such as the Anti-Saxophone League, which aimed to preserve the authenticity of jazz music by opposing the saxophone's inclusion in traditional ensembles.
In 1946, he launched a syndicated radio show called "A Journey into Jazz" to promote traditional jazz, and he was instrumental in producing over eight hundred jazz recordings. Rose also authored several influential books on jazz, with his most acclaimed work being "New Orleans Jazz: A Family Album" published in 1967. He continued to write and support jazz music in his later years until his passing in 1993. Following his death, his extensive collection related to jazz was donated to Tulane University’s Hogan Jazz Archive, ensuring his contributions to the genre would be preserved for future generations.
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Al Rose
Author
- Born: February 3, 1916
- Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Died: December 16, 1993
Biography
Al Rose, a writer and jazz music historian, was born in New Orleans in 1916, the son of Josef and Erena Benet Lascaux. Rose grew up listening to jazz music on the streets of New Orleans. He developed an appreciation for authentic jazz music that would influence the rest of his life.
Rose traveled the world and worked at a variety of jobs, including union organizer, shipyard worker, and public relations person for a circus traveling throughout Eastern Europe. He also worked odd jobs in Spain in order to support the republic during the Spanish Civil War. He wrote screenplays in Hollywood and dabbled in the field of advertising, creating the character of Charlie the Tuna for television commercials. Despite the diversity of his employment, Rose was best known for his tireless efforts to promote jazz music.
Although he did not play a musical instrument, Rose was a devoted aficionado of classic jazz music. He disliked most post- World War II music, such as rock and roll and bebop, and he objected to the postwar addition of the saxophone to jazz music. Rose led the Anti-Saxophone League, a group that sought to ban the saxophone from authentic jazz ensembles.
In 1946, in order to promote traditional jazz music, Rose founded the syndicated radio show A Journey into Jazz. He also was responsible for producing more than eight hundred jazz recordings, including television and radio performances. He served as a consultant for numerous Hollywood motion pictures featuring jazz.
In addition, Rose was a well-respected writer. He published several books about jazz, including a biography of musician and composerEubie Blake. He was best known for his book New Orleans Jazz: A Family Album (1967), written with Edmond Souchon. The book won the Louisiana Library Association Award.
Rose lived out his remaining years in New Orleans, where he continued to write and promote classic jazz music. He died in 1993 at the age of seventy-seven. Upon his death, his extensive collection of sheet music, recordings, albums, and photographs was donated to Tulane University’s Hogan Jazz Archive.