Kermit Ruffins

Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote, "Mr. Ruffins is an unabashed entertainer who plays trumpet with a bright, silvery tone, sings with off-the-cuff charm and never gets too abstruse in his material."

• Name — Kermit Ruffins • Landscape — yes • Birth Name — Kermit Ruffins • Born — 19 December 1964 • Died — YYYY MM DD • Origin — New Orleans, Louisiana U.S. • Instrument — Trumpet vocals • Genre — Jazz Rhythm and blues • Occupation — Musician • Years Active — 1973–present • Label — Basin Street, Putumayo, Justice • Past Member Of — Rebirth Brass Band

He started playing trumpet in 8th grade at Lawless Junior High School in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. He attended Joseph S. Clark High School in the 6th Ward and St Peter Claver Church in Tremé. In high school, he played a little bit of classical music at the behest of a strict band teacher. He developed an appreciation for cooking from his grandmother, observing her movements in the kitchen.

Ruffins co-founded the Rebirth Brass Band in 1983 while attending Clark High School in the Tremé neighborhood. He made his first recordings with the Rebirth band in 1984. The group was inspired by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a band of slightly older musicians credited with bringing influences of funk and contemporary bebop into New Orleans style brass bands. Before they achieved the popularity which allowed them to play regularly in local music venues, the Rebirth often busked around the French Quarter for tips. They soon became a "house band" at the Glass House, previously the Dirty Dozen's home venue. Rebirth once had a gig in New York City at Lone Star Cafe, but they were hassled by police for having no permit when they began marching outdoors as is common practice in New Orleans.

Ruffins founded the Barbecue Swingers in 1992, a traditional jazz quintet. He is known for cooking on a barbecue at his shows. Every Thursday since the early 1990s, they played a show at Vaughan's Bar in the Bywater neighborhood which was very popular with both locals and visitors. His 2007 Basin Street Records release, Live at Vaughan's was recorded during one of his performances there. They currently play a regular Thursday night gig at Bullet's Sports Bar on AP Tureaud Ave. He has also performed at hundreds of funerals during his career in the Crescent City. In 2003 the band received a nomination at the Big Easy Entertainment Awards, which recognizes local talents.

Ruffins is interviewed on screen and appears in performance footage in the 2005 documentary film Make It Funky!, which presents a history of New Orleans music and its influence on rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk and jazz. In the film, he performs "Skokiaan" as part of a trumpet challenge with Irvin Mayfield and Troy Andrews. He appeared as himself in HBO's Treme as a recurring character. Ruffins also performed a rendition of The Bare Necessities for Disney's 2016 remake of The Jungle Book, alongside actor Bill Murray. • Illustration — Ruffins (left) with the late Danny Barker at French Quarter Festival, circa 1990 • Illustration — Ruffins at Tipitina's, February 2006 • Illustration — Ruffins at Old Mint, shown before a set at the Satchmo SummerFest, August 2007 • Illustration — Ruffins playing at Cafe Brasil in New Orleans, November 2007

• Make It Funky! (2005), documentary film • New Orleans Music in Exile (2006), documentary film • After the Catch (2007) • Treme (2010) • The Real World New Orleans (2010) • The Jungle Book (2016)