Larocca Residence
Dominic "Nick" LaRocca (1889-1964), cornetist and bandleader, lived here at 928 Jackson Ave from 1928 to 1942. He initially played in neighborhood bands and then with William Brauns Brass Band and Jack Lane's Reliance Bands. He left New Orleans in 1916, as cornetist with Johnny Stein's Band, in order to pursue a job offer in Chicago which, after the departure of Stein eventually became the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Later, in New York in 1917, for Victor Records, the ODJB made the first jazz recording. After an astounding recording career in the U.S. and England, the band broke up in the middle 1920's, but briefly reorganized and made more recordings in 1936. After returning to New Orleans for the second time LaRocca worked as a building contractor, led a small band for occasional jobs, played the banjo, and composed music.