Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker

Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker
Background information
Birth name	Leon Whittaker
Born	1906 Newellton, Tensas Parish, Louisiana, USA
Origin	Mississippi River delta country
Died	July 22, 1993 (age 87)
Genres	Rock and Roll Rhythm and blues Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Trombonist; String bass; Mandolin; Guitar; Clarinet
Years active	1919–1993

(1) Whittaker appeared to have inherited his musical talent from the maternal side of his family, with his mother and grandfather being adept musicians.

(2) Born in Newellton in northeastern Louisiana, Whittaker lived in several Mississippi River cities during his long career, having spent his last four decades in Ferriday in Concordia Parish.

(3) Whittaker specialized in rhythm and blues, jazz and rock and roll music.

Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker (1906 – July 22, 1993) 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, Whittaker 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 (then Alcorn State College) near Lorman, Mississippi. He learned how to read music and to master the clarinet, guitar, string bass, and mandolin, as well as the trombone.