Leon “Pee Wee” Whittaker will be recognized by the Northeast Louisiana Music Trail and receive a historical marker in his hometown.
Pee Wee Performed music all across the country, including a few international destinations like Canada and England. From minstrel shows to carnival bands and swing orchestras, Pee Wee has performed on the biggest stages and experienced every vigor of the music industry.
Born in 1906, Whittaker was born into a musical family. He grew up in Newelton, Louisiana, where his mother, Kizzie, was a fine musician in her own right. She could play any instrument, and took Pee Wee on tour with her and her band before he was old enough to attend school.
During the academic year, he lived with his grandfather who was a violinist. Although the trombone became his calling card, he was taught to play the clarinet, guitar, and string bass. After Pee Wee finished school, he even played the mandolin for his family’s band.
In 1935, Whittaker and his horn traveled to Monroe, Louisiana and he became a member of the Rabbit Foot Minstrels. The band would tour along the Mississippi River for nearly fifteen years. Pee Wee decided to travel solo on the road for a few years, before settling in Ferriday, Louisiana in 1954 and becoming a member of the Hezekiah and the Houserockers band.
Whittaker passed away in 1993 at the age of 87. He was inducted into the Hall of Master Folk Artists in 1982, along with the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame in 2002.
Doyle Jeter with the Northeast Louisiana Music Trail, talks about the impact that Leon "Pee Wee" Whitaker has had on musicians. "Trombone players know who he is," Jeter states. "He's a huge influence on a lot of folks."
Leon “Pee Wee” Whittaker played alongside some of the top musicians in American history including Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Although he has passed away, his music will live on forever and he is truly a staple of blues music in Louisiana.
The unveiling ceremony for his marker will be Saturday, April 19. It will take place in Newelton, Louisiana, across from the town hall building on main street. Start time is set for noon.
More information about the Northeast Louisiana Music Trail and Leon "Pee Wee" Whitaker can be found at https://nelamusictrail.com/.
