Danny Barker

Danny Barker , born Daniel Moses Barker, was a jazz banjoist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, ukulele player and author from New Orleans. Reverend Andrew Darby, Jr. served as Pastor of Fairview Baptist Church at the time that Danny Barker became a member of Fairview Baptist Church. Mr. Barker asked Pastor Darby what would he want him to do in the church. Reverend Darby commissioned Brother Barker to form a Christian Band, composed of young musicians. Thus, The Fairview Christian Marching Band was the brainchild of Reverend Andrew Darby, Jr. Brother Barker went throughout the neighborhood in the area of the church enlisting young musicians. Many young musicians who started in the Fairview Baptist Church have become renowned and seasoned musicians, including, but not limited to, Leroy Jones, Dr. Michael White, Wynton Marsalis, to name a few. Mr. Barker was a rhythm guitarist for some of the best bands of the day, including Cab Calloway, Lucky Millinder and Benny Carter throughout the 193

Danny Barker was born to a family of musicians in New Orleans in 1909, the grandson of bandleader Isidore Barbarin and nephew of drummers Paul Barbarin and Louis Barbarin he first took up clarinet and drums before switching to a ukulele that his aunt got him, and then a banjo from his uncle or a trumpeter named Lee Collins.

Source: Wikipedia