George Leo “Pat” O’Brien

George Leo “Pat” O’Brien, who died October 13th at 91, was a San Francisco–born banjoist, guitarist, singer, and entertainer who spent decades working squarely within American traditional jazz and Dixieland.

Over several decades he appeared at traditional jazz and Dixieland festivals across the United States, most often fronting or anchoring banjo-led ensembles. His repertoire drew heavily on early jazz standards and vintage popular songs, presented with humor, audience interaction, and a clear sense of showmanship. These qualities led to long-running work at Walt Disney World and at Rosie O’Grady’s, the turn-of-the-century-themed Florida club closely associated with ragtime and Dixieland revival music.

For roughly the final thirty years of his life, O’Brien was based in Southwest Florida, where he became a local institution. He was a central figure in the Fort Myers Beach Marching Dixieland Jazz Band and led his own group, Pat O’Brien’s Palm City Jazz, serving as featured player and frontman. Through regular club dates, outdoor performances, and parade-style appearances, these groups maintained an ongoing New Orleans–style jazz presence in the region.

O’Brien was fond of recounting a late-night French Quarter jam session in which trumpeter Al Hirt entered the room and, as others stepped aside, told him, “You ain’t going ANYWHERE,” a story that became part of his personal lore. He often cited “The Wolverine Blues” as his favorite tune. Remembered as a dependable musician, engaging performer, and tireless advocate for classic jazz as popular entertainment, Pat O’Brien spent a lifetime keeping early jazz visible, audible, and enjoyable for audiences wherever he traveled or settled.