In 1915, New Orleans band leader Johnny Stein formed this band to take North to Chicago for a gig at the Booster Club at the Hotel Morrison. Unfortunately the club was closed by the police a few days before they arrived. They were able to land another job at Lamb’s Cafe at 151-169 North Clark Street.

The band was somewhat popular, but they were not making much money. They played live wearing tan raincoats because they couldn’t afford tuxedos. Stein’s Dixieland Jass Band was the nucleus around which The Original Dixieland Jass Band was formed. Many of the famous tunes that became associated The Original Dixieland Jass Band originated in Stein’s band.

Tom Brown recommended Stein’s band for a job in New York City, but Stein was under contractual obligation in Chicago and couldn’t take the job. The rest of the band decided that this was too good of an offer to pass up and left Stein holding the bag in Chicago, so Stein put together another version of the band that included Larry Shields on clarinet, and played at Schillers Cafe at 318 East 31st Street.

By 1916 or 1917 Stein had also relocated to Manhatten and was playing at the Alamo Club, where he put together the Original New Orleans Jazz Band that included pianist Jimmy Durante.