Sugar Johnnie’s New Orleans Creole Orchestra was a somewhat forgotten, yet important band that played at the De Luxe Cafe at 3503 South State Street in Chicago. Clarinet player Lawrence Duhé was the leader the band, but it was fronted by various soloists like Sidney Bechet, Mutt Carey, and Freddie Keppard.

Eighteen year old Lil Hardin was hired to play piano in the band in 1917. Sugar Johnnie Smith was a gay, gut bucket cornet player from New Orleans who had T.B. and died of pneumonia in 1918. Mutt Carey replaced Sugar Johnnie after his death. When Mutt Carey went off to California to join Kid Ory’s Creole Orchestra, Duhé sent for King Oliver to replace him in 1919. King Oliver doubled with Bill Johnson’s Original Creole Orchestra at the Royal Gardens (469 East 31st Street). Oliver eventually took over Duhé’s band and merged the two Creole bands under the name of King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band and played at the Dreamland Cafe (3520 South State Street), Pekin Cafe (2700 South State Street) and toured California in 1921.

Artist	Instrument
Sidney Bechet	Clarinet
Wellman Braud	Bass
Mutt Carey	Cornet
Lawrence Duhé	Clarinet
Bab Frank	Piccolo
Ed Garland	Bass
Minor Hall	Drums
Tubby Hall	Drums
Lil Hardin	Piano
Freddie Keppard	Cornet
King Oliver	Cornet
Jimmie Palao	Violin
Roy Palmer	Trombone
Sugar Johnnie Smith	Cornet