- Born
- Died
- Birth nameFilippo Napoli
- Phil Napoleon was born on September 2, 1901 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He died on September 13, 1990 in North Miami, Florida, USA.
- Child prodigy on the trumpet, performing in public from the age of five. Cornet soloist from 1916. Founder member in 1922 of the Original Memphis Five. Worked as a studio musician until forming a big band in 1938. Briefly with Jimmy Dorsey in 1943. Re-formed Memphis Five at Nick's in New York in 1949. Later led a succession of dixieland groups, eventually based at his own club, Napoleon's Retreat, in Miami Beach, Florida.
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